NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — In 1993, in bed with spinal meningitis and given 13 hours to live, Jesus Puerto reached out to Babalú Aye, or Saint Lazarus. “So I made a promise to Saint Lazarus that I would do what I could to be good, do good deeds for you, you know, the rest of my life after coming through that near-death experience,” Puerto said. On Easter Sunday, his fever broke. Puerto’s life has been dedicated to service ever since. He has spent time in the Peace Corps, with Habitat for Humanity and worked with the United Nations. His...

  Along with excited family and friends, the Puerto brothers embark on serving Cuban food in their own hometown of Tampa, after two decades in spots like New Haven, Conn. Now open in Seminole Heights, the family is celebrated with pictures of family then and now, in the old country and new. Jesus Puerto wants to preserve the Afro-Cuban experience in Tampa, where immigrants of color succeeded in the face of marginalization and discrimination. Read the full article here: https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2024/03/12/brothers-and-cousin-brings-family-s-afro-cuban-experience-to-life-through-food-and-family-history-at-soul-de-cuba-cafe-in-tampa

  A brand new cafe and restaurant with century-old ties to Tampa quietly opened its doors in Seminole Heights. Soul de Cuba Cafe is located at ​​6428 N Florida Ave. adjacent to other Seminole Heights hotspots like Gulf Coast Sourdough, Rooster & the Till and Trip’s Diner. Its owners describe the eatery's fare as “Cuban criollo cuisine with Old Tampa and Ybor City sabor,” with a menu that features everything from traditional Cuban eats to Tampa-centric entrees and deserts. Read the full article here: https://www.cltampa.com/food-drink/new-restaurant-soul-de-cuba-cafe-opens-in-seminole-heights-17446481

Soul De Cuba will soon open its doors in Seminole Heights at 6428 N. Florida Ave., and for owner Jesus Puerto the debut is generations in the making. Yes, Soul De Cuba finds its way to Tampa by way of New Haven, CT, where Jesus and his brother have operated the original restaurant since 2005. But the Puerto family has deep roots in Tampa. His great grandfather was a master baker at La Segunda, according to a release. The Puerto family agreed it was time to bring this passion for Cuban cuisine to the place where it all began for...