Fall 2024
By Lilian Peña
Warm, comfort Cuban food is just around the corner! When the trees start changing color and the air becomes crisp, Matanzas Cuban Café in Hartsdale is just the spot that reaches your inner soul. Owner, Annarella Hernandez-Dias recently sat down with WW and talked about her culture, family and joy of preparing traditional recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation.
Annarella considers herself to be a home cook sharing precious family recipes. Her proud heritage, half Cuban, half Colombian, has strong family ties going back to 1971 when her family moved to Miami and then straight to New York from Cuba. Her father came to the United States with $20 in his pocket. He encouraged Annarella to open a restaurant but was never able to share in the dream. He passed away in 2017. Achieving this dream became her passion and something she could pass down to her children.
She began scouting for the perfect location – everywhere from Yonkers to Port Chester. Then Annarella came upon the ideal spot in Hartsdale. Knowing the risks involved, Annarella’s mission was to persevere through the pushback and doubts until she finally signed the lease in October 2022 on the Hartsdale location. This she shared was the most challenging aspect of opening the restaurant. Friends she met along the way gave her important pointers on how to run a kitchen and so much more.
The dream, the reward, was realized on June 6, 2023, when the ribbon was cut and the doors finally opened. Annarella said she cried with joy all day, seeing her family’s and her father’s dream coming true. An authentic Cuban café was born.
A little over a year later, Matanzas is serving the exact recipes handed down from her abuela, the matriarch of the family. The aroma of traditional comfort food fills the air and excites your taste buds.
For Annarella, the dishes being prepared reminds her of Abuela’s house. She could cook for 100 people and love every minute of it. Holidays were filled with laughter, joy, and genuine dishes that are prepared the same way today.
One of Annarella’s favorite dishes is, of course, the very popular Cubano. The reason why it stands out from the rest is a secret … but what we can say is that Annarella’s mother perfected it by using a dry rub of special ingredients. In addition, they shred the pork shoulder instead of slicing it. In this way, there is no fat, no cartilage – only delicious, shredded pork. Along with the other ingredients, everything is layered so you taste it all in every bite. Another dish that brings back childhood memories is the Picadillo with white rice and yucca.
She has made some amazing friends during this journey and she’s very proud of the fact that the whole concept of Matanzas brings the culture back. It gives Cubans a place to feel at home and reminisce about their own journey to this country. Annarella’s wish is to make everyone feel like they just stepped into their own abuela’s house for a great meal.
Their Chicharritas/Plantain chips are thin, crispy, and utterly addicting. A must-try is their perfectly prepared Tamal Cubano. We enjoyed the De Todito Pollo – grilled chicken breast, their secret de todito sauce, lettuce, and tomato on a toasted Cuban roll. The aroma from the Ropa Vieja, served on Saturdays makes your taste buds sing, and last but not least, we tried the Guava Pastelito – pure heaven.
So, what’s coming back for their fall menu? New daily specials will include warming soups and perhaps a secret tamale that is sure to be on the top of anyone’s comfort food list. Be on the lookout for that!!
Follow them on Instagram!!!!