“Our reason to celebrate Thanksgiving is just a motive to be together and to enjoy a meal and family,” said Lauren Hernandez Fuentes, who has worked at Cuba Bakery & Café for just over a year.  

The next priority? Authentic flavor that creates a multi-sensory experience, nostalgic for many. 

“The state is full of Latin people,” Fuentes said of Colorado. “And there's always something in common between other countries. Cuban food, all this kind of food, is very common.”

Head chef Ismael Rivera Escobar works dutifully to ensure every dish is an experience, from texture to aroma and of course, taste. Amongst the dishes he prepares are a traditional roasted pig, or lechón,  with onion, garlic, and the cafe’s traditional rice, or moro. 

Next comes the black beans and the white rice, with their special-recipe seasoning, and sweet plantains. In America, Fuentes said, pumpkin pie is a common Thanksgiving dessert, but the café and bakery adds a Cuban twist with a pumpkin flan.  

Fuentes said the homemade recipes and varieties of flavor make Cuba Bakery & Café a favorite for people of various backgrounds, creating a place where anyone can unite over food. Some for the excitement of a first-time experience, others for the warm reminder of home. 

Julio Sandoval is senior photojournalist at Rocky Mountain PBS. juliosandoval@rmpbs.org.

Elle Naef is multimedia producer at Rocky Mountain PBS. ellenaef@rmpbs.org.