Today, the word paladar takes on a very peculiar meaning, and it is equivalent to a restaurant, an outdoor bar or a cafeteria. What is curious is that, according to different sources, it takes this meaning only in Cuba.

Its origin dates back to the 90s of last century, when the country was experiencing the beginning of a great economic crisis that still persists, even if it is no longer called a “special period” as it used to be. In those days, a Brazilian telenovela “Vale Tudo”, was being aired on TV. The success story of the main character, Raquel was the genesis of the popular term paladar. After trying to make ends meet by selling sandwiches on the beach in Rio de Janeiro, she comes to own a chain of restaurants. She named her first restaurant paladar in direct allusion to the sense of taste.