The food we've sampled is a mixed bag: Ropa vieja is a Cuban dish of piquant stewed beef (the name means "old clothes, a reference to how the beef softens, resembling rags, when cooked), served ...

Transfer the beef pieces to a casserole dish. (You may need to do this in batches.) Return the frying pan to the hob and reduce the heat. Add the remaining oil and gently fry the shallots ...