Grilled swordfish with a beetroot and string bean pickle from La Divina Pastora in Havana. - Nashauna Drummond/Lifestyle Coordinator

Cuba is famous for many things. There's the Revolution, of course, red rum, tobacco and salsa music. But cuisine? Not so much. The eye-popping spice and peppery flavour that defines Jamaican food isn't exactly replicated in Cuba. In this instance, we may be neighbours, but we are many worlds apart.

The components aren't so foreign though, consisting of mostly fish, pork, chicken and beef. What is different is how they are prepared. Cubans have a thing for grilled food. Stewed black-eyed peas and rice and their delicious fruit-based ice cream are staples of almost every meal. If spicy is what you crave, then be sure to travel with a bottle of Jamaican hot pepper sauce.

Great view

Talk about flavour! The best end to any meal is Cuban ice cream. Whether it's strawberry or vanilla (pictured) the flavour is unmistakable. - photo by Nashauna Drummond

On a recent familiarisation trip organised by Caribic Air Services and Umbrella Travel, Food writer Nashauna Drummond got a taste of Cuban cuisine. Keep reading the Food pages as she expresses the gastronomic fare of our Caribbean neighbour. Today we sample the offerings of La Divina Pastora restaurant. Located across the bay, this restaurant offers a great view of Havana's waterfront. Accessible by a short tunnel ride under the Caribbean Sea, a meal there is complemented by the priceless view of Cuba's majestic harbour.

In Cuba almost anything is grilled, and pork is a staple on most menu. - photo by Nashauna Drummond