Three Guys Featured in New Book
Raúl's personal story provides inspiration for the final chapter
We met Mark DeCarlo on a typically sultry Miami day back in 2005. DeCarlo was in Miami to tape two segments for his Travel Channel series, "Taste of America." The show, which left the air in 2008 after four hilarity-filled seasons, took viewers on a comically culinary tour of the United States. Each episode featured a different city and highlighted several local foods.
DeCarlo has had an interesting career, from game show contestant to game show host; from stand-up comedian to roles on various TV series, including Seinfeld, Evening at the Improv, Matlock, The Ben Stiller Show, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He is also the voice of "Hugh Neutron" on the cartoon series "Jimmy Neutron" as well as several other animated characters. Who can forget some of his memorable big screen appearances, notably the famous “Chuck Steak?”
DeCarlo's new book, “A Fork on the Road: 400 Cities/One Stomach” is half cookbook, half travelogue. DeCarlo recounts numerous anecdotes – all humor filled – of his days on the road with "Taste of America,” a journey that covered some 400 cities. It's true; there are plenty of yuks here, but also several tender moments. The final chapter highlights DeCarlo's Miami visit and touches on Raúl Musibay's personal story, a story shared by thousands of Cuban immigrants and typifying what the author says is truly great about America.
“After four hundred cities, thousands of miles, and over a thousand delicious meals, the most American person I met turned out to be from someplace else,” DeCarlo writes.
What else did DeCarlo have to say about the Three Guys? He describes his first encounter with Jorge:
I met Jorge Castillo early on that morning at Maximo Gomez Park. We both were sporting yellow island shirts, probably purchased at the same store. Evidently matching clothing is very emotional for the Cuban people, because the guy hugged me like a giant carnival prize the moment we met.
"Not a bad way to spend your birthday, huh Raul? What were birthdays like in Cuba?"
"I don't remember much. But I do know that I spent the night of my twenty-first birthday in Castro's jail for speaking out against the Revolution. I was there for awhile...”
"I spent my twenty-first birthday at a backyard surprise party, then I drove off in the car my parents gave me to meet friends at a downtown blues bar."
Raul just smiled. "In Cuba, you cannot talk against, you cannot criticize Castro. In public no one will say anything, but in private...”
Jorge looks like a cross between Andy Garcia and Nathan Lane and has the personality of a proud Cuban rush chairman.
He took me by the hand and started explaining every statue in the park. By the third one, he sensed my fatigue.
"We have much to do today," he bellowed. "But first—Cuban coffee in Domino Park!"
I had never tasted Cuban coffee before, but how different could it be from all the other ethnic javas? Never one to turn down an early morning zap of caffeine, I followed Jorge down a cobblestone sidewalk back into the park jammed with wrinkled Cubans to get my fix.
Raúl Musibay is clearly Cuban. He looks, smells, dresses, and cooks Cuban. He arrived via Spain in 1980 and has called Miami his home since then. His thick accent sounds like rice and beans, and his cigar cologne completes the package. No problem.
Glenn Lindgren – big problem. "Gringo" doesn't do Glenn justice. Originally from Minnesota, home of Queen Ivey''s lutefisk, alabaster-skinned Glenn came to Florida in 1983 and fell in love with the culture and the cuisine. He's the Guy who actually writes their cookbooks and can cook virtually any ethnic cuisine you can Google, from "American" to "Vietnamese" He doesn't speak Spanish, doesn't look Cuban, but doesn't act Lindgren. I thought I was being punked, and the real Third Guy would emerge from behind a palm tree and start laughing like Ricky Ricardo at any moment. But Glenn is no joke.
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