Interest in vegetarian cooking is a relatively new development in Cuba. Though fruits and vegetables thrive in the island’s rich soil and temperate climate, fresh green salads are rare in traditional Cuban cooking and lush tropical fruits like guava, mango, and papaya are often poached in sugar syrups or used to make jams and sugary desserts. We had heard that some interesting vegetarian restaurants had opened in and around Havana and were fortunate to meet Madelaine Vázquez Gálvez, author of an interesting and innovative vegetarian cookbook titled Cocina Ecológica en Cuba. Eco-Restoránte El Bambú, the restaurant she manages at the National Botanical Gardens, located on the outskirts of Havana, has become a culinary destination for both Cubans and visitors from abroad. The kitchen, including the oven, is powered by solar energy, and the lighting in the restaurant is entirely natural. The menu features soups, entrées, and numerous salads and light desserts made from fresh, locally grown ingredients. This refreshing avocado-based cold soup is adapted from Madelaine’s version that we enjoyed at El Bambú.