Go visit Peachtree Comer's Palomilla's House for its authentic and well-received Cuban food. Also, visit this Cuban tapas restaurant because owner and founder Eliz-ardo Sanz risked his life coming to America so that you could eventually enjoy his food.

Mr. Sanz was despairing over the hopelessness of life in Fidel Castro's Cuba, even with a degree in math and physics and a professional job better than most Cubans. He said Cubans needed to search for food every day, and that the prices of cooking oil (about $2.50) and a pound of stale chicken ($1.50) overwhelmed the average monthly wage of $5-6.

In 1994, he and some friends built two rafts and set out to sea on the first raft. They were captured and imprisoned by their country. Out on bond, Mr. Sanz arid his four friends resorted to their second raft, mainly made of aluminum tubes, and took to the Straits of Florida again. The five were battered by an ocean storm, but that hid them from the communist government.

Mr. Sanz and his friends were partially submerged throughout the voyage because their raft was not built for five. They used kerosene to fend off sharks, but that later burned them. On the fourth day, their situation becoming more desperate, a Miami-based Brothers to the Rescue plane spotted the raft and lowered a walkie-talkie. Later, another plane dropped a more stable life raft before they were rescued.

Tired of high taxes and insurance rates, Mr. Sanz left south Florida for Atlanta last year and noticed that the metro Atlanta area lacked authentic Cuban cuisine.
Palomilla's is located at 6470 Spalding Drive, Suite B, Norcross. They can be reached at 770-242-0078, or visit www.palomillasatlanta.com. Their hours are 11 am-9 pm Mondays-Thursdays and 11 am-10 pm Fridays and Saturdays.