ChaChaChá Fusion Cuban Cuisine

Feel the beat of family, flavor and Latin American rhythm

By Cheryl Mandell

Amel Fernandez and his family celebrate their Cuban and Spanish heritage with a fusion of flavors at ChaChaChá in North Naples.

Born in the festive streets of Havana, “cha-cha-chá” is the sound of the Cuban soul — full of life and flavor. The Fernandez family would know; they previously owned a Spanish restaurant in Cuba for a decade. The restaurant’s name, Mallorca, honored Amel’s grandparents, who lived on the Spanish island and introduced Amel and his parents to the world of restaurant hospitality.

“This is a dream for us,” said Fernandez. “I was a baby in Cuba, and my mom was the chef of the restaurant that was in our house, which is the Cuban way. My father has been in the gastronomic industry for over 20 years, and we came to America to bring this fusion concept to Naples, very similar to the one we had in Cuba.”

In the Strand shopping center off Immokalee Road in North Naples, Amel’s mother, Yuli, is still the head chef, and his father Abel still manages the front of the house — even if this time it isn’t in their actual house. ChaChaChá opened in early February after renovating the space that was formerly occupied by Skillets.

An entire wall of the restaurant features a mural of a couple dancing amid a retro radio collage. The opposite wall’s decor features photos of musical instruments, a vinyl record player and a vintage microphone. The vibrant, eye-catching art that adorns the walls was created by a family member.

Entreés include a variety of Chef Yuli’s Latin American fusion dishes like the Cordero al Vino, made of tender braised lamb finished with signature red wine sauce, accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes and asparagus. Classics abound with steak, pork, chicken and seafood, including one of Amel’s personal favorites, the Jhon Bill — grilled fish fillet topped with shrimp in a béchamel sauce, served with sauteed vegetables and creamy mashed potato pureé.

The menu also offers salads, sandwiches and an abundance of decadent desserts, like the Basque Burnt Cheesecake and Flan ChaChaChá a la Mode.

Chef Yuli loves to create new and modern twists on the tried and true classics.

“I would say 80% of the menu came from my mother’s home cooking for us,” said Fernandez. “We call it fusion because she’s trying to keep all of the different flavors in mind and make a nice new dish out of it.”

Signature cocktails also pay homage to vibrant Latin culture, such as Melon y Vacilon, which is a tequila cocktail infused with fresh watermelon and a hint of citrus with a Tajin-seasoned rim and garnished with a slice of watermelon. Another decadent delight is the Cortadito Martini, an espresso-inspired martini topped with delicate milk foam — a tribute to the Cuban cortadito.

ChaChaChá is open from noon to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

From Spain to Cuba and around Latin America, the Fernandez family delivers their distinct rhythm and flavors to Southwest Florida at ChaChaChá Fusion Cuban Cuisine.