When were you most starstruck?
I was at an Oscar party in 2007, I’d taken my daughter, Dominik, and we were at the bar having a drink when Peter O’Toole walked by. He was nominated for Venus, and he was dressed in an almost-white, double-breasted suit with a tie and pocket square that was exploding out of his pocket. He’s always been a thin man, very elegant. As he was sauntering by, I said, “Mr. O’Toole, if I may interrupt…I just want to shake your hand, I’m hoping that something might rub off.” And he shook my hand, looked at me, and said, “It will.” Then, in 2012, I worked with him on the film For Greater Glory. The director, Dean Wright, told me that when Peter asked him who was playing Enrique Gorostieta, and he told him “Andy Garcia”, without missing a beat he replied, “A fine choice.”
No idea. I drink very little milk; sometimes with coffee, but I couldn’t tell you how much it costs. I guess it always changes. Supply and demand.
What is your signature dish?
Chicken fricassée. It’s like a stew, a mix of Spanish and French techniques. It has onions, garlic, lots of red and green peppers. Nothing spicy, not in Cuban cuisine. I always start with a sofrito — that’s finely chopped celery, carrot and onion, and I’ll also add tomatoes, raisins, olives, potatoes and the chicken, although I will brown it first. It has a Moroccan quality to it, almost like a tagine. I suppose North African cuisine did influence Spain in many ways. I have it with white rice, a salad, or some fried sweet bananas.
What movie have you seen the most times?
The Godfather, of course. One and two. People ask me if I have a favourite and I say the first, because, well, one came before two. But they’re both incredible films, and I’m very proud to have been part of number three. Alternatively, Being There is a close second. I think it’s one of the greatest movies that has ever been made, and Peter Sellers’ performance in it is sublime.
What is your favourite animal?
I’ve always been a Labrador Retriever person, which we had, but over time we moved on to Poodles and Dachshunds, which are breeds I never thought I’d be interested in. Once you have a dog, suddenly you completely fall in love with them. The thing about Poodles is people say they’re temperamental, but mine weren’t. One was very timid, and the other, who passed away recently, was extremely smart — she was the alpha female in the house. Labradors are very docile — ours would get sat on by the kids or have his ears pulled and he’d just lay there and take it.
