A real Cuban sammich .... mmmm

[onewhippedpuppy]

Love a good Cuban sandwich, even an American one.

I give the restaurant a scan when I go to any ethnic place. Authentic Mexican food but not a Mexican in sight, pass. Sushi joint without a single Asian person, pass. Fortunately both of our favorite sushi places are owned by Asian families and pretty damn good.

[Ziggythecat]

They call it a Cuban for good reason.
That’s just about the only thing you can buy to eat there
No coffee shops, no juice bars
And no salami...Swiss cheese and mustard round out the pickles and ham

[tdw28210]

Silver Ring in Tampa. Best Cuban sammy ever....

[masraum]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Could someone list the proper ingredients here? Wegmans started offering these fresh last week, we almost bought a couple. They looked good

It probably varies a bit, but the Tampa style as I was used to it when I lived in tampa

Freshly baked Cuban bread is piled high with sweet ham, slow roasted pork, Swiss cheese, plus a helping of pickles and yellow mustard. It's then grilled on a sandwich press with plenty of butter. (it should be flat, not ridged, not a pannini press)

It should look like this. Once it's pressed flat, the top and bottom are crispy, and then it gets cut on a very long diagonal.

[KFC911]

^^^^ How about salami Steve? I don't think I've ever had it on mine. Even in Tampa ....

I hope they are just as good the next day .... and will find out later on

[URY914]

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/tampa-cuban-sandwich-recipe-1973857

[GH85Carrera]

We have a local restaurant that serves Peruvian and Cuban food, or mostly Latin foods.

They have a great Cuban Sandwich. I usually ask they leave off the pickles as I am not a big fan of pickles. A side of black beans and some plantains round it out. It is so big I eat half, and get a to go box to eat the rest for lunch the next day.

Very tasty.

[Ziggythecat]

Originally Posted by masraum

It probably varies a bit, but the Tampa style as I was used to it when I lived in
Once it's pressed flat, the top and bottom are crispy, and then it gets cut on a very long diagonal.
]

This
Crispy
The cut is crucial

[URY914]

I grew up in Tampa. Some of the best cubans (small c) were sold in the small Latin food stores in West Tampa and Seminole Heights. There was a place on North Armenia that sold them for $2.00 for years. Now they bumped them up to $2.50.

Now when we go back we go to the Columbia. Sit at the bar and have a cuban.
This thread is making my mouth water for one.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by KC911

^^^^ How about salami Steve? I don't think I've ever had it on mine. Even in Tampa ....

I hope they are just as good the next day .... and will find out later on

I don't think it would bother me if there was salami on it, and I don't remember ever having had one with salami. Per a couple of quick Internet searches, it seems like Tampa is where salami is used which is funny since most of the Cubanos that I've had were in Tampa. Maybe I've forgotten because it's been 25 years.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Ziggythecat

This
Crispy
The cut is crucial

Agreed. I had someone serve me a sandwich that wasn't pressed and crispy and was cut straight across like something you'd get at Subway. I was VERY disappointed.

They should also be a very moist sandwich, definitely not dry. All of that pork should be juicy.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by URY914

This thread is making my mouth water for one.

No kidding.

My undergraduate thesis was on the Cuban economy pre and post Castro.

One of my professors was from Cuba and was my advisor. He left just before Batista's fall.

Great, very open and friendly man. After it was clear I wasn't a dope (hard to believe, I know) he invited me to his house for a small gathering. His wife introduced me to the Cuban sammy and I was hooked.

It has been years since I have had one. I need to see if I can get one in DC. No chance here in Southern Maryland

[URY914]

Salami is only added in Tampa's cuban. Said to be because of the Italian influence in Tampa.

[URY914]

Also its all about using the right bread.
In Tampa, it has to come from this bakery.

https://www.lasegundabakery.com/our-story

18,000 loaves a day!

This place is famous in Tampa. My daughter's class even took a field trip there.

[ErVikingo]

media noche us a Cubano on egg bread
Bocadillo is ham and cheese on egg bread - no pickles nor mustard (in the US made in hot dog bun or potato hot dog bun).

all are pressed

[Otter74]

There's a good Cuban restaurant near me in Chicago, but the place I miss is a sort of loncheria type place, also near me. the food wasn't as good as the other place, but it was cheap, and what I loved was the atmosphere - it was so, so Caribbean Latin American (I'm from there so I like it) and no one but an occasional Anglo is speaking English. Super strong and super sweet Cuban coffee for like a dollar. Neighborhood has been gentrifying for years and a couple of years ago the owner sold out and it was replaced by a diner-ish place catering to the newer set.

[ErVikingo]

Originally Posted by Otter74

There's a good Cuban restaurant near me in Chicago, but the place I miss is a sort of loncheria type place, also near me. the food wasn't as good as the other place, but it was cheap, and what I loved was the atmosphere - it was so, so Caribbean Latin American (I'm from there so I like it) and no one but an occasional Anglo is speaking English. Super strong and super sweet Cuban coffee for like a dollar. Neighborhood has been gentrifying for years and a couple of years ago the owner sold out and it was replaced by a diner-ish place catering to the newer set.

Place I go down here the "sanduichero" does not allow for changes. "you don't like pickles, you take them out" and it comes with mariquitas ("don't want them, throw them away). It is awesome with an "ironber" (Iron Beer - cuban root beer; Dr Pepper like) and a cafecito to close...! Like they said back home "sabroso"

[KFC911]

Burp... yep, just as good the day after. But I wasn't a pig this time .... still have a half-mich for later.

For the Pauls.... there's (or was) a Cuban place in Jax on Atlantic Blvd (as you're going downtown) as I recall.... never made there on my last few visits, but it's been there forever and I'd bet it's the real deal too.

Not far north of the GSO airport in Summerfield (220 N) in an Exxon parking lot. Small food trailer .... Jose will make yer day

[72doug2,2S]

Originally Posted by Embraer

American cuban sandwiches are far better than anything you'll get in cuba

Quite right. I went to Havana a couple years ago and was looking forward to a Cuban sandwich, rum, and a cigar.

What I found was no Castro Cuba has anything like our beloved Florida Cuban sandwiches. They have no idea what you're talking about. They may have chicken, beans and rice. Surprisingly, I did not care for their rum, but did enjoy the beer.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by 72doug2,2S

Quite right. I went to Havana a couple years ago and was looking forward to a Cuban sandwich, rum, and a cigar.

What I found was no Castro Cuba has anything like our beloved Florida Cuban sandwiches. They have no idea what you're talking about. They may have chicken, beans and rice. Surprisingly, I did not care for their rum, but did enjoy the beer.

One of my former co-workers was from Cuba. He rowed a boat with his wife and a blind neighbor to freedom and became a US citizen. Nice guy.

He said t earn money he looked for seashells to sell to tourists, and they could make a fake cigar that looked just like a real cigar, but mostly made of other leaves. He could hustle a tourist with a "Cuban cigar for 50 cents" and then leave in a hurry before they lit it and started cussing. That was enough money for him to eat for a week.