Cuban

When I have been in Miami I have never gotten around to buying a "Cuban". My mistake. I bought my first and only Cuban at the Flying Rhino in Worcester Mass a few weeks ago. It will not be my last. Next time I am in Miami I will try out the local "real thing" to see how it compares with the northern version. I expect, but don't know that the Cuban is even better down there

Tmiles, The Sundancer has never had a Cuban either. I will be in Titusville for a birding trip in mid November on Merritt Island (if it was not blown away by two direct hits) and I understand very close to the Dixie Crossroads is a Cuban restaurant. I look forward to trying my first Cuban sandwich. If I miss it there, I will be a meeting in Orland. Close to my hotel is another Cuban place that is highly praised. I will let you know

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I just recently found out such a creature existed. once I found out what one was, I wondered how I could've lived my life without ever trying one. there is a cuban restaurant in Amarillo (about 2 hours north of me) and that's how I first heard about them. first, I had to get over my amazement of a cuban restaurant even being in Amarillo. strange thing for the panhandle, trust me.

Paul -

I suggest adding some other Cuban faves to your meal, such as fried plantains, black beans and rice (with vinegar and onions on top), and a potato ball (mashed potatoes formed around spiced ground meat which is breaded and fried - use lots of hot sauce). Wash it all down with a wonderful cafe con leche and you'll be in heaven!!! You'll be extremely full as well! :-)

Lisa

In my experience, some of the Best Cubans outside Florida (and, I guess Cuba), are in New York City, like this one at[url='http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=2197']Margon[/url]:

Michael Stern: I have never had a Cuban or seen one but for some reason I thought they werre sort of pressed like in a waffle grill or something like that. What you showed sure looked delicious but did not appear as I thought. I guess I surmised wrong.

I will try one in Florida next month. Know any places around Titusville?

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I thought they were pressed too.

They are pressed. The Cuban rolls are substantial so they don't go all flat. Most of the ones I have had ARE flatter than the ones in the picture, however.

My favorite is a pan con lechon, which is a pressed sandwich of roast pork and onions. The pork is so fresh tasting.

Black bean soup is a Cuban favorite and I really enjoy the caldo gueigo (sp) at the Cuban restaurant near me.

Cakes

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

I will try one in Florida next month. Know any places around Titusville?

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

If you have time to venture north to Daytona Beach, you will find just as good a Cuban sandwich is there is. This tiny place is owned by a family from Cuba who are the nicest people. Get a large Cuban sandwich and one of their fresh fruit (fruit peeled right before your eyes) shakes and you will be stuffed for hours ..........and it is wonderful

CUBAN SANDWICH
CAFE
722 MASON AVENUE
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA 32117



GRILLED CUBAN SANDWICH
Roast Pork, Sweet Ham, baked Ham, Swiss cheese, Pickles, Mustard, Butter on Cuban Bread
(Made on the grill) and pressed to perfection!

Large $4.95
Small $3.95

This sandwich preparation is occasionally described [mostly in non-Cuban joints] as "a la plancha" - 'plancha' being an iron or press - which means 'grilled'; it can be done with liberal use of a spatula on top of the sandwich, with a bacon/etc. press [or other weight], or even specifically-designed press that looks like it belongs at a dry cleaner's.

There are all sorts of places in Miami (& elsewhere in Florida) that serve such sandwiches - but I think the best neighborhood to try them, and good Cuban coffee, is Calle Ocho [8th St.].

And to Cakes['I really enjoy the caldo gueigo (sp) at the Cuban restaurant near me.'] - could that be "caldo gallego"? (A soup of white beans, ham, greens & more.)

Buen provecho,
Richard
Berkeley/SF, CA

When you're looking for Cuban sandwiches, don't forget to try Union City, New Jersey, home to the U.S.'s largest Cuban population outside South Florida.

Use of two different sizes of cast iron skillets works well too for pressing this sandwich...

I love cuban sandwiches and the nearest place that I can find one (or think that I can is more than an hour away in Marietta) I don't think there is a cuban sandwich to be had in Chattanooga...

caldo in these parts (west texas) --cabbage, roast, corn on the cob cut up in small sections, carrots.

If you can't get as far as Florida, here in Atlanta we've have the Havana Sandwich Shop (Buford Highway at Druid Hills Road) for some 30 years - very highly recommended!

In St. Louis, the place for a Cuban is La Tropicana Market (Lindenwood at Hereford). They also have other Cuban fare such as ropa vieja ("old clothes" - beef hash), pernil (roast pork), plaintain, black beans and rice, etc. Great Mexican food too... ummm, chicken empanadas and cactus salad.

I used to eat at the Havana sandwich shop at least once a week when I worked and lived near there....I agree, it is good...

Yes, most of them are more pressed, like this:

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Stern

Yes, most of them are more pressed, like this:

This looks great except for one thing: I have never had lettuce and tomato on a Cuban sandwich in an authenic Cuban sandwich shop.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Stern

In my experience, some of the Best Cubans outside Florida (and, I guess Cuba), are in New York City, like this one at Margon

My favorite in the NY area is El Sitio on Roosevelt Ave. in Woodside. They are simply outstanding, and left me VERY disappointed with those I got in south Florida. It is right under the 7 train elevated line, and I always make a stop on my way to Shea to watch the Mets lose. At least the sandwiches will be good.

In Florida, I have had good Cuban sandwiches at a place called Havana in West Palm Beach. It is close to the airport, and is a good stop to pick up something for a good in-flight meal.

quote:

Originally posted by downtown

I just recently found out such a creature existed. once I found out what one was, I wondered how I could've lived my life without ever trying one. there is a cuban restaurant in Amarillo (about 2 hours north of me) and that's how I first heard about them. first, I had to get over my amazement of a cuban restaurant even being in Amarillo. strange thing for the panhandle, trust me.

Is the Aviatrix still outside Amarillo on 66?

The one I had at the Flying Rhino in Worcester Mass was pressed, and it was very good. The major meat was pork, but there were a lot of condiments. I expect that a cuban is like a roast beef sandwich in that it is made many, many ways. I look forward to trying as many as I can. For me the regional fare in this great country is half the fun of travelling. Don't even get me started on the New Orleans po' boy!!!

Here in Louisville, KY you can get a Cuban Sandwich at Valu-market at the Iroquis shopping center, 4.99 and enough for 2 people.. plus in the same shopping center there is a cuban pandoria (bakery) and a cuban restaurant. Mmmmmm

Enjoyed a Cuban sandwich as a last minute meal at the Orlando airport in a hotel restaurant. It was wonderful! It was nice and flat with some spicy mustard sauce on it as well as cheese, pork and ham, I believe. I wish there was some place close to me that had a sandwich like that!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:

Originally posted by downtown

I just recently found out such a creature existed. once I found out what one was, I wondered how I could've lived my life without ever trying one. there is a cuban restaurant in Amarillo (about 2 hours north of me) and that's how I first heard about them. first, I had to get over my amazement of a cuban restaurant even being in Amarillo. strange thing for the panhandle, trust me.

Is the Aviatrix still outside Amarillo on 66?

let me check Michael. I'm not in Amarillo, but I post on a board with a lot of Amarillo folks. I'll ask them.

Alton Brown made it with two cookie sheets and bricks wrapped in tin foil. A chef friend of mine gave me a recipe for one that would take a couple of days and a couple of kicthen helpers to make. I hear that Hooter's makes a fairly decent Cuban, though I'll never find out for myself.
Personally, I make a pretty tasty one by basically making a grilled cheese with lots of good Ham and a fresh pickle and a slap of good mustard.

quote:

Originally posted by Extreme Glow

In St. Louis, the place for a Cuban is La Tropicana Market (Lindenwood at Hereford). They also have other Cuban fare such as ropa vieja ("old clothes" - beef hash), pernil (roast pork), plaintain, black beans and rice, etc. Great Mexican food too... ummm, chicken empanadas and cactus salad.

La Tropicana Market is one of the best ethnic markets I've shopped at. Everything I gotten there,and it has been quite a bit! has been fabulous.The people who work there are very helpful and will assist you in gathering the things you need to cook it home. The cubans are supreme.

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

Tmiles, The Sundancer has never had a Cuban either. I will be in Titusville for a birding trip in mid November on Merritt Island (if it was not blown away by two direct hits) and I understand very close to the Dixie Crossroads is a Cuban restaurant. I look forward to trying my first Cuban sandwich. If I miss it there, I will be a meeting in Orland. Close to my hotel is another Cuban place that is highly praised. I will let you know

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

You might want to check out the Havana Cafe in Bearden before you go. They have excellent cubans. Try the plantains as well.

carl reitz

Hi all! I live in Central Florida and my Dad got me started on eating Cuban sandwhiches when I was a wee one. He would take my brother and I to his office which was in Downtown Orlando and we would always stop off at this little sub shop and get Cubans. As an adult I make mine all the time and serve with black bean soup. I use a George Foreman grill with a twelve pack on top to weight it down. Works great!! (I am lucky to have a Cuban Grocery nearby and they have the best cuban bread..........) Happy eating.

Does anyone know of any place in the Piedmont area of North Carolina where I can get a Cuban sandwich. I don't have any more trips planned for this year and all this talk about Cubans is making me want one really bad.