This is one of the more famous sandwiches straight out of the island of Cuba. This recipe came from my uncle who used to work at a restaurant in Pinar del Rio, Cuba and now works at a Cuban cafeteria here in Miami. This sandwich is best served with fried plantain chips and a cold drink.
So please don't just fix a sandwich. Treat yourself to a sandwich with some interesting ingredients Also known as Cubano. These sandwiches will bring the flavor of Cuba to your table.
In the pantheon of great sandwiches, there is a certain perfection to the Cuban that renders a ham and cheese sandwich extremely boring. Sorry, Uncle Ozzie. Grilled cheese anyone?
Meanwhile, a Sansdwich Cubano features tasty pork, sweet ham and fatty salami, is you happen to be in Tampa, Florida. Miami is a different story and we will talk about who has the best Cubano in Florida.
The Cuban sandwich includes crunchy pickles and tangy mustard, bound by melted Swiss cheese and the perfectly soft but slightly crunchy Cuban bread, which may be smeared with butter. Its origins are in dispute, but one thing isn't... The Cuban is a delicious masterpiece. Here are some seeking out around the area.
To Go Express
$9
415 City Island Avenue
718-885-9656
Bronx, NY 10464-1302
City Island Diner
$10
304 City Island Ave
Phone: 718-885-0362
This version features a pita panini bread sandwich. A panini isn't your average sandwich. Grilled and flattened with a weight or in a panini press, the sandwich features a crisped exterior.
Ray's Cafe & Restaurant
$7
205 City Island Ave
Phone: 347-346-9119
Email: raysservices55@yahoo.com
New York City: The Spotted Pig
$18
This pricey, well decorated European pub in the West Village makes burgers and ricotta gnudi, but lurking in the shadows is April Bloomfield's Cuban sandwich. This a brunch and lunchtime-only offering is prepared with proscuitto instead of ham, cornichons and pickled jalapeños instead of dill pickles, and Gruyère cheese instead of Swiss, these substitutions become an afterthought after one bite of that pork shoulder, which is fried in duck fat.