Cuban sandwich

A Cuban sandwich (Spanish: Sándwich cubano) is a tasty variation of a ham and cheese sandwich. It probably started before the 20th century in small cafes where Cuban workers ate in places like Tampa or Key West in Florida. These areas were important for the cigar industry, and many Cuban people lived there.

Later, when Cuban people moved to other places, they brought the sandwich with them. It became especially popular in Miami, where many people enjoy it today. The Cuban sandwich has ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard, all placed on special Cuban bread. Sometimes it also has salami, but this depends on where you are. In Tampa, salami is often added, but in South Florida, it is usually not included.

Because of these different ways to make the sandwich, there is a friendly competition between Miami and Tampa about the best version. In 2012, the Tampa City Council even called the "Historic Tampa Cuban Sandwich" the special sandwich of the city of Tampa.

History

The story of how the Cuban sandwich started is not very clear. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many Cubans traveled between Cuba and Florida, especially to places like Key West and Tampa. Because of this back-and-forth movement, it is hard to know exactly when or where the Cuban sandwich first appeared.

Some people think the sandwich became popular with workers in cigar factories and sugar mills in Cuba, like in big cities such as Havana and Santiago de Cuba, as well as in Key West by the 1860s. When the cigar industry moved to Tampa in the mid-1880s, many Cuban, Spanish, and Italian workers came to the area, helping Tampa grow. The first written mentions of the Cuban sandwich come from cafes in Ybor City and nearby West Tampa around 1900.

By the 1960s, after many Cubans moved to places like Miami because of big changes in their country, Cuban sandwiches became common there too. Today, you can find Cuban sandwiches in many cities where Cuban people have settled, such as New York City, New Jersey, Chicago, and Puerto Rico.

Ingredients

Most people agree on the main parts of a Cuban sandwich. It starts with Cuban bread, cut into pieces about 8 to 12 inches long and lightly buttered or brushed with olive oil. Yellow mustard is spread on the bread, and layers of roast pork, glazed ham, and Swiss cheese are added, along with thinly sliced dill pickles.

The sandwich is often toasted in a special press called a plancha, which makes the bread crispy and melts the cheese. It is usually cut into halves before serving.

Regional variations

In some places, there is a big debate about whether to add salami to a Cuban sandwich. In Tampa, Genoa salami is usually added, probably because of the Italian immigrants who lived there long ago. In South Florida, salami is not used. Some places, like Key West, might add mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato, but many people do not like these extra ingredients.

Cultural connections

The Cuban sandwich has sparked friendly competition between Tampa and Miami, with both cities claiming to make the best version. In 2012, Tampa even made it their official "signature sandwich."

The sandwich has also been celebrated in festivals, movies, and even a made-up holiday. In 2012, a festival was started in Tampa featuring a giant Cuban sandwich and contests for the best recipe. The 2014 movie Chef featured a character selling Cuban sandwiches from a food truck. In 2016, a writer in Tampa created "National Cuban Sandwich Day" to see if he could make a new holiday, and it caught on in many places.

Related dishes

Main article: Cuban cuisine § Sandwiches

A similar sandwich is the medianoche ("midnight") sandwich. As the name suggests, this sandwich started as a late-night snack, probably in the night clubs of Havana. The medianoche has the same ingredients as the Cuban sandwich but is smaller. It is served on yellow-colored egg bread (similar to challah), which is softer and sweeter than Cuban bread.