Recipe(tried): Cuban Sandwiches

Hi Jan,

I am of Cuban descent and all of my family live down in Miami, the cradle of all things Cuban. One of the most delightful pastimes is to stop at one of the windows of the many cafeterias dotting the city and be able to have a Cuban coffee with a pastelito or a delicious Cuban sandwich.

The Cuban sandwich is made of:

Cuban bread slathered on one side with mayo and on the other side with mustard. Then you put pickle slices, swiss cheese, marinated pork slices, and ham slices stacked pretty high. The outside of the bread is slathered with softened butter and then it is put in a presser where it is lightly browned and heated through and through.
It is quite delectable.

I live in Tampa and the Cuban sandwich is not the same as in Miami, here they add salami to it. I suspect it is because of the Italian influence back in the early part of the century when Ybor City was inhabited by Italians and Cubans who worked at the cigar factories.

Also, in the Tampa area for some reason, the sandwiches look "anemic", that is to say, they are way too thin. I am used to the colossal sandwiches of Miami, the ones that are too big to even bite!! But of course, you will have some say that the Cuban bread in Tampa is better than the one in Miami....poppycock!!! Remember, that the Cubans that are in Miami are the refugees from the early 60's and the recent ones that came in the boatlift from Mariel in the 80's. They are the ones with the freshest memories of how things were in Cuba.Sometimes Americans here add tomato and lettuce. But that is not an authentic Cuban sandwich.

Good luck compiling all your delicious sandwiches!! Gina