This is a fun series highlighting popular spots to pick up Tampa's gift to sandwich lovers... the famous Cuban sandwich!
The Cuban sandwich was originally called the mixto - ham, roast pork, swiss cheese, mustard - and made for Ybor City cigar workers. Sicilians and immigrants from other parts of Italy joined Spanish and Cuban immigrants in the cigar factories, and Genoa salami was added, transforming the mixto into Cuban sandwich.
The most important part of a Cuban sandwich is the bread. It is not ordinary bread, but Cuban bread. Believers say that true Cuban bread cannot be found outside of Tampa or Miami. Cuban bread is noted for its split or bloom down the middle of its crust. This long, crusty loaf features a tender, but not chewy, interior.
Every Cuban sandwich aficionado believes in their own version of this sandwich. In fact, they're usually passionate about this and will readily debate among themselves the finer point of how to make the proper Cuban sandwich.