Cuban Sandwich

Here is a Cuban sandwich, to get you through the Hump of the Week.

So far all my friends and family in Virginia and thereabouts seem to be fine after the earthquake and not troubled by Hurricane Irene.

While others were shaking, seeing things tip off the shelves onto the floor, hearing roof bricks clatter onto the sidewalk, and pouring out of their buildings onto the street (as I did once when a low-level quake hit Columbus, Ohio years ago....), I was having a Cuban Chicken Panini at Panera with Julie. And taking shelter from a thunderstorm.

Just so you know, there is a group at Facebook called People Against Panera's "Cuban" Sandwich, soon, it says, to be archived.

There are many defenders of the authentic Cuban sandwich, many variations (including an excellent Cuban sandwich at Reggie's in Normal), recipes galore, and, of course, Wikipedia gives us the history of the Cuban sandwich as well as current info, and the above picture.

I tasted my first Cuban sandwich at La Unica, a Cuban grocery store on Devon Avenue in Chicago, with a little cafe in the back where you can get sandwiches, rice & beans, and mamey shakes!

The traditional Cuban sandwich has pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard. Watch out for mayo or mayo sauces. Panera has a chicken version.

The important thing is the bread, lightly oiled, pressed, grilled...

Background music, "Drume Negrita," by Eliseo Grenet.

Enjoy the mameys.