Tag Archives: lechon

May 6, 2024 · 10:02 AM

The Best Cuban Sandwiches in Miami at Sanguich

Continuing on our Cuban theme, today we are going to talk about our favorite Cubano / Cuban sandwich. There is some controversy as to where the Cubano sandwich originated, though it is not in Cuba, despite the name. Currently, the disputed home of the Cubano is likely either Key West or Tampa, FL. The typical composition of a Cuban sandwich is roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles on Cuban Bread. Despite murkiness around its origins, we can safely say we have found our favorite Cubano in Miami (and probably the US) at Sanguich (various locations in Miami, we have visited the Calle Ocho location multiple times).

Sanguich’s menu – true to name – includes only selected classic sandwiches. All are on perfectly crusty Cuban bread, with a soft interior. Along with the Cubano ($13.49) you can get a medianoche ($11.59), which is similar to a Cubano but on sweeter bread, or a pan con bistec ($14.59) topped with mojo rojo, Swiss cheese, and sous vide beef. All of the sandwiches are slight spins on classics, topped with unique sauces and only top-notch ingredients. The whole of each sandwich is definitely more than the sum of its parts, and they are truly memorable.

Of all of the options, our favorites all involve the amazing slow roasted pork! This special ingredient completely makes the Cubano (seen above), and you can also just get a roast pork sandwich with mojo onions and garlic-cilantro aioli (L’s favorite, $11.99). While the menu is primarily sandwiches, you can also get milkshakes (batidos), including the unique trigo flavor, made with condensed milk and puffed wheat, apparently a Cuban classic. Of course, there is also made-to-order cafecito on offer.

The restaurant itself is tiny, so expect to wait for your sandwich (probably outside), and there is always a danger of them selling out. Whenever you visit (last time we went was a Sunday at 4 PM), there will likely be a bit of a line, and you will have to wait to receive your order, even if you are picking up. We usually just get our sandwiches to go, and once even brought them to the beach – highly recommend the lighthouse at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park – as a picnic lunch spot. The next time you are in Miami, be sure to make a beeline for Sanguich for the best Cubano of your life!

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January 20, 2024 · 12:07 PM

A Taste of Cuba at Finca Agroecologica El Paraiso

We were recently on a 2 week tour of Western Cuba, specifically focusing on Afro-Cuban music and culture. Unlike most of our trips, we did not specifically plan this trip for foodie purposes. However, there was one unexpected foodie stop on our trip that blew us away: Finca Agroecologica El Paraiso. Finca Agroecologica El Paraiso is an all-organic farm in the hills of Western Cuba outside of Viñales. Everything is grown on site in beautiful terraces, and the picturesque setting alone is worth the trip. The restaurant itself is open-air in a series of wooden structures with open sides, looking over the mountainside. There, we met the charismatic owner, Rachel who runs the farm with her sister Rosalba and their father Wilfredo García Correa.

We started off with their so-called “anti-stress” drink (recipe at link and also in the book, A Taste of Cuba), their signature concoction, made with several different types sweet herbs (including mint, lemongrass, and anise), pineapple juice, cinnamon, and coconut milk. Of course, as was the case in many places in Cuba, you could add rum to the drink in any quantity you wanted (or omit it completely). In terms of our lunch, we were heartened to see a whole roast suckling pig being carried into the dining room when we entered (lechon is one of M’s favorite foods). We were eating lunch with a large group, so we all partook in a fixed menu, shared family-style.

We started with a basket of yuca / cassava crackers, and a huge assortment of plates of fresh vegetables: lettuce, tomatoes, squash, yuca, green beans, pickled cucumbers, and more. There was a paucity of fresh vegetables on the rest of trip, so this abundant assortment was particularly welcome. Then onto the mains: lobster in garlic sauce and roast chicken. Of course, the key main was the suckling pig, which was absolutely delectable. Every dish was simple, but highlighted the freshness of the ingredients. There was more food than we could consume, even as a group, and all of that was capped off with a scoop of ice cream for each person. Of course, the meal ended with a cafecito (or tea). We enjoyed our mint tea while overlooking the terraces.

After our hearty lunch, we roamed the grounds of the farm, enjoying some time to swing in a hammock and traipse up and down the terraces. We felt completely rejuvenated by experiencing the natural beauty of the surroundings, which have also been named as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The food at Finca Paraiso was wholesome, delicious and fresh, and the surroundings were even more stunning. We are not sure if we will ever be in this part of Western Cuba again, but Finca Paraiso may just draw us back.

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December 25, 2017 · 9:02 AM

Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad!

Flag of Puerto Rico

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas! Having a roast pig for Christmas Eve/Christmas – lechón –  is a major tradition in Puerto Rico and Cuba, and it is one of our favorites. Consequently there are many songs that extoll the virtues of the humble pig. In honor of the lechón-filled holiday, here’s one of our favorite Christmas lechón songs: “La Fiesta de Pilito” by Puerto Rico’s stalwart musical group. El Gran Combo.

Here are the most important lyrics:

A comer pasteles y a comer lechón
Arroz con guandules y a beber ron
Que venga morcilla, venga de todo

To eat tamales and eat roast pork
Rice with pigeon peas and drink rum
Let blood sausage arrive, let everything arrive

We hope you are having a delicious holiday – maybe with some lechón!

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June 16, 2015 · 10:30 AM

Taste of Cuba Cafe, island flavors in Lincolnwood

cubaThere is nothing we like more than a lechon (roast pork) sandwich on crusty bread, so it goes without saying that we will drop everything to try a new Cuban restaurant in the area. When we learned that Taste of Cuba (3918 W. Touhy Ave, Lincolnwood, IL) was open near our hood we knew we had to try it. We also brought along three Cuban food newbies to convert.

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Taste of Cuba is located in a small strip mall off Touhy, but the inside is bright and colorful. We were greeted right away by the affable host, who was happy to hear that we had been sampling the other Cuban places in the area. The menu had all of the Cuban classics you would expect, including Ropa vieja ($13.95), Bistec Encebollado ($12.95) and lechon ($12.95) which come with a side and maduros (fried sweet plantains) or tostones. We all ordered sandwiches – a mix of lechon and Cubanos as well a side of maduros. The chef also brought out a free side of yuca fries for us all, with garlicly house mojo sauce, which turned out to be everyone’s favorite side of the da. I also ordered a cortadito ($2.50), which came in a cute little Cuban flag cup, and was very tasty.

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We got our sandwiches and maduros in short order, and they were generously-sized and made fresh to order. This was definitely some of our favorite lechon in the city – it was tender, flavorful, and the portions were generous. This was some seriously good food, and all of our Cuban foodie newbies were completely sold on this new-to-them cuisine. We topped everything off with a banana milkshake which came in a mason jar and a with a palm tree swizzle stick (nice touch!). We were definitely impressed with everything we had, and Taste of Cuba Cafe place is as good if not better than Cuban joints in the city proper. It is also BYOB! Coincidentally, Taste of Cuba will be opening a branch in the city soon – we can’t wait to try it.

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December 22, 2014 · 9:54 AM

Superb Cuban Lechon at Señor Pan

Señor Pan
4612 West Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL

cubaIf there’s one thing you know about M it is that he loves pig: bacon, pork, lechon. You name it, he loves it. We especially love whole roast pig prepared Caribbean style, or as lechon. We have been on the hunt for our favorite lechon in the city for the past year or so, and we have come up with some pretty great options, though the hunt continues. We were going to an event at the excellent SRBCC, and we wanted someplace quick and casual to eat, and came upon Señor Pan. When we learned they had lechon we were sold.

Senor Pan Interior

Señor Pan is located in a strip mall in the West side, in the Hermosa neighborhood. There is not much to see on the outside, but the inside is much nicer than you would think! It is decorated like a Cuban house, with an indoor trellis and murals. It was impeccably clean and super lively -filled with families, couples and groups of friends. There was also a full bar, but most people seemed to be enjoying the food. The menu is fairly large, with a selection of sandwiches and platters, including the popular Cubano and Medianoche sandwiches. For entrees there were a variety of steaks, chicken, and even salmon and some veggie entrees.

Senor Pan

We of course went with the lechon. L got a regular lechon sandwich (only $4.95) and M got the lechon platter with black beans and platanos maduros (grilled sweet plantains) for $9.95. However, the star of the show was definitely the lechon – it was juicy, well-seasoned and tender and perfectly complemented by the caramelized onions. The sandwich size was also excellent for the price – we couldn’t believe we got so much food for so little (and the Cuban bread was darn tasty, too). M ordered a banana batido/milkshake ($3.50); other varieties included mamey, mango and strawberry. L also got a traditional Cuban cortadito to finish the meal ($1.50)  – a small cup of strong, sweetened espresso. The cortadito was excellent – no bitterness at all!

Senor Pan

There was also a small selection of Cuban coffee and snacks to take home with you. It also bears noting that Señor Pan has a mascot, who is too funny not to include in this post. Señor Pan was definitely a great, and surprisingly-atmospheric, place for a bite. Go for the lechon and stay for the coffee.

Senor Pan

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October 29, 2014 · 10:15 AM

A taste of Cuba in Chicago at 90 Miles Cuban Cafe

cubaOur trip to Miami was a distant memory so we were jonseing for some of the tropical atmosphere. 90 Miles Cuban Cafe (2540 W Armitage Ave) is summer in Miami personified. If you go there on a nice day you absolutely have to eat outside. Of course, it only makes sense that I get around to this post just after our last pleasant day of weather has slipped away. No matter, there is ample seating inside as well. You can spot 90 Miles from afar due to the huge replica of the red, yellow and black southernmost point buoy in Key West – marking 90 miles to Cuba – get it?

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The menu is Cuban – read: meat heavy – but there are options for fish dishes and even some vegetarian selections. For those going for a lighter feel, you can also get fruit batidos (smoothies), though we always opt for the Cuban coffee drinks. But who are we kidding – we came here for the meat! The sandwiches at 90 Miles are pretty big and you get them with Cuban-style shoestring fries. The Cubano and Medianoche, two Cuban classics are top sellers ($11 each). Both consist of ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles & mustard, however the Cubano is on French bread and the Medianoche is on a sweeter challah-like bread. They seem appealing, but I always go with the citrus-marinated lechon con pan roasted pork sandwich with a side of sweet plantains ($11). M got the Roast Pork Puerco Rostizado, ($16) pork infused with guava, pan fried with grilled onions, with black beans and fried plantains on the side (15.95). We have also had Ropa Vieja (a beef stew) which was extremely tender and tasty ($16).

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Everything was delicious, and the lechon, especially so. We love nothing more than Cuban-style lechon, and 90 Miles always delivers. For dessert were were brought straight back to Calle Ocho’s Versailles Bakery with guava pastries and flans. However there are some new touches you may not see in Cuba – the Snickers Empanada – which is exactly what you would expect. We really enjoyed our trip to 90 Miles Cafe – it felt like a little slice of Miami. Logically, you know you are just on a patio in Chicago with some string-up lights, but it really makes all the difference in the world. Even if its a little chilly, there are space heaters….

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