Friday, April 01, 2005
The Cuban
About six months ago, hearing of the greatness of the Cuban Sandwich, I, for some reason beyond me now, thought it would be a good idea to order one from an Amtrak cafe car. Since then, I have been afraid to delve into the world of the Cuban, fearing dry bread, tasteless meat, and processed cheese.
So I decided today would be the day I would welcome the Cuban back into my world of sandwich love, but this time, it had to be right. So, I did some research on Chowhound, and decided on Havana-Chelsea as the spot to lift my Cuban embargo.
The restaurant is exactly what I expected and wanted. The small shopfront includes a display case of already-assembled sandwiches waiting to be pressed. I go in, sit on a stool, and order a large Cuban Sandwich. The man behind the counter takes one from the display case and tosses it on a flat iron press. I can smell the cheese melting and the bread crisping up. Soon after he delivers it to me, cut in two, sitting in a paper-lined basket.
This sandwich is only for those who can handle a lot of strong, meaty flavors. The copious amounts of roasted pork and just enough thinly-sliced ham easily stand up to the strength of the Swiss cheese and garlic mayo. The lightness of what I assume to be a true Cuban loaf (vs. a heavier Italian or French loaf) complete the sandwich perfectly with an air-filled crisp. In no time at all, my large Cuban Sandwich is gone.
It was by no means the best sandwich I've ever had. At times it's a little much. But at other times, the combination just melts together in my mouth. What made the experience was the setting. While I've never been to Cuba, I imagine this restaurant as a duplicate of such a place in Cuba. The restaurant was full of families, an old man, and a man and two women bickering about the cash register behind the counter. While it has a distinctly foreign feel to it, it is distinctly New York as well.
Upon re-entry to 8th Ave, I am surrounded by Gay Bars, a burger joint (I grab its menu, don't worry), and the busy New York street scene. While it may not have been the perfect sandwich, the experience offered me just what I wanted--an escape, if only for a few bites, to another world.
So I decided today would be the day I would welcome the Cuban back into my world of sandwich love, but this time, it had to be right. So, I did some research on Chowhound, and decided on Havana-Chelsea as the spot to lift my Cuban embargo.
The restaurant is exactly what I expected and wanted. The small shopfront includes a display case of already-assembled sandwiches waiting to be pressed. I go in, sit on a stool, and order a large Cuban Sandwich. The man behind the counter takes one from the display case and tosses it on a flat iron press. I can smell the cheese melting and the bread crisping up. Soon after he delivers it to me, cut in two, sitting in a paper-lined basket.
This sandwich is only for those who can handle a lot of strong, meaty flavors. The copious amounts of roasted pork and just enough thinly-sliced ham easily stand up to the strength of the Swiss cheese and garlic mayo. The lightness of what I assume to be a true Cuban loaf (vs. a heavier Italian or French loaf) complete the sandwich perfectly with an air-filled crisp. In no time at all, my large Cuban Sandwich is gone.
It was by no means the best sandwich I've ever had. At times it's a little much. But at other times, the combination just melts together in my mouth. What made the experience was the setting. While I've never been to Cuba, I imagine this restaurant as a duplicate of such a place in Cuba. The restaurant was full of families, an old man, and a man and two women bickering about the cash register behind the counter. While it has a distinctly foreign feel to it, it is distinctly New York as well.
Upon re-entry to 8th Ave, I am surrounded by Gay Bars, a burger joint (I grab its menu, don't worry), and the busy New York street scene. While it may not have been the perfect sandwich, the experience offered me just what I wanted--an escape, if only for a few bites, to another world.
// posted by Aaron @ 9:53 AM 
