Today, August 23rd, is National Cuban Sandwich Day, the day we celebrate what is perhaps the most perfect sandwich ever invented. From the buttered toasty Cuban bread hot off the sandwich press to the layers of ham and roasted pork under melted Swiss cheese with mustard and pickles, it just doesn’t get any better than this.
By most accounts, National Cuban Sandwich Day is not official, but who needs a piece of paper stamped by some government authority to make this a formal day of celebration? The Cuban sandwich is worth celebrating on this day and every day, for it is a masterpiece that few other sandwiches can come close to matching.
Of course, some have taken liberties in creating their own version of the Cuban sandwich. Some of these iterations fall woefully short of the original and are quite disappointing. Then there are others that reach the level of heresy (salami and mayonnaise on a Cuban sandwich is a heinous and godless act that deserves excommunication). None, however, has been able to approach, let alone emulate, the perfection of the original.
Like most things Cuban, the history of the Cuban sandwich is controversial. But the one thing we know for sure is that the best Cuban sandwich is not found in communist Cuba, but in the U.S.A., Miami in particular. Sure, there are some pockets around America where you’ll find a decent version, but no place in the world matches the Cuban sandwiches you will find in South Florida.
So on this momentous day, do yourself a favor and enjoy a Cuban sandwich. It’s the best damn sandwich you will ever eat.
Wait, but how come this is not available to the average person in Cuba?