Good music, culture and, no doubt, Cuban sandwiches were the featured attractions to the Cuban Sandwich Festival in Ybor City Centennial Park on Saturday.
Tampa and Miami have been going back and forth for months over which city has the best Cuban sandwich.
“There is no doubt we have the best Cuban sandwich,” Tampa City Councilwoman Yvonne “Yolie” Capin declared at the festival.
Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn jumped into the debate and had choice words for Miamians who think their Cuban sandwichs are better.
“There’s no question it’s Tampa. Sorry, Mr. Mayor of Miami," Buckhorn said. "We love our Cuban sandwiches and we’ll take it to you any day of the week. Don’t even come here, because we’re going to put it to you."
Whether they liked the traditional sandwich with just pickles, mustard, salami, ham and cheese, or something a little more fancy, other tasters and cooks in Tampa agreed they got the best in Ybor City on Saturday. “It’s the best sandwich in Tampa so far,” said Angel Bonilla of 'Mata Munchies' in Tampa.
As for the best of the best in the Bay area itself, celebrity judges spent hours tasting various Cuban sandwiches to make that decision.
Miami-Dade County resident Isaac Sklar said the competition was tough and he knows what makes a good sandwich. “I’ve been eating Cuban sandwiches for almost 80 years,” said Isaac Sklar, who brought his sandwiches from 'Cuban Guys' in Hialeah.
The judges chose the following Cuban sandwiches as the best:
Traditional
- 1st Place - Michelle Saedo’s On the Go –Tampa
- 2nd Place - Stone Soup Co. – Ybor City
- 3rd Place - Café Masaryktown – Hernando Co.
Non-Traditional
- 1st Place – Gaspar’s Grotto – Ybor City
- 2nd Place – Ronnie Pastrami’s – Pinellas Park
- 3rd Place – Cuban Guys – Hialeah (Miami-Dade)