Cuban sandwich
| Alternative names | Cuban mix, Cuban pressed sandwich, Cubano, mixto |
|---|---|
| Type | Sandwich |
| Place of origin | US / Florida |
| Main ingredients | Cuban bread, ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard |
| Variations | Salami in Tampa, no salami in South Florida Lettuce, tomatoes, & mayonnaise in Key West |
A Cuban sandwich (Spanish: Sándwich cubano) is a variation of a ham and cheese sandwich that likely originated in cafes catering to Cuban workers in Tampa[1][2] or Key West,[3] two early Cuban immigrant communities in Florida centered around the cigar industry. Later on, Cuban exiles and expatriates brought it to Miami,[2] where it is also very popular. The sandwich is made with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, and sometimes salami on Cuban bread.[1][4] Salami is included in Tampa, where there is a large Italian population, but is not usually included in South Florida.[5][6][7]
The Cuban sandwich is at the center of a long-running friendly rivalry between Miami and Tampa.[8] As part of that rivalry, the "Historic Tampa Cuban Sandwich" was designated the "signature sandwich of the city of Tampa" by the Tampa City Council in 2012.
