Do you know what a Cuban sandwich is? It is simple a variation of the ham and cheese sandwich. It came from cafes that had Cuban customers in the Key West and Ybor City in Tampa. These two are the early Cuban communities in Florida. Because of its popularity and tastiness, the National Cuban Sandwich Day is held every 23rd of August every year. You’ll learn more about this holiday below.
Many say a “true” Cuban sandwich, starts with Cuban bread. The loaf is sliced into lengths of 8–12 inches, lightly buttered or brushed with olive oil on the crust, and cut in half horizontally. A coat of yellow mustard is spread on the bread. Then sliced roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, and thinly sliced dill pickles are added in layers. Sometimes the pork is marinated in mojo and slow roasted.
About the National Cuban Sandwich Day
Cuban sandwich is made of Cuban bread loaf slices into lengths of eight to twelve inches. The bread is also lightly buttered and brushed with olive oil. It is cut horizontally in half. Usually, a coat of mustard is spread on the loaf. Layers of ham, cheese, pork, and thin pickles fill the bread to make up the sandwich. There are times when the added pork is first marinated in mojo and then roasted slowly.
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During the National Cuban Sandwich Day, people conduct various activities that let them achieve the objectives or purposes of the celebration. For one, people try to make their own delicious Cuban sandwich. Others prefer to buy and eat Cuban sandwich from a restaurant or bakery. People also shout out on social media how they are participating in the celebration of the event.
History
The early version of Cuban Sandwich originated in Cuba, obviously. But the Cuban sandwich that we eat today came from Tampa, Florida. The sandwich was popular among Cuban workers in the district’s cigar factories.
With some knowledge about the origins of Cuban sandwich, even less is known about the history of the National Cuban Sandwich Day. We don’t know when, where, and how it began. We also don’t have a clue as to who founded it. But still, we can make a good guess as to why such event was established in the first place. Perhaps a person or a group of people thought that Cuban sandwich is much loved by the people. They must have then thought that it deserves a spot in the list of food holidays celebrated every year.
Dates
As mentioned earlier, the National Cuban Sandwich Day is celebrated every 23rd of August each year. This means that the dates of celebration for this event are as follows:
- Sunday, August 23,
- Monday, August 23,
- Tuesday, August 23, 2022
- Wednesday, August 23, 2023
- Friday, August 23, 2024
- Saturday, August 23, 2025
Celebration Ideas and Activities
The following are the best things to do to make your celebration of the National Cuban Sandwich Day as best as it can be:
Make Your Own Cuban Sandwich
Of course, the best way to celebrate this event is to make your own Cuban sandwich. With a Cuban bread in hand plus all the ingredients needed for the sandwich, you can easily make one.
Purchase a Delicious Cuban Sandwich
Another good idea for your celebration of this wonderful day is to order Cuban sandwich from the bakery or pastry shop. For sure, these stores will be offerings lots of these sandwiches during or even before the event because they expect that a great demand for this sandwich will come due to the celebration. Just make sure to buy one or some from a bakery or pastry shop that offers Cuban sandwiches.
Celebrate on Social Media
You can also take your celebration of this day on social media. You can, for instance, use the hashtag #NationalCubanSandwichDay to let your friends and followers know that you are also participating in the celebration of this day. Let them know that such a celebration takes place every year and also how fun you are enjoying your day.
National Cuban Sandwich Day Quotes
- “By and large, we’re a bread-eating culture. People like sandwiches. We don’t really over-think that one.” — Fred DeLuca
- “I love a sandwich that you can barely fit in your mouth because there’s so much stuff on it. The bread should not be the main thing on a sandwich.” — Adrianne Palicki
- “I come from Yorkshire in England where we like to eat chip sandwiches – white bread, butter, tomato ketchup and big fat french fries cooked in beef dripping.” — Helen Fielding
- “Lunch is usually a salad or a sandwich. If I’m on set, I’ll have catering, but I’m well behaved with that stuff. It’s easy to go crazy – they know how to feed you.” – Emily Ratajkowski
- “Too few people understand a really good sandwich.” — James Beard
- “Call me All-American, but I love Ham and Cheese sandwiches. And not just any old ham and cheese sandwich… My mother’s is the best. I’ve tried many times to make these sandwiches on my own, but it’s never the same.” — Andy Roddick
- “It has been well said that a hungry man is more interested in four sandwiches than four freedoms.” — Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
- “The most appealing thing to me about food is combining and layering flavors, tastes, and textures. So the perfect sandwich has to be toasted. It has to have Emmenthal Swiss cheese and a combination of sweet and savory — some cranberry or fig thing happening — with different kinds of meats like Black Forest ham and roast beef.” — Kyle MacLachlan
- “I make a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” — Jack Black
- “I am a sandwich man. Somewhere early in life, my epigenetic switches got flicked to ‘likes sandwiches,’ and that’s where they still are. I suspect it’s at least in part because they’re easy to eat while reading.” — Tad Williams