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They make media noches on the egg bread at La Ideal.
That's good. They should. Otherwise it's not really a media noche. Why the two places I mentioned couldn't understand that is beyond me. I mean, it's not like it some complicated dish. It's a freaking sandwich. I mean, if I ask for a pastrami on rye and get pastrami on pumpernickel, why am I the idiot lol?
I am Cuban too and I don't think there's any doubt that Miami has better and more "authentic" Cuban food. First of all there are a lot more Cubans who live there and consequently demand the food. Second there are a lot more Cuban restaurants and bakeries who have to compete with each other to make the best Ropa Vieja or the best Media Noche, etc. Third of all if there is any place in the country (and the world) that is "known" for its Cuban food, it's Miami, not Tampa. I don't know if Tampa ever had that designation, but if they did, they lost it. In Tampa there's a lot less of that competition among Cuban joints and that's why when you go to a Cuban restaurant in Tampa, you are basically thankful for whatever Ropa Vieja they throw at you. In Miami you can get a great Ropa Vieja every 50 feet and you can be picky about where to go eat it; in Tampa you can only go to a few places in the whole region and you cannot be picky and you have to be thankful they even have it on the menu.
Same goes for the bread. In Miami if you try to pass off the bread they serve at Pipo's as Cuban, for example, they'd laugh you out of business. I actually love Pipo's and I am only using that as an example.
You may not like the truth, but this is the truth. I have yet to meet a Cuban who doesn't think Miami has better Cuban food.
oh and by the way, I was in Cuba last year and the food there was soooo bad; i can honestly say that Miami has the best Cuban food in the world. in Cuba they just don't have the ingredients to make Cuban food. sad.
La Teresita is horrible. So is Arco Iris. The only place that is ALMOST LIKE MIAMI is West Tampa Sandwich Shop. But even there, the food is great but they serve bread that is NOT CUBAN!
Tampa needs a La Carreta, more Pollo Tropicals, and more Cuban joints. Maybe then the food/bread will improve.
Last edited by techservices25; 02-10-2010 at 11:07 AM..
I am Cuban too and I don't think there's any doubt that Miami has better and more "authentic" Cuban food. First of all there are a lot more Cubans who live there and consequently demand the food. Second there are a lot more Cuban restaurants and bakeries who have to compete with each other to make the best Ropa Vieja or the best Media Noche, etc. Third of all if there is any place in the country (and the world) that is "known" for its Cuban food, it's Miami, not Tampa. I don't know if Tampa ever had that designation, but if they did, they lost it. In Tampa there's a lot less of that competition among Cuban joints and that's why when you go to a Cuban restaurant in Tampa, you are basically thankful for whatever Ropa Vieja they throw at you. In Miami you can get a great Ropa Vieja every 50 feet and you can be picky about where to go eat it; in Tampa you can only go to a few places in the whole region and you cannot be picky and you have to be thankful they even have it on the menu.
Same goes for the bread. In Miami if you try to pass off the bread they serve at Pipo's as Cuban, for example, they'd laugh you out of business. I actually love Pipo's and I am only using that as an example.
You may not like the truth, but this is the truth. I have yet to meet a Cuban who doesn't think Miami has better Cuban food.
oh and by the way, I was in Cuba last year and the food there was soooo bad; i can honestly say that Miami has the best Cuban food in the world. in Cuba they just don't have the ingredients to make Cuban food. sad.
La Teresita is horrible. So is Arco Iris. The only place that is ALMOST LIKE MIAMI is West Tampa Sandwich Shop. But even there, the food is great but they serve bread that is NOT CUBAN!
Tampa needs a La Carreta, more Pollo Tropicals, and more Cuban joints. Maybe then the food/bread will improve.
Well, as you said, in Miami, they DEMAND it - where there is demand there will be supply. People seem satisfied enough with what they get in Tampa.
But I will say, that while my family is Spanish, not Cuban, my dad was the cook in the house and NO ONE made better ropa vieja than he did. Same with the mojo pork. Sadly he is gone now, and I have never been able to replicate his recipe.
I am Cuban too and I don't think there's any doubt that Miami has better and more "authentic" Cuban food. First of all there are a lot more Cubans who live there and consequently demand the food. Second there are a lot more Cuban restaurants and bakeries who have to compete with each other to make the best Ropa Vieja or the best Media Noche, etc. Third of all if there is any place in the country (and the world) that is "known" for its Cuban food, it's Miami, not Tampa. I don't know if Tampa ever had that designation, but if they did, they lost it. In Tampa there's a lot less of that competition among Cuban joints and that's why when you go to a Cuban restaurant in Tampa, you are basically thankful for whatever Ropa Vieja they throw at you. In Miami you can get a great Ropa Vieja every 50 feet and you can be picky about where to go eat it; in Tampa you can only go to a few places in the whole region and you cannot be picky and you have to be thankful they even have it on the menu.
Same goes for the bread. In Miami if you try to pass off the bread they serve at Pipo's as Cuban, for example, they'd laugh you out of business. I actually love Pipo's and I am only using that as an example.
You may not like the truth, but this is the truth. I have yet to meet a Cuban who doesn't think Miami has better Cuban food.
oh and by the way, I was in Cuba last year and the food there was soooo bad; i can honestly say that Miami has the best Cuban food in the world. in Cuba they just don't have the ingredients to make Cuban food. sad.
La Teresita is horrible. So is Arco Iris. The only place that is ALMOST LIKE MIAMI is West Tampa Sandwich Shop. But even there, the food is great but they serve bread that is NOT CUBAN!
Tampa needs a La Carreta, more Pollo Tropicals, and more Cuban joints. Maybe then the food/bread will improve.
If in Cuba they don't have the Cuban food, then why bother finding Cuban food elsewhere?
I am Cuban too and I don't think there's any doubt that Miami has better and more "authentic" Cuban food. First of all there are a lot more Cubans who live there and consequently demand the food. Second there are a lot more Cuban restaurants and bakeries who have to compete with each other to make the best Ropa Vieja or the best Media Noche, etc. Third of all if there is any place in the country (and the world) that is "known" for its Cuban food, it's Miami, not Tampa. I don't know if Tampa ever had that designation, but if they did, they lost it. In Tampa there's a lot less of that competition among Cuban joints and that's why when you go to a Cuban restaurant in Tampa, you are basically thankful for whatever Ropa Vieja they throw at you. In Miami you can get a great Ropa Vieja every 50 feet and you can be picky about where to go eat it; in Tampa you can only go to a few places in the whole region and you cannot be picky and you have to be thankful they even have it on the menu.
Same goes for the bread. In Miami if you try to pass off the bread they serve at Pipo's as Cuban, for example, they'd laugh you out of business. I actually love Pipo's and I am only using that as an example.
You may not like the truth, but this is the truth. I have yet to meet a Cuban who doesn't think Miami has better Cuban food.
oh and by the way, I was in Cuba last year and the food there was soooo bad; i can honestly say that Miami has the best Cuban food in the world. in Cuba they just don't have the ingredients to make Cuban food. sad.
La Teresita is horrible. So is Arco Iris. The only place that is ALMOST LIKE MIAMI is West Tampa Sandwich Shop. But even there, the food is great but they serve bread that is NOT CUBAN!
Tampa needs a La Carreta, more Pollo Tropicals, and more Cuban joints. Maybe then the food/bread will improve.
Tampa doesn't have a "new' Cuban community. Their Cuban community is far older and more integrated than Miami's.
Also, due to the fact that they rubbed elbows for decades with Spanish and Italian immigrants, there is a distinct cross-pollination of food in Tampa that is unique, from it's Italian to Cuban to Spanish food.
I am Cuban too and I don't think there's any doubt that Miami has better and more "authentic" Cuban food. First of all there are a lot more Cubans who live there and consequently demand the food. Second there are a lot more Cuban restaurants and bakeries who have to compete with each other to make the best Ropa Vieja or the best Media Noche, etc. Third of all if there is any place in the country (and the world) that is "known" for its Cuban food, it's Miami, not Tampa. I don't know if Tampa ever had that designation, but if they did, they lost it. In Tampa there's a lot less of that competition among Cuban joints and that's why when you go to a Cuban restaurant in Tampa, you are basically thankful for whatever Ropa Vieja they throw at you. In Miami you can get a great Ropa Vieja every 50 feet and you can be picky about where to go eat it; in Tampa you can only go to a few places in the whole region and you cannot be picky and you have to be thankful they even have it on the menu.
Same goes for the bread. In Miami if you try to pass off the bread they serve at Pipo's as Cuban, for example, they'd laugh you out of business. I actually love Pipo's and I am only using that as an example.
You may not like the truth, but this is the truth. I have yet to meet a Cuban who doesn't think Miami has better Cuban food.
oh and by the way, I was in Cuba last year and the food there was soooo bad; i can honestly say that Miami has the best Cuban food in the world. in Cuba they just don't have the ingredients to make Cuban food. sad.
La Teresita is horrible. So is Arco Iris. The only place that is ALMOST LIKE MIAMI is West Tampa Sandwich Shop. But even there, the food is great but they serve bread that is NOT CUBAN!
Tampa needs a La Carreta, more Pollo Tropicals, and more Cuban joints. Maybe then the food/bread will improve.
Dude, you are so ignorant. Tampa was THE ORIGINAL cuban immigration city. Tampa had cuban immigrants WAAAAAAAY before Miami did. Sure Miami has more immigrants today, but that means nothing. Tampa still has plenty of cuban resturants all over and is still known for cuban food. Im not saying Tampa's is better, but Tampa's is damn near as authentic as Miami's.
Well, as you said, in Miami, they DEMAND it - where there is demand there will be supply. People seem satisfied enough with what they get in Tampa.
But I will say, that while my family is Spanish, not Cuban, my dad was the cook in the house and NO ONE made better ropa vieja than he did. Same with the mojo pork. Sadly he is gone now, and I have never been able to replicate his recipe.
That's funny that your Spanish dad made the best Ropa Vieja. My late Irish uncle made the best arroz con pollo and everyone of our Cuban and Cuban American friends in Miami would agree. In fact, he even had some of the older ladies make a few batches for parties because they loved it so much. It became a running joke amongst us all that if you want the best Arroz con Pollo you had to go to the old Irish guy lol.
Gah! Like I said before, the more I read this thread, the more I want some good cuban food. Unfortunately I can't cook worth a darn and I don't like any of the places near me. Add to that that the only CA family in my neighborhood that I know are just the meanest people you would ever want to meet and I am sol.
Does anyone like "bollitos" - those little fried fritters made from black-eye peas and spices? I love those soooo much! Can never find them anywhere, and found a recipe to try, but you got to soak those peas and take off the skins and that's a lot of work!
Think I am going to have to try to make some "ropa vieja" next week. Anyone know a good recipe? Going to have to try to find some "real" Cuban bread to go with it, too! (slurp-slurp!) sure am getting hungry!
Dude, you are so ignorant. Tampa was THE ORIGINAL cuban immigration city. Tampa had cuban immigrants WAAAAAAAY before Miami did. Sure Miami has more immigrants today, but that means nothing. Tampa still has plenty of cuban resturants all over and is still known for cuban food. Im not saying Tampa's is better, but Tampa's is damn near as authentic as Miami's.
A)Based on what I read in tech's post, I think your "ignorant" comment was uncalled for; hopefully you were just playing. B) I don't eat much Cuban food as I east mostly a vegetarian diet so I'm not real familiar with the restaurants but as I've spent a lot of time in both Miami & Tampa areas, I agree with tech in that to me it seems Miami es más Cubana. And that's about all the Spanish I know so don't even bother testing me.
As to Cuban bread, now that I hear it's made with lard, well, I guess I won't be having any more of that. Bummer too. I love bread.
PS, Curious about your comment about Tampa being "THE ORIGINAL cuban immigration city", so I wiki'd it.
A)Based on what I read in tech's post, I think your "ignorant" comment was uncalled for; hopefully you were just playing. B) I don't eat much Cuban food as I east mostly a vegetarian diet so I'm not real familiar with the restaurants but as I've spent a lot of time in both Miami & Tampa areas, I agree with tech in that to me it seems Miami es más Cubana. And that's about all the Spanish I know so don't even bother testing me.
As to Cuban bread, now that I hear it's made with lard, well, I guess I won't be having any more of that. Bummer too. I love bread.
The Definition of ignorant: Lacking of education or knowledge. When techservices25 said Miami's cuban food is "more authentic", That Tampa is "not known for cuban food", "only has a few places" (cuban resturants), and passing on he's food preferences as a fact, not an opinion, than my Ignorant comment has been justified. Techservices25 is failing to realize that, just because Tampa's Cuban food not the same as in Miami, that it must not be "authentic", and that is just ignorant.
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