Cuando en Miami

11.16.2009: After another tasty Abuela breakfast, we visited the cemetery where David's Abuelo (grandfather on his Dad's side) is buried. On the way we stopped to pick up flowers. This was the first time David had visited the cemetery and seen his Abuelo's grave, and it meant a lot to David to be able to visit the grave with Abuela and Katrina.



Jackie Gleason, the original Honeymooner, is also buried at the same cemetery and Abuela took us to see his large marble monument.



Cuando en Miami, or when in Miami, you must eat Cuban food. Hence, the Cuban Sandwich challenge! Our first contender - Sarussi Cafe. We had noticed this cafe several times on Calle Ocho while running errands with Abuela, and noticed the prominent banner claiming that it served the best Cuban sandwiches in Florida according to the Travel Channel. And if you have learned anything from this blog, it is this: when the Travel Channel speaks, David and Katrina listen, and usually eat something delicious! This Cuban sandwich had perfectly flaky Cuban bread - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The meat - ham and pork - was very thinly sliced, the mozzarella was gooey, the "secret sauce" reminded us both of a hummus spread and the crunch of the pickle was much welcomed. Unlike most Cuban sandwiches, this sandwich was placed in an oven and baked, not prepared in a panini press. The Cuban Sandwich challenge was off to an amazing start!

Before our second Cuban sandwich, we headed to Kendall, FL (a shout out to our favorite niece Kendall) to see the hospital where David was born.

David remembers going to the hospital as a child and seeing a giant pineapple fountain in front of the hospital. From a grown-up perspective, the fountain wasn't that giant, but was still quite lovely.

The second stop for Cuban sandwiches was Raffie's Cuban & Latin Restaurant. David's Dad had recommended a restaurant called the Latin American Cafeteria. We couldn't find it, as it had moved, so we called Dad and he texted us the directions. When we arrived, we found Raffie's.

The Cuban sandwich at Raffie's was definitely more traditional than the one at Sarussi Cafe. The bread was pressed in a panini maker until the insides were melted. The meat was thicker, traditional Swiss cheese and mustard was used, and the pickles were more plentiful. We ate while sitting at a cute table on the sidewalk outside the restaurant.

We both enjoyed both sandwiches, but at the end of the day, Sarussi Cafe was our favorite.

The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent at Abuela's, preparing and enjoying a dinner of steak, rice, plantains, black beans, and salad. As soon as we saw the size of the steaks and the huge pot of rice, we knew the second Cuban sandwich was a bad idea! But, never being ones to disappoint a grandmother, we ate well. Abuela had also received a perfectly ripe, giant avocado from a neighbor's tree. It was quite possibly the best avocado we have eaten and a perfect end to the meal!

Our days in Miami were also filled with many traditional Cuban treats, which we would like to share with everyone.

Each afternoon, Abuela would make Cuban coffee for her friend and neighbor Vicki, across the back fence. We hoped that she made extra because we were there, or else we don't think Vicki sleeps! Cuban coffee is pure espresso, slowly brewed, packed with sugar, and served in a tiny cup. Abuela taught us how to make it after we took interest, and of course, we ended up with our own Cuban coffee pot, coffee cups, blender (for the foam), and many bricks of Cafe La Llave to take home with us. Someday, when we have our own place, we would like to keep this afternoon coffee tradition alive, and you are all invited over for a cup of Cuban coffee!

Some of our other favorite things included pineapple soda, mango nectar, malta, all things guava (Cubanita guava paste pictured below), homemade empanadas, and the color of Abuela's house.