Andrew T. Huse & Jeff Houck on The Cuban Sandwich: A History in Layers: Nonfiction

Andrew T. Huse is curator of Florida studies at the University of South Florida Libraries. His other books include From Saloons to Steakhouses: A History of Tampa and The Columbia Restaurant: Celebrating a Century of History, Culture, and Cuisine. The Cuban Sandwich: A History in Layers (University Press of Florida), co-written with Bárbara C. Cruz and Jeff Houck, tells the story of how the title treat became a symbol for a displaced people, won the hearts and bellies of America, and claimed a spot on menus around the world. The odyssey of the “Cubano” – combining Cuban bread, sweet ham, savory roast pork, perfectly melted Swiss cheese, and tangy, crunchy pickles – begins with its hazy origins in the midnight cafés of Havana. From there it evolved into a dainty high-class hors d’oeuvre and eventually became a hearty street snack devoured by cigar factory workers. Huse and his co-authors sort through vintage recipes, sift gossip from Florida old-timers, and wade into the fearsome Tampa vs. Miami debate (is adding salami necessary or heresy?) to reveal the social history behind a lunch-counter staple in the U.S. and beyond.

Jeff Houck is vice president of marketing for the Columbia Restaurant Group and previously worked as food editor, writer, and blogger for the Tampa Tribune. The Cuban Sandwich: A History In Layers (University Press of Florida), co-written with Andrew Huse and Bárbara Cruz, tells the story of how the title treat became a symbol for a displaced people, won the hearts and bellies of America, and claimed a spot on menus around the world. The odyssey of the “Cubano” – combining Cuban bread, sweet ham, savory roast pork, perfectly melted Swiss cheese, and tangy, crunchy pickles – begins with its hazy origins in the midnight cafés of Havana. From there it evolved into a dainty high-class hors d’oeuvre and eventually became a hearty street snack devoured by cigar factory workers. Huse and his co-authors sort through vintage recipes, sift gossip from Florida old-timers, and wade into the fearsome Tampa vs. Miami debate (is adding salami necessary or heresy?) to reveal the social history behind a lunch-counter staple in the U.S. and beyond.