Greater Ybor City
Home of the Cuban Sandwich
Episode 1 | 4m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Explore stories and flavors surrounding the Cuban sandwich.
Dive deep into the rich history of the famous Cuban sandwich. The Cuban sandwich is an old-world family recipe, with German, Cuban, Spanish, and Italian roots. Apart from the taste that has captivated Ybor City for over a century, the Cuban sandwich represents community, family love, and generational bonds.
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Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Greater Ybor City is a local public television program presented by WEDU PBS
Greater Ybor City
Home of the Cuban Sandwich
Episode 1 | 4m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Dive deep into the rich history of the famous Cuban sandwich. The Cuban sandwich is an old-world family recipe, with German, Cuban, Spanish, and Italian roots. Apart from the taste that has captivated Ybor City for over a century, the Cuban sandwich represents community, family love, and generational bonds.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipI do whatever it takes to make bread.
In Spanish, it's called "Cuidar el pan", but it's called "Take care of the bread" in English.
So every time they look at me, they call me "Cuidar el pan."
It's just the heart of me, and it's natural.
I can't, I can't take it away.
I think I'm the best baker 'cause of the heart.
(upbeat trumpet music plays) My uncle was a baker.
My cousins are bakers.
My brother was a baker 'cause everybody always wants bread.
[Bakery Employee] We're making like 18,000 loaves a day, baked beautiful and gold as we do at La Segunda Bakery for over a hundred years.
(trumpet music continues) [Bryant] I've been working for La Segunda for 37 years as a baker, and I love my job.
Crew, What's up?
I love you man.
That's that right there.
That's the truth.
What's up Dwight?
How you doing today?
Good to see you, Bryant.
(upbeat trumpet music plays) - [Bryant] Cuban bread is a lot different than a hoagie bread.
You could get a good sandwich with a hoagie but, there's a difference with the Cuban bread.
(upbeat trumpet music plays) The flavor (Bryant laughs) (upbeat trumpet music finishes) (upbeat Latin instrumental music begins) [Andrea] Our Cuban bread, It comes from La Segunda Central Bakery right down the street in Ybor City.
We've been buying our bread from them over a hundred years.
Their Cuban bread is the best Cuban bread I have ever had.
And once you taste it, you can't ever eat any other kind of Cuban bread.
(upbeat Latin instrumental music plays) So, we have been here in Ybor since the beginning; 1903, that's the beginning.
Now, we are 15 dining rooms, 1700 seats.
We encompass a whole city block, and we're still serving those tastes of Spain and Cuba.
(upbeat Latin instrumental music plays) It's kind of magical when you think about what Ybor city was like back in the early 1900s.
How they would walk from their cigar factories and come to the Columbia Restaurant to get their Cuban sandwich or café con leche.
When I look at old pictures, it truly seemed like it was a magical place.
(upbeat Latin instrumental music finishes) (rooster crows) [Bryant] Basically, I growed up all over Ybor City and I loved it.
(car horn honks) From the cigar factories, Columbia Restaurant; the history.
(Latin drum music plays) [Andrea] We're melting all these different heritages in together.
It is almost like the French Quarter in New Orleans.
We refer to ourselves as the Latin Quarter, though.
(Latin drum music continues) Our Cuban sandwich represents all of those that came to Ybor City at the turn of the century.
You start with your Cuban bread; obviously, represents the Cubans.
You've got your ham, which represents the Spaniards.
You've got your roast pork which is mojo marinated; once again, the Cubans.
The salami, which represents the Italians and the Sicilians.
And then I always say the Swiss cheese represents Ybor City and how it was a melting pot of all these different heritages.
Yellow mustard, pickles, represents the Germans and the Jews.
We brush it with butter and you press it.
They all melt together.
They become one.
It is amazing, all the different flavors.
It's a party in your mouth.
(Andrea laughs) (people chatting) (bell dings) (waitress yells out) (cheerful Latin guitar music plays) [Bryant] When people come from out of state, all over, they go crazy for the Cuban sandwiches.
(cheerful Latin guitar music plays) [Andrea] It is a beautiful thing.
Proud doesn't even begin to describe the way I feel to be part of this family.
(cheerful Latin guitar music plays) [Bryant] I'm happy to bring out a product that represents the Cubans.
I like to give 'em the beauty of Ybor City.
(cheerful Latin guitar music finishes) (smooth piano music plays)
Greater Ybor City is a local public television program presented by WEDU PBS