It's lunchtime and you're in a Cuban restaurant. (I wish. *sigh*)
You think to yourself, "Self, I don't want anything too big. Maybe I'll just have a sandwich."
So you peruse the menu of said Cuban restaurant and find a few noteworthy sandwiches that you can choose from:
There's the classic Pan con Lechón or Cuban Pork Sandwich. You really can't go wrong there.
There's the not-so-subtly named Cuban Sandwich.
Or of course, the Elena Ruz – a delicious turkey, cream cheese and jam concoction (which I flagrantly re-invented, but that's not important right now).
But then your hungry eyes fall on this item on the menu: Pan con Bistec.
And you ask yourself, "What's a bistec?" (Bee-STEKH)
This, my hungry friend, is where you suddenly find that you've entered the Cuban Translation Fun-House.
Bistec is a (fabulous!) Cubanism for "beef steak."
Huh.
So then, you reason, Pan con Bistec is really "Bread with Steak" or…..
A Cuban Steak Sandwich!
Why didn't they just say so in the first place?!
And okay, you could certainly order that Pan con Bistec from our Imaginary Cuban Restaurant or you could make one using my recipe.
I am not even going to feign modesty here. I will go on record and unequivocally state that I make The Best Cuban Steak Sandwich EVER.
You can find my Pan con Bistec recipe posted around lunchtime today over at Babalú blog. (I like to post around lunchtime for maximum effect. =D)
Do you have a favorite Cuban sandwich?
(It's one of mine, isn't it?) 😉
I’m not a huge steak person (though occasionally, maybe). I could eat Medianoche sandwiches every day though.
I was wondering why you didn’t have a Pan con Biste recipe up. *sigh* I have to make it on either french bread, or italian loaf bread. No cuban bread anywhere around.HOWEVER, I cannot CANNOT believe you don’t put papitas into yours!!!!! Sacrilegio! (willy chirino impression)
My 14 year old son always loved to have an Elena Ruz in his lunchbox, but one day it evolved into a “Charley” Ruz when I ran out of turkey and substituted roast beef. An even bigger treat is a cuban sandwich, hot off the grill from Sedano’s supermarket. He closes his eyes and sighs as he takes that first bite (that’s my boy!) I will have to try your pan con bistec when the recipe comes up on Babalu this afternoon, because I’ve got a feeling my 17 year old Billy’s name will be written all over that one. As for my 11 year old daughter…she likes the Media Noche, because the bread is nice and soft and has a bit of sweetness to it. Her name? Andrea, but we call her Andie. And our terrier is named Jerry.Besos,
Angie Garcia
One word, but sounds like two: Medianoche!!
So excited you are posting this recipe! Can you do it soon, we are a few hours ahead. LOL : )This morning, as I do every morning, I stared into the freezer and tried to think about what I would cook for dinner. I decided bistec empanizado and left some sandwhich steaks to defrost.
Guess what I am making instead??????? So excited! Wait till I share with Kikita!
Marti,Yesterday I post on my status on facebook that “I’m cooking Picadillo for dinner.” So I get a lot of comments about friends wanting to come over for dinner (Mario started ;-)….when all of a sudden, my “American” friend from St. Louis, make a comment about this being our Sloppy Joe’s. I laughed so hard I couldn’t believe she saw it that way. Well, I did mention that Picadillo is a staple in Cuban food and there was nothing to it. But I think it take more then browning the ground beef and adding a can of Sloppy Joes. LOL!!!!
My favorite sandwich is the Pan con Lecon!!! I just had it on Sunday at Casavana in Miami Lakes. It’s delicious. I like it with the onions well cooked. But when I’m not that hungry, I usually go for the Elena Ruz.
Oh this reminds me of home! In NJ there’s a restaurant called Dos Amigos and all they make is Pan con Bistec sandwiches. We’re vegetarian now but I’d consider meat for a day just to have one. It’s got the best Cuban bread, thinly sliced, juicy pieces of meat and they top if all with french fries – perfectly fried and flavored with the oils from the meat. You can opt for onions and cheese too. So hungry now…off to lunch!
Porto’s Cuban Sandwich … with some Mariquitas to go with it!