World-Class Cuban Cuisine

World-Class Cuban Cuisine @ SPB By Peter Roos Photos by Janet Nummi

Monday, August 23rd, is national Cuban sandwich day, and September is Latin Heritage month, so August and September is the perfect time to talk about this. There is a Cuban infusion of St. Pete Beach underway. As evidence of the growth of the Cuban community in Pinellas, longtime Ybor City bakery famous for their Cuban bread, La Segunda Bakery, just announced a new Fourth Street St. Pete location coming soon.

On the beaches for years, until recently, The Floridian in Treasure Island was reader’s choice for the best Cuban sandwich. St. Pete Beach’s Barracuda Deli has also offered a delicious version, made with their own roasted pork recipe. While Tampa’s Ybor City earned the reputation for being the center of Cuban culture and cuisine in Tampa Bay, two new venues, just a block apart on Blind Pass Road in St. Pete Beach offering “World Famous” Cuban sandwiches, have definitely raised the bar. “Our favorite restaurant at Armature Works in Tampa was KUBA,” said Richard Nummi, “now we can pick up dinner at KUBA Cocina on Blind Pass and enjoy a sunset at the beach.”

KUBA ‘en La Playa’ (at the beach) opened a walk-up service window last month at 7525 Blind Pass Road. It was big news for Tampa Bay, with a photo of KUBA’s proprietor Felicia and the art on the side of the Centre of St. Pete Beach given the entire cover page of the Tampa Bay Times Taste section one

Sunday. Recently added picnic tables, shaded by sun shields, are available on a first-come basis. Open daily Monday-Saturday 10am-10pm and Sundays 10am-7pm.

There is also limited indoor seating and access to restrooms is available at The Centre of St. Pete Beach. KUBA’s Cuban sandwich won a coveted prize in a Tampa competition and is considered a world-class Cuban sandwich. They even have a breakfast Cuban.

KUBA just opened at the Centre of St. Pete Beach in June and is already attracting attention. Amenities continue to improve the dining experience, which includes a traditional Cuban coffee maker offering top quality coffee specialties including our favorite Café Con Leche. KUBA has also submitted an application for a liquor license and plans a premium full liquor bar by the time summer is over. Just one block north of KUBA’s new location is the other new venue for Cuban cuisine in St. Pete Beach.

Enjoy Pipo’s Pronto, “Latin Street Food,” which includes some of the favorites from Pipo’s Original Cuban Café, at Mastry’s Brewery, 7701 Blind Pass Road, St. Pete Beach (www.mastrysbrewingco.com).

Mastry’s was the beaches’ first craft brewery and has won more than its share of statewide quality competitions since they started brewing in a converted gas station five years ago. Mastry’s Kitchen, an onsite food truck, has recently joined the Cuban infusion by partnering with Pipo’s Original Cuban Café on Bay Pines Blvd. across from the VA hospital. Pipo’s founder and owner, Ramon Hernandez has wished for a location on the beach for years. He enthusiastically made Mastry’s Brewery the first location for Pipo’s Pronto. SHARABLES are a half dozen appetizers, including such favorites as boneless wings with your favorite sauce, crispy calamari, sweet and spicy grilled pork belly, empanadas, mojo cotija fries, and fresh corn chips and choriqueso (cheese) made with melted award-winning Mastry’s brown ale.

PLATES include popular quesadillas with choice of protein or vegetables, a taco salad with optional meat, shrimp or grouper, Pipo’s roasted mojo pork served with a creamy slaw mix and cotija cheese served on fresh tostones.

HANDHELDS include an appealing variety of sliders, tacos and wraps, featuring everything from chorizo burgers to Mastry’s Blonde Ale grouper sliders.

Pipo’s won the Cuban sandwich competition in Ybor City, amongst other awards, so many times they put them in the Hall of Fame so they could no longer compete. The opportunity to enjoy a combination of Pipo’s cuisine with one of Mastry’s award winning brews is very appealing. I for one am looking forward to judging for myself which is the best Cuban sandwich. By the way, both the chef/owners at Pipo’s and at Kuba are really happy to cater parties. For Kuba catering, call Felicia or Chris 727-409-4009. For Pipo’s, call Ramon 727-394-7476. Tell them you read about them in Paradise NEWS.