Ropa Vieja (old clothes) also requires some onions, bell peppers, garlic, cilantro, and tomato paste. It's best if done in a slow cooker until the meat falls apart, or shreds, like old clothes. Be sure to use dry, white cooking wine too, not just any old white wine.

As for the black beans, you can make a very Cuban-ish replica very quickly by using the canned Goya black bean soup (must be the soup), available in most Krogers here in Texas, where real Cubans, Cuban restaurants, and Cuban cooking ingredients are like hen's teeth. Back to the black beans...heat some two tbsp of extra virgin olive oil in a sauce pan until hot. Then add some minced garlic to taste and cook the garlic until it starts to tan. Pour in the beans and 1/4 can of water. Heat to a boil, then simmer. Stir occasionally. Some of the water will boil away so watch it to make sure you get the desired consistency. I like mine between watery and slightly thick. Pour over white rice. Freaken enjoy.

Two types of plantains you can cook. If you do the tostones, slice the peeled plantains into wheels (about 1" thick) while the plantain is green. Fry until slightly brown, remove from oil, smash, refry, add salt. For the platanos maduros or platanos fritos, wait until the plantain is black and ripe, slice diagonally, then fry until the outside has hints of black caramelization.

Brought to you by a resident authentic Cuban, CarlosC.

I wish I could find a decent cuban sammich up here.

Worked in Tampa for 6 years and never had a Cuban with Genoa salami.

Six years in Tampa, ~ two years in Miami & ~ 9 months in PR.  I came to realize that I would weigh 300 pounds very quickly due to all the carbs and massive quantities of food Cuban places give you.  On days that I ate Cuban (5 out of 7 days) I would split my meal into two (lunch and supper.)

Love Cuban sandwiches.

You must not go to Ybor City much.

Only once when I took a wrong turn.

It was physically painful to read this, I miss them so

I'd think that Cigar Central (Ybor city) would have Cubans living there.

I grew up in the FL Panhandle, in Fort Walton Beach.  Until I moved away, I never really appreciated the awesome fusion of cultures that exists in that area.  Southern, Cuban, Spanish, Greek (quite a few 1st / 2nd generation Greeks there), French / Louisianan / Cajun and a lot of Asian restaurants from the refugees and military spouses from all over the world.  Truly an amazing place to live.
I could go for an authentic Cuban or a Muffaletta right now!

Never had one.

Don't think I'll find any close to Canada.

Ok, found a few.

Since I have nothing to compare against, I won't know if it tastes authentic though

Try Havana Cafe at the NE corner of Buckner and Garland Road (Casa Linda). Pretty damn good. As for creds, I lived in Florida for 30 years, and Tampa specifically for a few years while in school. Have had Cuban sammiches from Key West to Jax-ville. Havana Cafe is a solid B+-A-.

Let me tell you how to make your own. I see you live in Canada so I'll do my best.

Go to Walmart Canada in your area and buy the following items:

1) Fresh baked deli Cuban bread (or loaf of French bread if Cuban is not sold there)

2) Buy about 1kg of fresh deli sliced baked Ham

3) You need about 1/2kg of thinly sliced roast Pork

4) 1/2kg of sliced Swiss cheese

5) Jar of sliced Dill pickles

6) Mayo and mustard mix, also called Cuban mix (mix desired amount of mayo and mustard together in small bowl

Slice bread into desired length and cut in half lengthwise
Spread Cuban mix on both sides of bread
Add sliced Ham to cover bread (however much you want)
Add sliced roasted Pork (or Genoa Salami if you wish)
Top with Swiss and pickles (I do without pickles)
Cover with top slice of bread and eat cold or press your sandwich in a skillet with a slight amount of butter on both sides. Cut sandwich diagonally and enjoy!

I read your post instead of looking at ND. Sorry.  

It's ok, thanks for the recipe

Just need to convert kg to lb now

Minor fine tune: The Ybor City style doesn't substitute Genoa salami food the pork. Rather, all three meats are present.

Good write-up.

No problem. 1kg is about 2.2lbs.

Lol, didn't intend for you to convert.  I Forgot the "I" in the post.

Yes. It's been at least 20 years since we visited Columbia restaurant and all I can say is their Sandwich Cubano was excellent. If memory serves me correctly (I could be wrong) I don't think Columbia served pressed sandwiches back then.

fuck that.  salami does not go in a cuban sandwich or a media noche.

media noche>cuban

i love that place.  one of the few restaurants that's worth the wait.  don't forget the coffee and guava-cheese empanadas!

Tampa invented it,

Miami perfected it