How "Food Led the Way" for Cuban Influence in Tampa

Let’s start with a classic: The Cuban sandwich. A soon-to-be-released book will explore its history and popularity around the world. University of South Florida Professor Barbara Cruz is one of the book’s co-authors. She was born in Cuba. And she says the sandwich has always been part of her life. Besides the Cuban sandwich, what other foods did Tampa’s early Cuban residents bring with them? For answers, we turn to Andy Huse. He’s a librarian and archivist at the University of South Florida and an expert on Tampa food history. Huse, Cruz and food writer Jeff Houck are co-authors of the upcoming book The Cuban Sandwich: A History in Layers.Related episodes: A Gasparilla Primer (featuring USF librarian Andy Huse) Singing Praises for Neighborhood Stores (featuring the hilarious Jeff Houck) The Cuban Sandwich: Our National Treasure Food Memories of Latin America Café con Leche: Tampa History in a Cup