Scene cover story: Seven great ethnic sandwiches

[Robin Garr]

Marty's free-lance efforts pretty much carry the CJ's Scene section today, as he provides the cover story as well as his weekly review. It's a nice piece, focusing on seven sandwiches with international flavors. I think I need to git me a banh mi, right now.

[url=http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070512/SCENE02/705120354/1044]International flavors
Louisville has great ethnic sandwiches[/url]

The Victorian ($6.25) - The Cafe at the Antique Mall
Banh Mi Thit Heo Nuong ($3) - Pho Binh Minh
Beef or chicken shawarma ($3.79) - Safier Mediterranean Deli
Torta Mexico D.F. ($7.99) - La Rosita
Cuban sandwich ($4.99) - ValuMarket
The Woody Allen ($5.95) - Stevens & Stevens Deli
Panino: Tomato, Pesto, Mozzarella ($5.25) - Lotsa Pasta

you can't forget this one ilove this sandwich and everything i've eaten there
Havana Rumba - $8.99
Roasted pork, Spanish chorizo, Serrano ham, provolone cheese, hickory smoked ham, mustard with pickles and aioli. Served on a hot press Cuban bread and sweet potato fries

[Robin Garr]

you can't forget this one ilove this sandwich and everything i've eaten there
Havana Rumba - $8.99

To his credit, Marty does mention it as a close runner-up to Valu's. I might rank them the other way around myself, but Marty makes the point that you save a few bucks when you buy it over the counter at Valu.

i don't get the paper
and i am talking about the Havana Rumba sandwich and if i'm not mistaken it's 1 or 2 dollers cheaper at lunch

is the cubin sandwich at value market served hot ?

Yes the cubano as Valu is served hot. It is a killer sandwich and easily enough for two people. I love Havana Rumba, but I get my cubanos at Valu Market.

I'm happy that Marty mentioned the Torta Mexico D.F. ($7.99) at La Rosita's.

It's a monster sandwich, and delicious.

after reading this i was craving a cubano sandwich
went to ValuMarket and picked one up it was at best ok of for my money i'll stick with Fernando's at Havana Rumba

[Robin Garr]

after reading this i was craving a cubano sandwich
went to ValuMarket and picked one up it was at best ok of for my money i'll stick with Fernando's at Havana Rumba

Fred, I've never done a side-by-side, but my instinct was the same. Valu's is a huge sandwich and a great buy, but to my recollection, it seems like it's more of a supermarket cold-cut sandwich, while the Cubano at Havana Rumba seems to be made from better ingredients. Of course, we're talking street food here, so supermarket ingredients are appropriate, but still ...

It might be fun to grab one of each for a direct comparison.

Excellent article that I am sure took quite a bit of leg work with sampling so many sandwiches from so many places. It is nice to see a writer who takes his craft seriously and hits home with a simple yet deep and informative message to a wide audience from the average reader to serious foodies.

Personally, I believe this to be one of Marty's best contributions to the CJ. Evidently he spent a lot of time and good eats compiling this story. I also think its spot on as I've tried several of his choices. The article compels me to try the rest. Way to go Marty. I really wish he could post here. If I'm not mistaken, isn't he writing for the CJ in a free lance capacity? Can't he post here, or did he sign some sort of contract prohibiting that?

[Robin Garr]

isn't he writing for the CJ in a free lance capacity?

Correct.

Can't he post here, or did he sign some sort of contract prohibiting that?

It wouldn't surprise me if Gannett <i>discourages</i> it, but I doubt that they would put something like that in writing.

I am somewhat reluctant to get another sandwich from ValuMarket. The first one I tried ended up having only tomatoes and lettuce in common with the sandwich I originally ordered, and then the bagger threw it in a bag sideways.

[Robin Garr]

I am somewhat reluctant to get another sandwich from ValuMarket. The first one I tried ended up having only tomatoes and lettuce in common with the sandwich I originally ordered, and then the bagger threw it in a bag sideways.

Yuk!

For clarity, R.N., are you talking about the South End Valu?

We went by the new Skid City Mall Valu over the weekend, by the way, and it didn't appear from the deli menu (although I didn't ask, they were busy) that they have the Cuban sandwich there.

I am somewhat reluctant to get another sandwich from ValuMarket. The first one I tried ended up having only tomatoes and lettuce in common with the sandwich I originally ordered, and then the bagger threw it in a bag sideways.

I've never had Valu Market put tomato on my cubano sandwich.

[Robin Garr]

I've never had Valu Market put tomato on my cubano sandwich.

I got the impression that he was talking about Valu sandwiches in general, not the Cubano.

How about it, RN?