July 16, 2006
The Hungry Cabbie Eats The Outer Boroughs: El Gran Castillo De Jagua
What's a Cuban sandwich without any pickles? It's just a ham and cheese sandwich, that's what it is. And too many supposedly legitimate "Spanish food" joints think they can get away with serving their Cubanos sans pickles.
Even at Mambi's, a Washington Heights institution where they spread an incredibly tasty garlic mayo on the classic sandwich, Cubanos come without pickles more often than not. Mambi's ham and cheese sandwich is delicious, but when I order a Cubano I expect pickles.
So if you want to be sure your Cubano is packed with robust pickle punch, head to El Gran Castillo de Jagua. At Flatbush and Park Place on the Prospect Heights side, you'll find Castillo's austere dining room and cramped, sweltering lunch counter. You can watch as your pickles are loaded onto your sandwich alongside two kinds of salty, juicy pork and Muenster cheese. Once it's pressed, the flavors merge to produce a Cubano the way the lord intended.
The pickles exhibit a Roy Rogers fixin' bar quality, but I'm no pickle snob so that's a good thing in my book. Real Cubanos are usually concocted out of kitchen leftovers anyway, and a classy pickle would be out of place.
The Cubanos at El Gran Castillo de Jagua are certainly the genuine article. They're bona fide. What are you?
El Gran Castillo de Jagua, 345 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-622-8700
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You got the address wrong. It's Flatbush and Park Place and Carleton. St. Marks is several blocks towards Manhattan.
I find it extremely strange that the eatery's sign says "Spanish and American Food."
Spanish people (Spaniards) don't eat any of that shit.
Authentic Spanish cuisine has nothing whatsoever to do with Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Argentinian, etc. food. Just because these cultures speak Spanish doesn't make them Spanish.
N.B. - No, I'm not Spanish.
One complaint about "Cuban" sandwiches in NYC is that they use Italian or other non-Cuban bread. I have yet to find the real deal. Cuban bread makes a huge difference in texture and taste.
Have to throw in a shout for La Congita in Jersey City on Manila here. It's kind of like the sixth borough, right? Okay, no, but it's still damn good. The cubano and coffee are killer and cheap.
i dont give a fuck if the bread is authentic.. it looks delcicious!
It is kind of strange that they call it Spanish food. I've noticed that a lot of PRs, Dominicans, Cubans and others call it Spanish food. I guess its just a catch all for places that serve rice and beans +.
I wouldn't say "Authentic Spanish cuisine has nothing whatsoever to do with" these cultures. I wish there was nothing such thing as the imperial legacy.
Spaniards I know happpen to love Cuban food, and Cuban food is much like Spanish food. Food that is good is good, regardless of what you label it. As for me, I'm headed to the Castillo de Jagua in Brooklyn
Josh obviously knows not a thing about Spanish food.
Spaniards don't eat "rice and beans." Not together.
Now if they can just implement this approach to operating the audio/navigational stuff in my car...then mainstream users hopefully wouldn't be bombarded with those annoying legal splash screens on the navigation screen every time one tries to change the station on the radio.
Good post!!
If you're ever in Austin, I'll take you for a Torta Cubana de Milanesa at Taqueria Arandas.
I'm curious how a Jalisco Style Taqueria's take on the cuban sandwich would strike you.
Are there many Jalisco Style places in NYC? I don't remember seeing any during my travels, but you've obviously seen more of the city than I. They are a big part of the scene here in Tx.
I am a white guy who grew up near the Mexican boarder. Down there, Mexicans and gringos alike called Mexican food, “Mexican food.” So when I moved to New York and began working with mostly Dominicans and Puerto Ricans in upper West Harlem, I was surprised to hear all my coworkers refer to Dominican and Puerto Rican food as "Spanish" food. They thought it was bazaar of me to consider it a (potentially offensive) misnomer. Things got easier when I found out that everyone called Chinese food, "Chinese food."
"border"...sorry
Can you recommend a good Cuban samwich in the DC area? One time, I had one in downtown DC but it was my first and only so far so I don't have a frame of reference for a good Cubano. It wasn't that impressive either. There was a pickle deficit.
Dude you are the godamn best. Keep the exploration up. Damn!
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