Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

McNasty's

Walk The Walk- Taste The Trucks Friday in Wright Dunbar

By

Five of Dayton’s veteran food trucks have joined together to present Taste The Trucks this Friday night as part of Wright Dunbar Inc’s annual Walk the Walk event.

West Third Street between Shannon and Broadway Streets will be shut down from 5-9pm so you can Taste The Trucks.  G’s Cue BBQ, HungerPaynes, McNasty’s, PA’s Pork, and The Wicked ‘Wich will be set up and ready to serve you. Each of the trucks will be presenting a brand new food item and you can try all five for just $20.  There will also be a vegetarian selection at each truck.  You can pre-purchase your truck ticket book online and avoid any lines, and speaking of lines, since each truck is just presenting one item, the service will be extremely quick, eliminating the long lines often found at other food truck gatherings. Tables and chairs will be set up, but you are encourage to bring your own lawn chairs and kick back and enjoy the live music presented by Premium Blend.

Walk the Walk refers to Dayton Region’s Walk of Fame, which highlights 170 of Dayton’s  outstanding and enduring personal or professional contributions to the community, nation and the world.  Visit the place where three exceptional men, Orville and Wilbur Wright, and Paul Laurence Dunbar called home.  We’ll be celebrating the 2018 honoree’s, who will be added to the Walk on September 27th at an induction luncheon to be held at the Sincalir Conference Center.

The 2018 honorees are:  Hannah Beachler, Major General George R. Crook, Dr. Richard A. DeWall, Robert C. Koepnick, Police Sergeant Lucius J. Rice and Policewoman Dora Burton Rice, and Julia Reichert.

Begin your visit at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, where KIDS LOT will have a children’s activity center set up, inviting the youngster to create dream catchers, space shuttles, and even their own Dayton Walk of Fame square.  There will also be a chance to pilot their own plane virtually, courtesy of Dayton’s Air Camp.

Quest For The Best: Cuban Sandwich

By

Suddith with children at a church in Pedro Betancourt, Matanzas Pr. Cuba

13 years ago, after a long wait in Miami, and longer wait in Havana, I stepped out of the Jose Marti airport into the sweltering heat of Cuba in the summer. A friend was waiting for me with a cold Coca-Cola and pulled me around the crowd. I was the last of the team freed from the security detail and he had found our lunch. A little food stand on the curb serving sandwiches. The only item on the menu, roasted pork, and ham with cheese. The Cuban served with plantain chips and a can of the national cola, Tu Cola, for less than $2.00 American.

The classic Cuban sandwich doesn’t come with lettuce and tomato, or mayo or a relish. It’s simple. Like the way Cubanos live. Pork is in abundance in Cuba and alongside chicken, is the main protein consumed on the island. Beef and seafood are still quartered off for tourists and elites. The french bread is picked up daily in the market with a ration card and is perfect when a day or two old. The sandwich is normally pressed to help heat the day old meats through and melt the cheese. Cheese quality on the island varies, but a version of the sharp swiss we know here is used most often. The Cuban is a staple in open air markets and is called “Sandwich mixto”. The combining of two types of meat on one sandwich. Most often roasted pork and ham, occasionally it can be found with salami.
 
My love affair with Cuba started that day, under a tree, eating that sandwich and drinking a soda. I’ve returned 3 times since then and will be back later this summer. In between trips I perfected my espresso making and have searched Dayton looking for that sandwich on crunchy french bread, the right mix of meat, cheese, pickle, and mustard. In my quest for the best, I found these.

 

El Meson in West Carrolton.
It should come as no surprise that El Meson, specializing in Spanish, Caribbean and South American fare should have the area’s best Cuban sandwich. The Pork is seasoned perfectly with spices I can only describe as uniquely Cuban. Oregano, cumin, parsley, black pepper, all together smells of a Cuban country kitchen. They layer the pork alongside pickle, mustard, and swiss. Finished in a press, the roll comes back with a crunchy exterior ready to handle the juicy pork. Order it with a side of black beans. Sit on the patio, enjoy the sunshine, imagine you are in a Havana cafe all for under $10.00.

 

Don’t send angry letters. I get it. It’s not local. It’s not genuine. But trust me here. Buried deep in the voluminous menu there’s a hidden gem or two. My favorite is the Cuban sandwich. The Factory has done their research and their Cuban is on point. French roll pressed flat, pickle and mustard only. Nothing special. They make it the classic way, with roasted pork and a portion of thinly sliced ham under the swiss. It tastes just like the food cart outside Jose Marti. Skip the sides, they pale in comparison.
 
For the most authentic experience, skip the waiters, forks and nice table service. A roaming food truck is the best way to go. For a Cuban sandwich in Dayton, find McNasty’s. It has all you need. Perfectly pork, sweet ham, swiss cheese melted, that pickle and mustard in between a crusty pressed french roll.  It is no frills, just the way you might get it in Havana Viejo.
Annie’s at Second Street Market
The Second Street Market always impresses me. The Cuban at Annie’s is no exception. Pork, ham, swiss, mustard and pickle, pressed and wrapped to go just like on the Island. Annie’s pork is a bit more shredded than I normally like. This changed things for me, but the flavor is still there. Equal pickle, mustard, and pork is balanced by the swiss. Every bite was a memory.

 

Where do you find a great Cuban sandwich? Let us know is the comments or on our Facebook page at Facebook.com/mostmetro
Instagram photos used with permission by @mle_m