FOOD NEWS
Medianoche Is The Cuban Sandwich's Softer, Sweeter Cousin
By C.A. Pinkham
A Cubano has a special place in Florida's cuisine, but it might not be the only sandwich brought to the state by Cuban immigrants in the late 19th or early 20th centuries.
We're talking about the medianoche, which allegedly gets its distinctive name from being sold after 12 a.m. to night-shift factory workers getting out of work.
Like a Cubano, a medianoche is also made with pork, ham, Swiss cheese, yellow mustard, and sweet pickles and cooked in a sandwich press to be served warm and crispy.
However, where they differ is in the bread. A medianoche is made with a type of bread called pan suave, a soft egg bread that gives the sandwich a tender and pliant texture.
If you plan on making a medianoche at home but have concerns about tracking down a loaf of classic pan sauve, challah or brioche are great substitutes.