Medianoche facts for kids
A sliced medianoche with lettuce
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| Alternative names | Cuban sandwich |
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| Type | Sandwich |
| Place of origin | Cuba |
| Main ingredients | Egg bread, roast pork, ham, mustard, Swiss cheese, and sweet pickles |
The Medianoche (which means "midnight" in Spanish) is a yummy type of sandwich that first came from Cuba. It's super popular in Cuban communities, especially in the United States. People often call it the "midnight" sandwich because it was a favorite snack served late at night in Havana's clubs.
What's in a Medianoche?
A Medianoche sandwich is packed with delicious ingredients. It usually has tender roast pork, slices of ham, and a spread of mustard. You'll also find creamy Swiss cheese and sweet pickles inside.
One big difference between a Medianoche and its close cousin, the Cuban sandwich, is the bread. The Medianoche uses a soft, slightly sweet egg bread. This bread is a bit like Challah bread. The Cuban sandwich, on the other hand, uses a crustier type of Cuban bread. Just like the Cuban sandwich, the Medianoche is usually warmed up in a special press before you eat it. This makes the bread toasty and the cheese perfectly melted.
The Elena Ruz Sandwich
There's another interesting sandwich called the Elena Ruz. It's a turkey sandwich that uses the same soft Medianoche bread. But instead of pork and ham, it has cream cheese and sweet strawberry jam.
This unique sandwich is named after Elena Ruz Valdés-Fauli. She was a Cuban socialite who loved this combination. She convinced a restaurant in Havana called El Carmelo to add it to their menu. This happened sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s. Even today, some Cuban-American restaurants, like Versailles in Miami, still serve the Elena Ruz sandwich.
