Cuban Bakeries

There used to be a ton of Cuban bakeries in Key West. Little places where you could get a cafe con leche, a guava pastry and watch the cutthroat dominos matches.

Unfortunately high cost of living drove me out of my hometown. A friend is heading down on vacation and wanted to know about Cuban bakeries there.

To my shock none are listed anywhere. Does anyone know of any good Cuban bakeries left in Key West?

And does Jon%26#39;s Hams by the high school still make those wonderful cuban mix sandwiches?

Cuban Bakeries

Homesick, there are very few Cuban bakeries left.

My spelling is going to be way off but..Lade Chosa%26#39;s. It%26#39;s on White. What is the high school you remember?? Lade Chosa%26#39;s is on White near Catherine Street. I think it%26#39;s the only Cuban Bakery left. (latie chosa%26#39;s....I really don%26#39;t know how to spell it....I%26#39;ve only said the name).

Theresa%26#39;s Bakery is closed. That was the only other one I knew of.

Sandi%26#39;s Cafe is still open. It%26#39;s at White and...hmm, I think Virginia. At the M%26amp;M laudry mat. Also, Five Brothers is still open at Grinell and Margaret. Besides those I%26#39;m honestly at a loss for ';old school'; con leche and cheese toast (guava pastry) kind of places. Personally, I think Kim%26#39;s Cuban on Roosevelt at the intersection of 2nd St has the best cheese toast and con leche. It%26#39;s not an old place though. Run by Conch%26#39;s from Cuban decent. But, Five Brothers is still at the tops with con leche. I just like the swiss on my morning cheese toast (the old Cuban way....)

Cuban mix...well, Five Brothers or Paradise Cafe (Eaton and Margaret).

Dominos matches....those are a thing of the past. Have NO IDEA where to see that anymore.

I%26#39;m not familiar with Jon Hams. There is Little Johns at Flagler and Bertha (across from Napa Auto parts...what use to be the grocery store before the new Winn Dixie, Albertsons and Pulixs). I personally don%26#39;t like Little Johns. It%26#39;s gone way downhill over the years. That%26#39;s why I asked where the High School was. The school at the corner of Truman and WHite is now a government office building and the school on Southard is now empty..it%26#39;s Marc House...an plant shop (nursery) for the disabled. The new High School is on Flagler past Bertha (coming from WHite Street). It%26#39;s a big new place.

Cuban Bakeries

Thanks for all the info SDW. I guess I should have specified I went to KWHS on Flagler. Little Jon%26#39;s sounds like the same place but when I was there it was Jon%26#39;s Hams and the lines were out the door at lunchtime for Cuban Sandwiches.

But then I remembered Hickory House as a great steak place. I was shocked when I called and found out they are now a primarily seafood place and no longer offer ';Our world-famous rosin baked potato';.

I%26#39;m heading down myself in a couple months for a visit. Guess I will get to see first hand the changes time an tourism have wrought.

Does Don Capas still own Two Friends? He and my Dad were great buddies.

Thanks again for all the info I will pass it on.

El Meson de Pepe on Wall Street still has a good variety of Cuban food, esp appitizers and side orders. See if you can load this menu...

www.elmesondepepe.com/pdf/pepes_menu.pdf

The yacca is good to have with a drink. (They used to have half-priced bar food during the afternoon, but I%26#39;m not sure if they still do.)

Pjk

The Cuban influence in KW is, if anything, increasing. I believe there is a cuban bakery on White St just south of Truman. Another great spot for an authentic cuban experience (cafe con leche, guava pastry, picadillo etc) is Five Brothers which is on Southard St and Grinnell. Jose%26#39;s Cantina on White nesr Petronia is another nice Cuban place with good food, Cafe con leche, cubab toast, and real cuban feel.

KW has become Yuppified but it is still a great place tp visit with still some real charm. Come Back !

If you want hot dominoes, go to Calle Ocho in Miami. I was there several weeks ago and there were many games going.

The Cuban bakery on White is Lade Chosa%26#39;s. The place I have NO IDEA how to spell. The Cuban influence is not as predominant as it was when I first moved here in 1989. Around 40 percent of the population has been displaced in the past three years due to the cost of housing. People who bought houses 15 years ago for $50,000 are selling them for $1,000,000 and moving. Insurance has doubled. What cost $8,000 last year cost $13,000 this year. The middle class is quickly disappearing. I hope something, somehow will change in the next few years. The average cost of housing is $1000 a square foot.

SDW I agree wholeheartedly. I married a sailor and we got transferred out in 89. When we looked into moving back I was shocked to see the house we had been offered for 18,000( no that is not a typo, a renovated Conch house for 18 grand) in 1980 was selling for almost 2 million.

Thanks everyone for all the help.

Isn%26#39;t that amazing?? What%26#39;s a young person from this town suppose to do when they no longer live with the parents? Move! The dream of buying a house in this town is just that....a dream. Unless you make good money or are just rich.

On one of our more long term stays in Key West, we rented a flat on Seminary Street. Right around the corner from us was La Dichosa, and I went there at least once a day, for cafe con leche, pastries, or that great Cuban bread. The last I combined with leftover Steak Siboney or ropa vieja to make some killer sandwiches.

Man I can almost taste it now, time to throw a flank steak in the marinate........

THANK YOU for the correct spelling!!!

La Dichosa

That%26#39;s the way to spell it! I even looked in the phone book but couldn%26#39;t find it.

I think that place is sooo cool. In a rambling one store not so impressive building. Feels like you are stepping back in time.

zits