Cuba vs. the Middle East

Surely, the conglomeration of nations in the Middle East would pummel the tiny island nation of Cuba in any sort of duel. But what about a fight with culinary underpinnings? In the last two days, I have been introduced to a new world of gastronomic delights from both of these regions.

Let's see how they measure up.

Contender #1
Tropicana Bakery & Cuban Cafe
(no website, sorry)

Location: 10218 Paramount Blvd., Downey

What I ate: Papa Rellena Preparada-This sandwich sounds boring, a simple croquette with ham & cheese on Cuban-style flatbread, but OH MY GOD. It just kept getting better with every bite. I even dreamt about it last night. Shared a Pan con Bistec with Mark, and this also kicked a$$ over any other steak sandwich I've ever tried. The Cortadito I drank (cafe y leche) arrived quickly with a cute happy faced steamed on top. The coffee had a hint of cinnamon and gave a much-needed late-afternoon jolt.

Service: Excellent. From the counter woman who explained all the different kinds of sandwiches and then apologized for her poor English, to the cashier who repeated everything in Spanish and then smiled when I answered, "Si," the service was top-notch. Even the wait staff was friendly and helpful when I kept asking for a description of what other patrons were eating.

Decor: Very spare, but with Cuban accents. Conga drums in one corner, a Cuban flag in another, and beautiful paintings of what I imagine are the local flora and fauna of this country that is off-limits to Americans like myself. What a shame.

Bathrooms: Yes, this warrants mentioning. Functional. Clean. Accessible. A+

When will I return? I'm guessing within less than a week. My sandwich dreams are already entreating me to go back. Soon.

Contender #2
Open Sesame Mediterranean Grill

Location: Two different locations on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore; same menu at both

What I ate: Vegetarian grape leaves as an appetizer-I'm familiar with this from Greek fare, but the spices in this incarnation were definitely stronger. Still, delicious. Next up, if you visit this restaurant, don't leave without trying the side dish of the fried potatoes. Fried potatoes, you say? Aren't those French Fries? Nope, not at this place. My dining companion (a former student from Saudi Arabia) assured me that this was a traditional Middle Eastern accompaniment to main dishes. They were a meal in itself, served with a great salad and tahini dipping sauce. For the big event, my friend ordered Kabssa, another dish spread throughout the Middle East. This mouthwatering lamb served over Mediterranean flavored basmati rice left me scraping my plate. The dipping sauce was one of my favorites: tangy and tart goat yogurt that I promptly went and bought at Trader Joe's the next day to eat with my leftovers.

Service: Not as good as at the Cuban bakery. True to the Belmont Shore vibe, the waitresses were a bit snooty for my tastes. Typical college students working their way through their academic studies with no investment in the establishment whatsoever. It ruined the atmosphere.

Decor: Open Sesame wins over the Cuban bakery because there was more attention to detail, and I already believe Middle Eastern art and architecture is a thing of beauty in itself.

Bathrooms: Sucked. You had to literally walk through the kitchen to get to the one stall that was not all that clean. Maybe the other location down the street (which looked bigger), had better offerings for customers. D-

When will I return? Probably the next time I hit 2nd Street, which is usually once every six months.

And the winner is (drumroll, please!)

The Tropicana wins by leaps and bounds
because of its secret weapon:
A gorgeously displayed bakery for takeout goodies

After Mark and I gorged ourselves on those heavenly sandwiches, we brought home a huge box of various bakery items (all under $10!) to sample later. Think Canter's on Fairfax in LA, but with a Latin twist...
...and a smaller price tag.