Ay Caramba! The Three Guys From Miami Make a Guest Appearance on Univision's Despierta América!

We walk into a scene of what can only be described as organized chaos. From a long hallway outside the main studio at Univision headquarters in Miami, a series of guests and their handlers thread their way through a moving maze of musicians frantically gathering up assorted drums, guitars, horns, keyboards and a few other instruments – some recognizable as only a blur as the musicians hurry by.

It's commercial break time at Despierta América and that means the entire studio is in motion as sets move, cameras are re-positioned, large black electrical cables are wrangled across the floor. Occasionally one of the cords catches the foot of an unsuspecting bystander. Musicians, guests, and the hosts of the show are also in motion as they quickly take their places on the various sets that fill the large studio.

Just before the last break one of the hosts, who happens to be a dog named Cosita, was dressed in a flying costume complete with wings, attached to a wire, and "flown" around the studio as two of the human hosts chatted in the foreground. That's right; a dog was flying around the studio!

Although everyone behind the scenes welcomes us warmly, they soon immerse us in the madness of live television. Our cooking area is a countertop on wheels with a four-burner cooktop and some storage below. One of the floor managers rolls the countertop into the narrow hallway and plugs it in.

We are soon setting out our ingredients and starting the sofrito in the frying pan. As we cook, we of course have to dodge the nearly continuous parade of performers making their way into and out of the studio.

The hosts, Raúl Gonzalez, Ana María Canseco, Fernando Arau, and Neida Sandoval all perform way "over the top" in the Univision style. Every third sentence ends with an exclamation mark, and there is no lack of energy in this studio, except for the dog Cosita who lies so stiffly and quietly on the couch you'd swear that she was stuffed. This is one laid back Latin dog!

No matter the segment or the topic, the hosts manage to include some singing and dancing in just about everything they do. Today's special guest is legendary Cuban singer Willy Chirino, and he appears frequently throughout the three-hour show leading the cast and crew in a sing along and generally adding a musical element to the festivities. He is joined by Latin artist Ektor, who premieres his hot new music video.

Labor Day weekend featured a Three Guys From Miami style pigroast in Tampa. The occasion? (As if we needed an occasion to roast a pig.) Nephew Neil and his significant other Angie are having a baby! To celebrate the event, Neil's cousin Frank hosted a baby shower on Saturday and a pigroast on Sunday. The Miami clan came to Tampa for the weekend where everyone enjoyed some great Cuban food.

On Saturday, we picked up our pig at the Tampa Steak Company in one of Tampa's classic Cuban neighborhoods. After basting it in mojo and stuffing every nook and cranny with chunks of garlic, we put the pig away to marinate overnight. Then it was time for the baby shower and everyone had a great time teasing Nephew Neil. We have to be honest. We never thought Neil would ever be a father!

The next morning, master pigroaster Raúl Musibay was in charge at the scene, directing the roasting of the pig. Sunday morning also meant a trip for the best Cuban bread in Tampa: La Segunda Bakery graciously provided some great fresh loaves for our party.

The pig was one of the smaller ones that we have roasted. However, the plan was to use the pork meat to make delicious pan con lechón sandwiches, and there was plenty of pork for everyone.

Cousin Frank has a Tampa-style pig roaster as a permanent fixture in his backyard. Raúl accepted the challenge of working with some unfamiliar equipment and although the pig did take a little longer to cook, it tasted great. And we were able to enjoy a few more beers in the meantime.

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Watch us cook our famous paella and a couple of other Cuban dishes at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota on Saturday, November 19 at 3:00 PM. Yes, Jorge and Raúl will be joining Glenn in Minneapolis for a change!

Details:

Three Guys From Miami

Saturday, November 19

3:00 PM

Mall of America

In the Rotunda

60 East Broadway

Bloomington, MN 55425

La Segunda Bakery is Numero Uno with the Three Guys!

Tampa Steak Company: The Best Place for Meat in the Bay Area

Tampa Steak Company is a great place to get Cuban cuts of meat, real Spanish-style chorizo – even a whole pig ready for roasting.

Cuban immigrant Humberto Gonzalez, Sr. started the company in 1970 as a small retail meat market in downtown Tampa. The succeeding years have been good for the Gonzalez family; they run a booming wholesale and retail meat operation from their current location in west Tampa.

The company delivers fresh meats to stores and restaurants in the Tampa area and also exports meat to the Caribbean. The company is now in the hands of the second and third generation: Humberto Gonzalez, Jr., and Humberto Gonzalez, III.

Tampa Steak is where our Tampa clan gets their pigs for roasting. Although they do a lot of wholesale business, they have not forgotten the small retail customer. We especially like the friendly and attentive service. At Tampa Steak the customer is king!

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It may be true that nobody bakes a better loaf of Cuban bread, but one thing is sure. We doubt that anyone has been doing it longer that La Segunda Central Bakery in Tampa. The original bakery La Primera, or "the first," opened in 1915. La Segunda, "the second" was built after the original building burned down in 1957. The bakery has always remained a family operation, now run by the third generation of the Moré family.

The bakery has grown and it now turns out more than 7,000 loaves of Cuban bread each day, most bearing the distinctive charred remnants of a palmetto leaf that is indicative of a genuine La Segunda loaf. The palmetto leaves are placed on top of the loaves and brushed with water. During baking, the wet leaves create the distinctive cracking of the crust along the leaf line.

If you have ever eaten Cuban bread in Ybor City, chances are it came from La Segunda Central Bakery. Those in the know drive right to the source where you can buy fresh loaves directly from the bakery's retail store.

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Up Next a NEW Cookbook:

"Three Guys From Miami Celebrate Cuban"

All about Cuban parties, celebrations, and the dishes that go with them!

Coming to a bookstore near you in Fall 2006!

Islas Flotantes

Although Cuba is a floating island of sorts, Islas Flotantes is a dessert that is not unique to Cuba. It's actually part of the cuisine of several European countries.

A lot of fancy American restaurants used to serve this dessert in the 1950's. Americans loved it and it became a popular dish at Havana restaurants.

The name of this dish comes from the little islands you make with the beaten egg whites. It's like having delicious little meringue boats floating in a sea of rich custard.

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