Medianoche sandwich

Sandwich or sammich? Depends on how you perceive two pieces of bread and what gets tucked between them. Translated as “midnight” in spanish and originating from Havana, the medianoche became popularized by late-hour partygoers looking for a quick hunger fix. Made with roasted pork, ham, swiss cheese, cucumber pickles and mustard between a couple slices of a sweet type of egg bread (think challah), the whole thing is toasted in a sandwich press before serving. I am not clear as to what order the filling components are layered, but this was pretty good eating. If it were to be extraordinarily good, I'd get a hold of succulent porchetta/roast pig/lechon with a few bits of crispy skin attached. Only then would I rate the medianoche as sammich hall-of-fame greatness.

Tonight is La notte di San Lorenzo

As it happens every year, today's date marks the feast day of San Lorenzo and its association with falling stars - his tears - which of course is simply the return of the Perseid meteor shower. We try to keep the 10th in mind for the sake of tradition, but I wish I had planned the dinner menu to include medianoches (it just seems so appropriate) instead of monster blet's. What's a BLET? Aha, glad you asked, and it's a bacon, lettuce, eggplant and tomato sandwich. I scooped up 6 lbs of these striped eggplants for a sweet deal and they make excellent veggie “steaks” over a cast iron griddle. The weather report promises clear skies this evening but the impending full moon might steal some of San Lorenzo's thunder. Still, tradition dies hard and you can bet that we and countless pairs of eyeballs will be scanning the heavens and making lots of wishes tonight.