"You can’t have a meal with out some good Cuban bread," Linares says. "First you cut into two halves, spread butter all over it, and place it face down on a griddle to crisp it up a bit. Once it’s done the bread is passed around the table, some just eating it plain while others make their versions of Cuban sandwiches."

 

Chef Ronaldo Linares is a New Jersey based Colombian/Cuban chef who is executive chef at Martino’s Cuban restaurant in Somerville, NJ. He’s also CEO of Ronaldo’s Cocina and has been on the Food Network's Chopped and BBC America's Chef Race.