TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Lovers Of Cuban Cuisine Get Ring-Side Seat

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEOFF FOX, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 24, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - Silver Ring.

The name is about as synonymous with Ybor City as hand-rolled cigars.

Now, 60 years after Angelo 'Speedy Brown' Cacciatore sold his first Cuban sandwich out of the first Silver Ring Cafe, the restaurant has expanded - again.

Business at the location in Land O' Lakes Plaza on U.S. 41 at Hale Road, north of State Road 54, has been brisk since it opened about two weeks ago, said owner John Stansel.

He said word-of-mouth advertising already is educating the area's newcomers, many of whom are stopping in for a cup of strong Cuban coffee and slice of crunchy Cuban toast on their way to work in the morning.

'It's been more than we expected, and it's growing every day,' said Stansel, who purchased the franchise from Tim Booth, longtime owner of the Silver Ring on Seventh Avenue in Ybor City. There are other Silver Ring locations in Lakeland and Riverview.

Booth, who has been helping Stansel and his wife, Keleneka, get the Land O' Lakes operation started, bought Silver Ring from Cacciatore after he retired in 1984. Booth's father owned Four Star Meat Products, where Cacciatore bought the smoked ham and roast pork that helped make his sandwiches famous.

Silver Ring's first foray into Land O' Lakes lasted from 1989 to 2001, Booth said. The first location was at S.R. 54 and U.S. 41; the restaurant moved just south of there after S.R. 54 was widened.

Booth said disputes between the restaurant's manager and a landlord might have led to the restaurant's closing. However, he considered the restaurant successful while it was in business and didn't hesitate when Stansel, a veteran restaurant owner, approached him about reopening in the growing area.

Booth said Stansel's experience with breakfast-style restaurants has expanded Silver Ring's traditional lunch menu, featuring assorted sandwiches, black beans and rice and Spanish bean soup.

The new breakfast menu lists items such as bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches and Cuban cheese toast, but also includes biscuits and gravy, blueberry pancakes and a variety of omelets.

Plus, Stansel said, there is Cuban French toast, made like regular French toast but using thick Cuban bread. Sprinkled with powdered sugar, it also comes with a side of guava preserves.

It's so thick, Stansel said, 'you have to cut it with a steak knife.'

For now, hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, but they could be altered.

The restaurant should have its beer and liquor license in a few weeks, Stansel said, adding that big-screen televisions should be installed during football season.

Booth said a Web site is being developed that will include information on each Silver Ring location.

'There's just not a lot of Latin food in the outlying areas,' he said.

GIVE THEM A RING

For information about Silver Ring in Land O' Lakes, call (813) 996-0034.

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 948-4217 or gfox@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT