Glenn: What makes a Cuban pizza?

Jorge: I think you mean WHO makes a Cuban pizza.

Glenn: No, what I mean is what makes a Cuban pizza different from the one you get from Pizza Hut? Is it the crust?

Jorge: The crust is doughier than American pizzas. It can be very chewy.

Glenn: Is it the sauce?

Jorge: The sauce is similar, but it has a distinctly Cuban flavor. Maybe they use more onions and garlic. It's a heavier, more sensuous sauce.

Glenn: Is it the cheese?

Jorge: Cuban pizzas are definitely cheesier. They use a blend of cheeses to give the pie a little more bite.

Glenn: Is it the toppings?

Jorge: Well, you're not going to find picadillo, chorizo or plantain on a Domino's pizza!

Glenn: The Cuban style of pizza was born in Havana in the 1950s, but perfected at several shops in the beach town of Varadero.

Raúl: Pizza in the Varadero style is the most popular in Miami.

Jorge: In Cuba, Gouda cheese was widely available and that’s the cheese they used for pizza.

Glenn: In Miami, most Cuban pizza places use a blend of half Gouda and half mozzarella.

Raúl: If you're not Cuban, Cuban pizza is a great change of pace from the pies you're probably used to getting.

Jorge: Miami has all of the big pizza chains: Godfather's, Pizza Hut, Domino's -- but why come to Miami just to eat the same pizza you can get back in Milwaukee?

Glenn: For the casual traveler, El Rey, (or just Rey's) the "King of Pizza," is probably the easiest to find and the most accessible. If you've never had a Cuban pizza, this is a good place to get started.

Raúl: You couldn't get a more authentic Cuban pizza unless you were on the beach at Varadero!

Jorge: They have several locations throughout Miami, all open 24 hours per day. Their lobster pizza is very good! They also have chorizo, Spanish style of course, served ground like Italian sausage, not sliced like pepperoni.

Glenn: Here's a tip: if you get hungry for a great Cuban flan or tres leches cake in the middle of the night, check out the rotating dessert case in the front of Rey's. The desserts are amazingly good, especially for a pizza place.

Jorge: And you can get that dessert at 3:00 o'clock in the morning!

Glenn: If you have a car, and are willing to search out the best, we highly recommend Polo Norte. The nice thing about Polo Norte is that you can have a great Cuban pizza AND Cuban ice cream for dessert. They sell many of the tropical fruit ice cream flavors...

Jorge: ...mango, guayaba, mamey, coco...

Glenn: ...that Cubans love. As in Havana, sundaes are served in canoas, or canoes. (The dishes are similar to a banana split dish.) You get three generous scoops of ice cream topped with tropical fruits.

Jorge: If you haven't had a good salad in awhile, try the ensalada -- OK, there is no lettuce in this salad. You get a giant serving of FIVE scoops of ice cream. This is a dish to share.

Glenn: Don't forget the pizza! The shrimp pizza features the largest shrimp I have ever seen on a pizza swimming in a delicious enchilado sauce.

Raúl: They even have one with maduros-- sweet plantain!

Glenn: Not hungry for pizza? Polo Norte has several Cuban dishes on the menu. The Cuban style spaghetti made with picadilo is a nice change of pace. They also have a couple of Cuban steaks, for the non-pizza-eating members of your group.