Ybor City is a cultural hotspot with major influence over its home in Tampa, Florida. As a historic district, Ybor City is known for its deep roots and blend of people. The combined population of Cuban, Spanish, Italian, and German immigrants created a unique cultural footprint found only in Ybor. Made famous by their cigar production, Ybor City was forever altered by the influx of people making those cigars who brought their own traditions, ideas, and food. The influence of these diverse groups on the local culinary scene created a food culture unlike any other city. The resulting fusion of ideas, tastes, and idiosyncrasies are still alive and present in Ybor City, today.
Devil Crab
The history of the devil crab is rooted deeply in the history of Ybor itself. Nicknamed devil crab for being “devilishly hot,” urban legend has it that the devil crab was popularized by the cigar workers of the 1920s. During the cigar factory strikes, workers turned to the bay for food for their families. They caught wild blue crabs, boiled them, seasoned them with spicy red pepper flakes, then rolled them in leftover Cuban bread crumbs. This accessible and easy food quickly became a local staple, and many even sold their own devil crabs from the streets in order to make some extra cash. Once immortalized in local food history, the devil crab became a hot item for street vendors and family-style restaurants alike. Today, the devil crab has an enduring spot on the La Segunda menu.
Cuban Sandwich
How did Tampa, Florida end up with a zest for Cuban sandwiches that rivals even the city of Miami? Once again, the answer dates back to the Cuban cigar boom of the 1900s. As more and more workers were drawn to Ybor City to find employment in the thriving cigar industry, they brought with them their lunch bags. At the cigar factories, the Cuban sandwich became famous as a Tampa staple. It seemed that the ingredients themselves were emblematic of the people enjoying the sandwiches: ham from Spain, salami from Italy, pork from Cuba, and swiss cheese from Germany. The fusion of all these people and all these foods established a Cuban sandwich culture that has endured to this day in Tampa, Florida. Now the Cuban is so celebrated it has whole festivals in its honor, and people travel from all over the country to enjoy Cuban sandwiches from different regions. What started as a popular lunch for cigar workers has become a cultural phenomenon with a life of its own.
Stuffed Potato
The stuffed potato, also known as the papa rellena, is another Tampa cult classic. They are a type of croquette with origins in Latin America. Filled with ground beef and fried to perfection, this snack is well-loved for its tastiness and ease on-the-go. The stuffed potato quickly caught on in popularity for being an easy to transport, pre-made food. Brought to Ybor by immigrants and factory workers, the stuffed potato was a convenient meal or snack to bring to work, or to easily prepare in the evenings for hungry children. For this reason, it rose in popularity and was quickly regaled as a comfort food. Today, it is enjoyed as a rainy-day meal for food-lovers who want a break from cooking, families who need dinner on the table fast, and workers who like a no-fuss, filling lunch. While its ingredients may be simple, the stuffed potato is firmly entrenched in the collective consciousness as an indulgent, reliable staple.
Ybor City's vibrant food scene has traditions rooted in its very own multicultural history. From the labor strikes that inspired the devil crab, to the comfort food classic of the stuffed potato, and the collective admiration for the Cuban sandwich, food has played an important role as a unifying force in preserving cultural identity. As is true for much of Tampa history, the mingling of many different groups has created some truly special traditions. The foods that make up daily life here in Ybor have direct ties to the many generations of people who came together to create this distinctive city. Any food lover, Tampa enthusiast, or person with tastebuds is strongly encouraged to explore Ybor City's culinary delights and experience its unique flavors firsthand.
Learn More about La Segunda History.