User talk:Vpadilla64

The International Cuban Sandwich Festival was created and founded in October of 2011 in Tampa Ybor City, Florida, by Husband and Wife Victor Padilla and Jolie Gonzalez-Padilla. Owners of Latin Times Magazine and Latin Times Media Inc. Victor Padilla being a Tampa Native, Cuban and Puerto Rican and Puerto Rican wife Jolie Gonzalez Padilla created the Festival to be a contest to see who made the best Cuban Sandwich in the World. Both Victor Padilla and Jolie Gonzalez-Padilla, knew the Cuban Sandwich played a significant part in the rich cultural history of Tampa Ybor City, Florida and wanted to bring the communities together through this festival. The months before The International Cuban Sandwich Festival became a huge sensation, news of the Festival even reached the newspapers in Spain. The Festival sparked a controversy between Miami and Ybor City Tampa, which began after Tampa City Council Woman Yolie Capin along with her husband, Juan Capin, who inspired Tampa City Council to pass the resolution making the Tampa Historic Cuban Sandwich to be Tampa's Signature Sandwich.

On May 26th, 2012 the First International Cuban Sandwich Festival and Cuban Sandwich Contest took place in the Ybor City Centennial Park and was an outstanding event that brought thousands from everywhere. Cuban Sandwich Contest Judges were selected from Tampa including Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Chief of Police Jane Castor, State Representative Janet Cruz, Council Woman Yolie Capin, Council man Mike Suarez, Council man Harry Cohen, Cythia Fuente of Fuente Cigars, John Oliva Sr. of Oliva Tobacco, Casey Gonzmart The Columbia Restaurant, City of Tampa's Tony Morejon, YCDC, HCC Ybor Camous President Shawn Robinson, Local Celebrities included Lizzete Campos ABC Action News, Cigar City Publisher and owner Lisa Figueredo, Cloe Cabrerra, Jeff Houck, and Steve Otto from the Tampa Tribune, and many more. Cuban Sandwich Restaurant competitors, and all types of Vendors Particiated. Thousands from all over the world attended to see who made the best Cuban Sandwich in the world. There was also a Charitable Fund raiser for the Creators and Founders grandaughter, Emberlynn Padilla who was born with Diaphramatic heart syndrome. The Cuban Sandwich contest determined who made the Best Cuban Sandwich in the world. The Winner of the 1st International Cuban Sandwich Festival Cuban Sandwich contest Traditional Cuban Sandwich was " Faedos on the Go " Michele and Robby Faedo. Non-Traditional Cuban Sandwich Winner was " Gaspar's Grotto " in Ybor City, and Popular Cuban Sandwich was " Stone Soup " owner Ilya Goldberg in Ybor City. Media sensation took storm with news of the contest that reached around the globe. The International Cuban Sandwich was awarded by the City of Tampa as a " Cultural Asset " Bringing tourism in Tampa and Ybor City. The Festival revived the spark and took to flame the Cuban Sandwich and it's Cultural passion in people all over the World.

Later during the Summer in July 2012, the creators and founders of the International Cuban Sandwich Festival, Victor Padilla and Jolie Gonzalez-Padilla created the " World's Largest Cuban Sandwich " at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa Ybor City, Florida. Cuban Sandwich Restaurants La Tersita, The Columbia, Stone Soup, Faedo's on the Go, Danny's All American, Pipos, and Stone Soup help to make the World's Largest Cuban Sandwich recorded at thirty-six feet. The World's Largest Cuban Sandwich is now created every year on day one of the International Cuban Sandwich Festival which holds the current record documented by the City of Tampa at one hundred and fifty feet. The Sandwich is then cut up and given to a charitable organization to help feed the homeless. Still going strong, every year the International Cuban Sandwich Festival is now a three day event in which on the first day in the VIP opening night then day two, the World's Largest Cuban Sandwich is created, and then on the second day The Big International Cuban Sandwich Contest that brings competitors from all over the world like London, England, Seoul, South Korea, and within the United States. The Festival also takes place now in three different locations, two of which are Smack Down Contests in Orlando and Miami, Florida. The winners from Orlando and Miami Cuban Sandwich Smack Downs return to compete in Tampa Ybor City, Florida in Big Cuban Sandwich Contest to determine who will win the best Cuban Sandwich in the World.

Every Year the Honorable Governor of the State of Florida and the Honorable Mayors of Orlando, Miami, and Tampa declare the Months during the International Cuban Sandwich Festival, " Cuban Sandwich Month " The International Cuban Sandwich Festival was awarded and declared by the City of Tampa as a "Cultural Asset" in 2012. The International Cuban Sandwich Festival Continues to bring the rich and historical history of Tampa Ybor City, Florida all around the World. The International Cuban Sandwich Festival is trademarked and owned by Latin Times Media Inc, and Victor Padilla and Jolie Gonzalez-Padilla.