Bite into History - the Longest Cuban Sandwich Ever Made

Old Havana Cafe and House of Hope will bring the Martin County community together Sept. 12 to build a 400-foot Cuban sandwich trying to set a world record and raise awareness and support for neighbors facing hunger and hardship. The event, “Bite Into History: The Longest Cuban Sandwich Ever Made,” will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, at L. Cpl. Justin Wilson Memorial Park in Palm City. The event begins at 11 a.m., and sandwich building starts at noon.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to bring the community together in a family-friendly event,” House of Hope CEO Rob Ranieri said. “It’s quite a challenge to beat the existing record for the longest Cuban sandwich and set a new one right here in Martin County, but it’s an amazing way to call attention to our work empowering our community to overcome hunger and hardship.”

The current record, set in Tampa in 2024, is 365 feet. At 400 feet, the Martin County sandwich would exceed that mark and stretch longer than a football field.

Teams will assemble the sandwich using traditional Cuban sandwich ingredients, including Cuban bread, meat, pickles and mustard. After official judging, teams will share the sandwich and make portions available for purchase.

Hosted by House of Hope and Old Havana Cafe in Stuart, the event is designed as a free, family-friendly community celebration featuring food, music, salsa dancing, dominoes, face painting, community booths and other activities.

“We love food, we love people, and we love the work of House of Hope,” said Chef Chuchi Rivero, owner of Old Havana Cafe. “Let’s bring the community together for a great cause and have a lot of fun.”

The Doris M. Carter Family Foundation is the presenting sponsor and has pledged a dollar-for-dollar match for the first $15,000 raised.

Proceeds from registrations, sponsorships, donations and sandwich sales will support House of Hope programs, including healthy food access, nutrition education, financial assistance and workforce development.

“Every registration, sponsorship and donation helps keep these vital programs available for local individuals and families in need,” Ranieri said.

Sponsorship opportunities and sandwich-builder registrations are available through Aug. 12 at hohmartin.org/sandwich. All sponsors will receive team slots for building the record-breaking sandwich.

“This is going to be great fun and truly historic,” Rivero said. “You’ll absolutely want to be part of it.”

To learn more about House of Hope or make a donation, visit www.hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673.

About House of Hope

Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship. The organization serves more than 30,000 people each month through basic needs support, including food, clothing, furniture and financial assistance, as well as longer-term case management services that help build life skills for a more self-sufficient future.

House of Hope operates service centers in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown and Jensen Beach, and thrift stores in Stuart, Hobe Sound and Indiantown. Its Centers for Enrichment at Golden Gate in Stuart, in Jensen Beach and at KinDoo Family Center in Indiantown offer free programs, technology and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health and overall well-being.

The organization also operates Growing Hope Farm in Palm City and several nutrition gardens, which provide sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities for the community.

For more information, visit hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673. Updates and announcements also can be found on Facebook, Instagram and X.