Rita and Sara Vazquez made waves in the Dallas design community a few years ago with their Havana 1515, a line of high-end home accessories influenced by their Cuban roots. Their father, Rene, opened the International Bakery in Carrollton in 1979. Now the sisters have turned their talents to running the bakery.
Jump for Jimmy’s Food Store’s biggest competitor.The pastry shelves are filled with Latin-inspired goodies such as gorgeous swans made from meringue, flaky pastry filled with cream cheese and guava jelly, and conical capuchinos (a spongy yellow cake soaked in rum and syrup). The Cuban, media noche, and ropa vieja sandwiches are all superb. The bread is made on-site, and each sandwich is pressed and served hot. The warm, crisp exterior of the Cuban yields to a hot layer of roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles. Slightly sweeter egg bread envelops the same ingredients to make the media noche (pictured), the favorite late-night bar snack of Havana. However, the ropa vieja is the real star. A generous filling of shredded beef stewed in garlic, onion, green and red peppers, wine, and tomato sauce is the perfect lunch for a rainy day.
The tiny shop also carries imported juices and soft drinks such as Goya coconut water and Ironbeer, a drink that originated in Cuba in 1917. Prices are ridiculously low—most sandwiches are $5, and iced, decorated cupcakes are just $2. Get in your car and go here.
