WHO MAKES THE BEST CUBAN SANDWICH IN KEY WEST?

2ND ANNUAL ‘THROWDOWN’ NAMES WINNERS IN 2 CATEGORIES

Two jets from Key West’s hometown fighter squadron, VFC-111, fly over Naval Air Station Key West. Jet No. 111 is flown by departing Commander Lee “Buckner” Smallwood. Jet No. 21 is flown by incoming Commander Matt “Sulle” Gibson. Commander Matt “Yort” Pearce flew the camera aircraft so photographer Jose “Fuji” Ramos could get the shot. JOSE RAMOS/Contributed

On Saturday, April 29, Commander Matt “Sulle” Gibson relieved Commander Lee “Buckner” Smallwood as commanding officer of Fighter Squadron Composite 111 (VFC-111) at Naval Air Station Key West.

Smallwood is heading to the Pentagon to serve as a requirements officer for the Chief of Navy Reserve.

The ceremony included Capt. Geoff “Frogger” Hughes, commander of the tactical support wing; Capt. Elizabeth “Beth” Regoli, commander of Naval Air Station Key West; current and former Sun Downer squadron members, and local Key West community leadership.

Smallwood expressed his thanks to the Sun Downers (VFC111) for their constant hard work and professionalism, to the local community for embracing and supporting their local fighter squadron (especially the Navy League and Military Affairs Committee), and the friends and family who traveled in for the event.

Most importantly, Smallwood said, he thanks his wife, Jenny, for the hard work she put in on behalf of the spouses’ club for the last three years and without whom no part of his career would be possible. — Contributed mandy@keysweekly.com

The Green Parrot Bar’s lunchtime crowd on April 29 had a lot on their plates — 11 different versions of Cuban sandwiches, to be exact.

The 2nd annual Cuban Sandwich Throwdown, coordinated by Marcia Weaver of Frita’s Cuban Burger Cafe on Southard Street was held to benefit The Learning Center of Key West preschool, 201 Truman Ave., in Key West’s Bahama Village.

The inimitable drag queen Q Mitch emceed the event, and a panel of “esteemed” local judges (Weaver’s word, not ours) included Donie Lee, George Fernandez, Nick Doll, Juan Llera, Jill Llera, Mandy Miles, Ted Lund and others.

“This year there were a lot of tied votes, which attests to how consistently good the restaurants are in Key West,” Weaver said. “A big thank-you to all the restaurants who participated. It’s a lot to ask to make 40 sandwiches for guests and judges to devour.”

The throwdown included two categories — traditional and nontraditional Cuban sandwiches. Winners were chosen in each category.

Contestants in the traditional category included: Sandy’s Cafe, El Siboney, Big Cheezees, Eaton Good, Rams Head Southernmost, Havana Cabana and Key West Cuban Coffee Shop.

The judges named Key West Cuban Coffee Shop as their first-place winner. Big Cheezees and Sandy’s Cafe tied for second place with the judges.

But in addition to the judges, everyone at the Green Parrot who chose to donate to the Learning Center to taste the sandwiches also got a vote.

The people’s choice votes awarded first place to Havana Cabana, while Sandy’s Cafe, Eaton Good, Big Cheezees and Rams Head Southernmost tied for second place.

In the non-traditional category — Kaya Island Eats, Frita’s Cuban Burger Cafe and Nugshak —

“The judges’ votes tied all three,” Weaver said. “The people’s choice votes had Kaya as first place and Frita’s a close second.”

1. Cuban Sandwich Throwdown founder Marcia Weaver of Frita’s Cuban Burger Cafe organizes the ‘blind’ entries. MANDY MILES/Keys Weekly

2. Emcee QMitch and Pamela Lopez, director of The Learning Center of Key West, thank the crowd for their support of the preschool in Bahama Village. NICK DOLL/NickDollPhotography.com

3. A panel of ‘esteemed’ local judges (their words, not ours) tasted and ranked all sandwiches. CONTRIBUTED

4. The full slate of competing sandwiches included 11 samples of Cuban sandwiches. NICK DOLL/NickDollPhotography.com