Miami just declared Oct. 1 Croqueta Day. Yes, there will be free croquetas
Miami found a new way to show its love for croquetas.
Sure, we have a street named for them. We have a cake covered in them. You can even take a croqueta tour of Miami, if your stomach is willing and iron clad.
But now the city of Miami and Miami-Dade county mayors have taken it a step further. Both named Oct. 1, 2018 Croqueta Day in Miami in honor of Sergio’s Cuban restaurant serving its 20 millionth croqueta.
It may be an honorary title but it makes one thing official: Miami is the country’s croqueta capital.
“Whereas croquetas are a staple of Cuban cuisine that is enjoyed by residents and tourists of the city of Miami on a daily basis…” city of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s honorary proclamation reads.
That’s an honest-to-goodness seal of approval.
In celebration — you guessed it — there will be croquetas. The Sergio’s restaurant on Coral Way, 3252 SW 22nd St., will be giving out free croquetas from 4-7 p.m., free Cuban cafecito until 8 p.m., and Havana Club daiquiris from 5-8 p.m.
Both mayors, Suarez and Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, will be at Sergio’s for the celebration.
Why Sergio’s? The restaurant, which Blanca Gazitua started as a sandwich shop in 1975, celebrates its 43 years in business. That single shop grew into nine restaurants in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
“My mom and grandmother worked hard for many years to perfect the recipe our customers enjoy today,” said Carlos Gazitua, Sergio’s president and CEO.
Blanca Gazitua worked on her croqueta recipe for four years before perfecting it — and, clearly, it has stood the test of time.
Correction: Croqueta Day is an honorary designation by both mayors. This story has been updated to reflect that fact.
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This story was originally published October 1, 2018 at 5:10 AM.