South Florida just declared Oct. 1 Croqueta Day. Here’s how to get free croquetas
Croquetas: One county couldn’t contain them.
Two years after Miami-Dade County first declared Oct. 1 its honorary Croqueta Day, Broward County has joined the club. The mayors of both counties signed proclamations naming Oct. 1, 2020, Croqueta Day — officially making South Florida the center of the croqueta universe.
“The croqueta unites,” said Sergio’s Cuban restaurant CEO Carlos Gazitúa, who received both proclamations in honor of his restaurant, which has locations in both counties and celebrates 45 years in business. “I don’t think Broward wants to get left behind so the 954 joins the 305.”
Sergio’s was first honored on Oct. 1, 2018 after the restaurants served their 20 millionth croqueta. The original location, at 9330 SW 40th St., was founded in 1975 by Gazitúa’s mother, Blanca Gazitúa, who today was also named a JPMorgan Chase & Co. Woman on the Move as part of its Women’s Leadership Day.
Broward’s resolution praised Sergio’s for “uniting the community through food.” Croquetas “bring joy to the hearts of many,” Miami-Dade wrote in its own resolution.
We couldn’t agree more. Miami has a street named for these deep-fried bechamel nuggets, a cake covered in them, and you can even take a croqueta tour of Miami.
Of course, South Florida is celebrating with free croquetas.
Sergio’s partnered up with El Car Wash at 7101 SW 24th St., near the original location, to give out 100 free croquetas from 8-9 a.m. They’ll also give away croquetas with all orders at their restaurants Oct. 1.
Sergio’s is also using the attention to raise money for childhood cancer research. They will sell 43 Wagyu Croqueta Burgers for $43 each at their Coral Way location from noon-2 p.m., with all of the sales going to the Live Like Bella childhood cancer foundation. The event highlights that each day 43 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer.
Other Miami restaurants are riding Sergio’s coattails and are offering their own promotions.
CAO Bakery is giving away mini croqueta preparada sliders at all of its 12 locations. And Islas Canarias Cuban restaurant, which has been making some of Miami’s best croquetas since 1977, launched a new website, CroquetaCounty.com, to sell Miami croqueta swag.
Even Miami’s original late-night cookie delivery company, Night Owl Cookies, is bringing back its divisive croqueta-stuffed chocolate chip cookie for one day for takeout.
Sergio’s is also launching national delivery of its croquetas though Goldbelly, including a sampler box with 42 ham, chicken and spinach croquetas. The $89 bake-at-home box comes with condiments like bottles of ketchup and hot sauce, soda crackers, and a croqueta-themed mask.
This story was originally published October 1, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
