La Ventanita podcast: How Adrian Castro created one of Miami’s best pan con bistec
Explaining why Adrian Castro named his fantastic Little Havana steak sandwich pop-up Panolo’s is like breaking down one of your kids’ multi-tiered memes.
He goes by the nickname Manolo at the wrestling-themed Union craft beer in Miami, where he manages the bar and films hilarious videos for its social media where he plays a cubanaso like Manolo from “Scarface.” During the pandemic, he started making Cuban pan con bistec on Thursdays, modeled after the ones at Mary’s Coin Laundry, a Miami locals’ favorite. So he named his pop-up Panolo’s and it became a hit. Got all that?
Castro, who helped found the first Miami Beer Week, got personal on the April 21 episode. He wears a tattoo in support of mental health on his left wrist and a streak of green (the color of mental health advocacy) in his hair, in support of his brother. He talked about the mom who supported his dream as he left a professional career in human resources to help run the bar business. And he told us about his blossoming relationship with his father, who was imprisoned for most of Castro’s life.
Tune in Thursdays at 11 a.m. to watch La Ventanita live on YouTube and the Miami Herald website. Find every episode of La Ventanita podcast at the show page and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Megaphone, Stitcher and MiamiHerald.com.
This story was originally published April 20, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
