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La Septima - Made With Love and Care

2/3/2015

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Picture
Image by Broadway Photography. Article by Althea Tyrell.
Yesterday I spoke with Chef Darlene Herrick, former Cuban Sandwich Festival winner for Non-Traditional Cuban when she was with Gaspar’s Grotto.  She is currently the Executive Chef at La Septima Café in Brandon.  In the ten minutes I spent talking with Chef Darlene, I discovered that it is not every day that you find someone with such pride and love for what they do.


ME:  La Septima Café is a family owned business, right?

CHEF:  Yes

ME:  What made them want start the Café?

CHEF:  The owner, Dahlia Fernandez, along with her husband, Ron, have been in the restaurant business for years.  They are from Tampa, like me. They have had two very successful restaurants.  Their families are from Ybor City and West Tampa.  Dahlia’s paternal grandfather owned a casino in Ybor when her father was growing up.   Ron and Dahlia moved to Brandon where they raised their children, Jennifer and RJ.   A very dear family friend, Gert Laxer, gave them the advice to open a restaurant in their own back yard serving what they know best…and that’s how they decided to open La Septima twenty years ago!

ME:  Where did the name La Septima come from?

CHEF:  La Septima means “seventh” for Seventh Avenue in Ybor City.

ME:  What is your secret to continually winning “Best of Brandon” for Spanish/Cuban Restaurant and Cuban Sandwich?

CHEF:  Our recipes are handed down from their grandparents, who were born in Cuba, Italy and Spain.  These recipes have been in the owners’ families for years.  Our food is made with love and care.  I’ve been a chef for a long time and have never worked with anyone who takes such pride and love in their food.  Being an executive chef, I feel the very same way!

ME:  What dish are you most proud of on your menu?

CHEF:  Well, the Cuban Sandwich of course!

ME:  What is your favorite thing about the Cuban Sandwich Festival?

CHEF:  The spirit of the competition.  I know some people say, “oh, it’s just a Cuban Sandwich”, but it is a part of our Tampa history.  I’ve been making Cuban sandwiches since I was six years old!

ME:  Press or Not pressed?

CHEF:  I prefer not pressed, when the bread is fresh and the sandwich is made just before you eat it.

IF YOU WANT A TASTE OF CHEF DARLENE HERRICK’S FOOD STOP BY LA SEPTIMA, OR SEE THEM AT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL!

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  • CubanSandwich Fest
    • Cuban Sandwiches in the News
    • 2023 Festivals >
      • 2023 Participation
      • Three Kings / 3 Reyes Festival
      • Ft Myers Ford Cuban Sandwich Festival
    • 2022 VOTING PAGE
    • Event Map 2022
    • 2022 Become a SPONSOR! >
      • Basic Sponsorships
      • Premium Sponsorships
    • Participate in CSF >
      • Get YOUR VIP Tickets
      • CONTEST OPPORTUNITIES
      • FORD Kissimmee Cuban Sandwich Festival >
        • Kissimmee Cuban Sandwich Contest
        • FORD Kissimmee CSF FOOD, CULTURAL & NON-PROFIT VENDORS
        • FORD Kissimmee CSF Business Opportunities
        • Kissimmee CSS: Store
      • 11th Annual FORD CSF Ybor >
        • YBOR Cuban Sandwich Contest
        • FORD Intl CSF Business Opportunities
        • FORD Intl CSF Sponsorship Opportunieis
        • 11th Annual FORD Intl CSF: Store
      • FORD Jacksonville Cuban Sandwich & Taste of Latino Festival >
        • Jacksonville Cuban Sandwich Contest
        • FORD Jacksonville CSF FOOD, CULTURAL & NON-PROFIT VENDORS
        • FORD Jacksonville CSF Business Exhibitor Vendor
      • FORD SW Florida Cuban Sandwich & Taste of Latino Festival >
        • SW FLORIDA Cuban Sandwich Contest
        • FORD SW FLORIDA CSF FOOD, CULTURAL & NON-PROFIT VENDORS
        • FORD SW Florida Cuban Sandwich & Taste of Latino Festival Business Exhibitor Opportunities
    • About CSF
    • VIP Tickets
    • Meet the VIP/Celebrity Judges >
      • FORD Intl CSF FOOD, CULTURAL & NON-PROFIT VENDORS
    • Contestant Smack Talk Videos
    • About The Art
    • CSF Voting Page
    • Event Tools
    • Help Make The Biggest Cuban Sandwich in the World!
    • Cuban Sandwich Festival Collector's Aprons
  • Taste of Latino
    • FORD Kissimmee Taste of Latino Festival & Top Leaders Awards >
      • Contest Reg: KISSIMMEE Taste of Latino
      • FORD KISSIMMEE Taste of Latino Business Vendors
    • 4th FORD Ybor City Taste of Latino Festival & Top Leaders Awards >
      • Contest Reg: YBOR Taste of Latino
      • FORD Taste of Latino Business Vendors
  • Press & Promotions
    • 2022 Event Promotions
    • 2017 Event Promotion
    • 2016 Press Coverage
    • 2016 Event Promotions
  • Other Websites
    • LatinTimesMedia.com
    • Latin-Times.com
    • Latin-Restaurants.com
    • TasteOfLatino
  • Category
  • Cuban Sandwich Directory
  • 2021 Event Setup
  • 10th Annual YBOR CSF Winners
  • Previous Years!
    • 11th Annual International Contest Registration >
      • 11th Annual CSF: International Contest Information
      • 2021 Contestant List
    • 2020 Kissimmee CSF Contest Registration >
      • Kissimmee, Florida Contest & Vendor Registration
    • 2019 CSF Recap >
      • Thank you Sponsors
      • Meet our Previous Contestants - World Contest
      • 4th Annual CSF Kissimmee Pics
    • 2017 Event Promotion >
      • Event Set up Tools
    • 2015 Tampa Bay >
      • 2015 Contestants -Miami & South Florida Smackdown!! >
        • Meet the Previous Miami CSS VIP/Celebrity Judges
        • 2015 Press Coverage >
          • 2015 Pictures
          • 2015 Event Promotions
      • Meet the VIP/Celebrity Judges
      • 2015 Contestants - State Contest!
      • VIP Tickets: Cuban Sandwich Festival - VIP Areas!
    • 2014 Press >
      • 2014 Press Releases
      • 2014 Contestants - National Contest!
    • 2013 Cuban Sandwich Festival >
      • 2013 Press >
        • 2013 Recap Press Release
      • 2013 Contestants
      • 2013 VIP Judges
      • 2013 Celebrity Hosts
      • 2013 Entertainment
    • 2012 Media Coverage Page
  • Florida Festivals