Day 4, The Long Bridge To The Goodbye, Slow Roasted

Again, Ash and I slept a little late, but it was ok. Tony had already done what he needed to do that morning, and Reba was at her meeting. She's a Certified Public Accountant. That afternoon, Tony drove the car and we picked up Reba from her office. From there we made the LONG trip to Tampa International Airport. And I do mean long. On the way I noticed that there is NO space between the towns and cities apart from bodies of water. If you're not careful, you'll go right into a different city without realizing it. Even the signs are confusing - many named after the county rather than the town. I've never seen so many Manatee based businesses. We're in Manatee county, of course. But Seriously.
Eventually we came to the Sunshine Skyway Toll Bridge south of Saint Petersburg. It's cool looking and costs a dollar to cross - each time you cross. The trip, while long, was rather uneventful. But we were unrealistically rushed, by Tony and Reba, who's flight wasn't going to leave for another four or so hours. They did have to retrieve another passenger, their great niece Kimberly. And they each only had one bag. Once you figure out what their rush was, please tell me. We arrived at the airport around 2-2:30; again, their flight was leaving in a little over four hours. It took a grand total of 15 seconds to unload the vehicle. But I did get to drive back from the airport. It was cool, one of those cars that has a push button ignition rather than a key.
Well, since Ash and I had slept late, we hadn't eaten at all, and we were starving. Ash decided that we should eat at this little Cuban restaurant that she ate at the last time she was in Cortez. It took about an hour to get back into the Cortez area, it wasn't difficult, but we did have to cross the Sunshine Skyway again.
In Cortez/Bradenton there is an amazing little dive. It is a small place just on the side of the road, and It is not hard to pass by it. But if you happen to look to the side of Cortez Road you may see it - Jose's Real Cuban Food. Walking into the small yet cozy establishment, we were immediately warmly greeted by the own-operator himself, Jose. The first thing we noticed was the decor. The walls were adorned with photos of Jose and happy customers, as well as different places he's been, and clippings of reviews he's received - most of which are 5-stars. And no wonder. Apart from the prompt, and warm service, Jose moved about the place talking with us and the other customers. He was very open and warm. The more we talked the more we learned about Jose. He's Cuban-born, but immigrated to the US when he was a child and was raised in Miami. He learned to cook his Real Cuban Food from his mother, who actually makes the Flan he serves at his restaurant, and he loves America. You won't find a more patriotic man around. He even showed us a roll of toilet paper he had on a mantle with other nick-knacks - each piece adorned with the face of Fidel Castro.
Upon sitting at the table, Jose presented us with a free sample of the day's special - Slow Roasted Pulled Pork. The instant the meat hit my tongue, my mouth was full of the most savoury pork I had ever tasted. After a few minutes perusing the menu, Ashley and I made our choices. Ashley had Lechon Asado - which is that slow-roasted pork with black beans and rice topped with grilled plantains. I had Bistek de Palomilla - Thin steak covered in onions served with black beans and rice and topped with yucca. All very delicioso! After eating, we sat and talked with Jose for almost thirty minutes where he told us about his time here. Surprisingly, Jose's has only been open for three years, and has become very successful and highly rated. Before we left, Jose also gave us a slice of his mother's homemade Flan. The food was some of the best I had ever eaten. Real Cuban Food had real cuban flavor. It was savoury and full of flavor. But the Flan was definitely the icing on the cake. It was the best flan ever. All things considered, if I were to rate Jose's Real Cuban Food, I would rate them six out of five. Not only is the food amazing and traditional, but the atmosphere of the establishment and the warm hospitality and friendly nature of the owner. With our bellies full and with a hearty handshake and a smile we left Jose's.
Whenever in the Bradenton area, seek out Jose's for delicious food, friendly service, and tales abounding. Trust me, your stomach will thank you.