For a pictorial wrap-up of Tostobueno® @ Cuba Nostalgia click: Tostobueno® was the hit of the party!
“And why didn’t you think of that . . . “ said the woman to her husband as she looked and examined and “oohed and aahed” at the Tostobueno® on the table in front of her. And her husband? — well, he kind of agreed. Actually, many South Floridians last week, during the mega-event Cuba Nostalgia wished they would have had The Simple Chef’s® “aha” moment. “Aha?” Yup. As in “aha, why don’t I just go ahead a build a better tostonera.” And he did.
It’s a great story. And, oh boy, did I tell that story at Cuba Nostalgia.
” . . . And yes. It all began in 2003 when we all flew down to Florida for a weekend of birthday celebrating.”
Cue the pictures. I point and continue.
“This is The Simple Chef®. Here is Ainsley, the birthday girl. We are three partners; a small business. That Saturday, stuffed plantains were served. The Chef LOVED them!, but watching the molding and the smashing, he figured there had to be a better way. “
Party over. Fast forward to Harlem, NY and the Chef starts prototyping and prototyping tostoneras until one day . . .
Pictures come out again. And I point.
“I’m sure you know Daisy Martinez of Daisy Cooks! She introduced the Tostobueno® at New York’s Williams-Sonoma during one of her demos. That was about three years ago, and here we are now, making our South Florida Tostobueno® debut.”
Latinos love a great story. It’s what keeps those telenovelas in business. And what they love even more? Surprise endings: The Simple Chef® isn’t even Latino.
“Only in America. Only in America,” they kept saying, smiling and buying.
Wait! Let’s break for a red light. Before I continue, let’s get caught up on this Cuba Nostalgia for you non-South Floridians. Held on the Youth Fair grounds–where I learned all about elephant ears and corn dogs, Cuba Nostalgia, in its tenth year, is the premier Cuban event outside of Cuba. A journey back in time for those who remember the island’s glamorous times, and for those who never experienced them, Cuba Nostalgia has something for everyone.
- Tostobueno The UItimate Tostonera® a BIG hit at Miami’s Cuba Nostalgia.
Day 1 @ Cuba Nostalgia: One Tostobueno® left on the table. A demo, and my neighbor already had dibs on the unit. Why only one? All my product had sold out before 5pm that day. As for the neighbor who was buying the last one? I should have just given it to him as a prize for having predicted when I would sell out. To the hour! From there on he nicknamed me “sold-out lady.”
All I can say is thank God for broadband. I just started taking order after order after order.

- I’ve never seen anything like the ultimate plantain smasher.
And for this well organized and very entertaining event we have Leslie Pantin Jr. and Emilio Calleja–President and VP respectively–to thank for, followed by Leslie’s son Leslie and Lucia their executive assistant.
AND WHAT ELSE WENT AROUND THE TOSTO TABLE
1) The Simple Chef’s® Sweet Cherry Pie Toston recipe got a few thinking about The Ultimate Cuban brunch, with one idea, so “rico” it deserves special praise. How’s this: guava and “queso de crema” aka cream cheese stuffed on a toston cup! Some cafe con leche and . . . well does one need anything else? I don’t think so.

Have you ever seen anything like this before?
2) Everyone impressed with how easy the bamboo is to clean. Just a wet cloth and a little soap.
3) Not a comment but a movement. Petition started to get The Food Network higher ups to get the Tostobueno® on ANY show. They would stop. Look and then the Cuban light bulb would go on: “They would love this on The Food Network. You should try to get it on,” they said. “I have tried. Up and down the TFN corporate ladder.” I said.
4) One older Cuban wanted to set the record straight. Apparently “tostones rellenos” is a misnomer, it’s really “tostones cubierto” or covered tostones. “And how you would like your tostones covered today?” Doesn’t sound yummy. I let it go. Dad taught me never to argue with my elders.
5) More than one person call the rellenos “campanitos” or bells. I ask: “bells?” Explain. Please. Apparently toston relleno originated at La Casona (“The Big House”) a now defunct Miami restaurant. At La Casona, campanitas rellenos or stuffed little bells was the name du jour. Others placed the birth of the relleno squarely on the isla of Puerto Rico. Funny, in NY the argument is always about who first “discovered’ the plantain: Dominicans or Cubans. I usually step in at the bottom of the ninth, and knock it out of the ballpark with: “neither. Try Africa.”
6) And finally: Target is loved in South Florida. LOVED! How do I know? ‘Cause everyone told me so. I made sure to show everyone our Target.com page. And that’s all anyone needed. One person: “Target is a great corporation to be involved with.” Another:”I’m so happy for you, Target is my store.” Others: “Target loves Hispanics!”
There were four days of buying and chatting and South Florida getting to know what New Yorkers have known for awhile now: the Tostobueno® is THE essential cookware for anyone who smashes plantains. Yup, and that’s why we called it The Ultimate Tostonera® — cause, there’s nothing better out there!
For a pictorial wrap-up of Tostobuen® @ Cuba Nostalgia click: Tostobueno® was the hit of the party!
Oh, btw, our Tostobuenos were bought in bunches. As Christmas presents. Oops, did I spoil the surprise?
Annette from Cuba Nostalgia