Casavana is one of the most beloved spots in South Florida for comfort food, Cuban style. They serve classics like rice and beans, yuca, and Cuban sandwiches with service that feels like you’re among family. Casavana is the neighborhood diner that feels like home.
Restaurants like Casavana are known for bringing our gente together to enjoy the thrill of a touchdown while eating nostalgic dishes and savoring a deliciously ice-cold PEPSI®. From croquetas de jamón to mini Cuban sandwiches, Casavana offers a range of bold Cuban staples perfect for game day and elevated by the blend of rich caramel and bright citrus notes of PEPSI®.
Presented by NFL Por La Cultura and sponsored by PEPSI®, Game Day Antojos brings together our rich and varied food traditions across our cultures with NFL football. This series explores how scrumptious Latin food–suitable for snacking with familia–is enjoyed while watching the number one leading sport in the United States.
Casavana knows what we need for game day, serving an assorted menu of delights. Their spread includes a mouth-watering selection of mini Cuban sandwiches, pasta Habanera with picadillo, tasty garlic shrimp with tomato sauce sauteed with onions, Creole-inspired shrimp with garlic and olive oil, and a delicious croquetas de jamón platter—food that deserves a refreshing PEPSI® to complete the meal. These are delicious recipes from the Latin cookbook to munch on game day.
Manager Nelson Ham describes Casavana’s dishes as “good, everyday meals.” “It’s food from my background and heritage. I grew up eating this food from my mom, so it was a good fit.” Since opening, Casavana has built a loyal clientele that goes for that same familiar taste. “We have people that have a little cafecito in the morning and come back for lunch in the afternoon with us every day,” says Ham. “We have a culture and a bond with our customers. We know the kids, the grandkids, the mother, the father.”
This cultural sense of passion is translated to all aspects of Latine life, including football. Florida is home to three of the most enduring NFL teams. As soon as the season starts, fans wear their team colors proudly. You can feel this dedication to their favorite team, passing it on from generation to generation like traditions. It’s natural that getting together and watching the game is one of the most time-honored rituals in our community.
When it comes to game day, food is at the center of conversation, especially in our Latine communities. For Casavana, their choice of food for this occasion is what Ham describes as “finger food”—bite-size, easy to eat, and no utensils needed. You’ll only need a toothpick after wiping the plate clean.
Their showstopping pasta Habanera features picadillo made Spanish and Creole style with ground beef, raisins, olives and peas over fettuccine noodles drenched in tomato sauce. Shredded red peppers on top add a savory and slightly sweet flavor. It’s no surprise that the pasta Habanera is a customer favorite.
The mini Cuban sandwiches are a smaller version of the classic: pork, sliced ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard on toasted bread. They have a slightly salty and full-bodied bite that will leave you reaching for another when no one is looking.
Casavana also offers two versions of garlic shrimp: the Creole-inspired version with shrimp sautéed in garlic and olive oil. The other version is enchilado, featuring red sauce made from garlic, red tomatoes, and red peppers. The camarones enchilados, sauteed with onions, are spicy–perfect for those who love heat.
We have fried croquetas with minced ham, bechamel sauce, and a crisp exterior for a crunchy bite. Casavana’s dishes, with their rich flavors and bold spices, are the perfect complement to the unique blend of flavors of PEPSI®. The rich caramel notes in PEPSI® enhance the indulgent flavors of the Cuban sandwiches, while the bright citrus notes lift the lighter flavors of the pasta Habanera.
Ham, a first-generation Cuban-American born in New York City, began his career managing renowned restaurants. After moving to South Florida, getting married, and starting a family, he opened Casavana in 2008 to bring authentic Cuban comfort food to the community. Now a proud abuelo, Ham has made Casavana a ‘home away from home,’ where customers feel like extended family, gathering to enjoy Cuban flavors.
Ham describes how some customers—including an older couple—know the wait staff by name and when their birthdays are. This home-like atmosphere goes both ways; Ham shares how some of their employees have been with them for a long time, including someone who started as a cashier when she was 15 years old and now, as a 35-year-old married mother, is still part of their team as a general manager. “That’s Latin culture; it’s who we are,” Ham says.
With such care for the culture, Casavana is all about enjoying homemade Cuban antojitos among familia as everyone enjoys the highs of game day. Don’t be ashamed to use your hands! Game Day Antojos should leave you licking your fingers and make you want to grab a refreshing ice-cold PEPSI®. Let yourself get wrapped up in the unparalleled excitement of the NFL.
