Cozy Coffee Cafe and the History of the Cuban

Welcome To Cozy Coffee Cafe!

Cozy Coffee Cafe is small family owned business owned and operated by husband and wife team Casey and Matina Schoonover. They are striving to be the best they can be and to put chain coffee shops to shame with great coffee, great atmosphere and great friendly customer service. Consistency is what sets Cozy Coffee Cafe apart from the rest. You will get the same exact great tasting drinks and food time and time again. They opened right at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, with that being said, they are here and are open and we will continue to do everything they can to make your visit safe and enjoyable.

Community is very important. They have participated in many events such as Free Live Music Drive in Concerts with curb side delivery. Back Pack and school supply drive For Coaches Mentoring Through Basketball. Back The Blue Car Show to help raise money for The Blue Line Bears Foundation. An Angel Tree for the Teen Foster Kids at National Youth Advocate Program for teens ages 11-17.

In November of 2020 Cozy Coffee Cafe took part in the 2nd Annual Latino Food Festival and the 9th Annual Ford Cuban Sandwich Festival. They took 1st place in World Best Tampa Historic Cuban Sandwich and 3rd Place for Traditional Cuban Sandwich. Quite an accomplishment they are proud of!!

Cozy Coffee Café LLC.  - Casey & Matina Schoonover

Phone: (813) 373-5207 - 13312 Telecom Drive, Temple Terrace, FL 33637

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.cozycoffeecafe.com

For Orders: https://cozycoffeecafe-estore.square.site/

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

Proud Member of: www.powergalsnetworking.com

History Of The Cuban Sandwich!

There are some tales that the first Cuban sandwich was made more than 500 years ago the by Taíno tribe in Cuba, that inhabited the island before Europeans arrived. Apparently, the Taínos used casabe bread, made from yucca, to make the dish. Cassava (aka Casabe) Bread is a flatbread, that’s as hard and thin as a cracker, made from cassava flour. Instead of pork which was unavailable at the time the tribe would use fish and bird meat inside the center of two slices of casabe.

When the Spaniards eventually arrived on the island, meats such as pork and ham were quickly introduced into the native’s diets. Casabe was substituted for a bread-like alternative also. So traces of the sandwich originate back from the original islanders, but it was really only the beginnings of a sandwich once the Spanish arrived with dough and pork.

Fast forward to the late 1800s and early 1900s, when travel between Cuba and Florida was easy, especially from Key West and Tampa, and Cubans frequently sailed back and forth for employment in cigar factories. Because of this constant and largely undocumented movement of people, culture and ideas, it is really quite impossible to say exactly when or where the Cuban sandwich that we know today originated. But it is thought that the sandwich was a common lunch food for workers in both the cigar factories and sugar mills of Cuba and once they relocated to a similar occupation in America the Cubans were seeking a similar lunch food.

As they started to add other popular ingredients of other migrant workers in the factories – mainly Italian, German and Spanish you start to see how the current Cuban sandwich was formed. In Tampa the addition of Salami comes from the Italian influences and Mustard was possibly introduced by the Germans as an ideal condiment that didn’t spoil in the Florida heat.

The first recorded mentions of a distinct Cuban sandwich come from descriptions of workers’ cafés in Ybor City and West Tampa from around 1900. It was during Fidel Castro’s rise to power in 1959 that a real wave of Cuban immigrants started settling in Miami and bringing with them their culture and cuisine that we see the beginnings of the Cuban sandwich in Miami, which certainly put Cuban sandwiches on the world map.

There is another solid claim to origin that Tampa has – the Cuban bread. This is actually something that was invented in Tampa at La Joven Francesca bakery. Established in 1896 by the Sicilian-born Francisco Ferlita who was a Cuban-Spanish-Italian immigrant, it’s said that he created this particular style of bread. It sold for 3-5 cents a loaf and in Ybor City, Tampa. Bread (like milk) used to be delivered every morning. Houses actually had a sturdy nail driven into the doorframe next to the door on which deliveryman would impale the fresh loaf of bread.

So it has been a traditional form of bread in Tampa for a long time and right around the time of the first documented sightings of the Cuban sandwich.
From: https://foodfuntravel.com/history-of-cuban-sandwich-bread/

Continue reading
  225 Hits

Cozy Coffee Cafe and the History of the Cuban Sandwich

Cozy Coffee Cafe

Welcome To Cozy Coffee Cafe!

Cozy Coffee Cafe is small family owned business owned and operated by husband and wife team Casey and Matina Schoonover. They are striving to be the best they can be and to put chain coffee shops to shame with great coffee, great atmosphere and great friendly customer service. Consistency is what sets Cozy Coffee Cafe apart from the rest. You will get the same exact great tasting drinks and food time and time again. They opened right at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, with that being said, they are here and are open and we will continue to do everything they can to make your visit safe and enjoyable.

Community is very important. They have participated in many events such as Free Live Music Drive in Concerts with curb side delivery. Back Pack and school supply drive For Coaches Mentoring Through Basketball. Back The Blue Car Show to help raise money for The Blue Line Bears Foundation. An Angel Tree for the Teen Foster Kids at National Youth Advocate Program for teens ages 11-17.

In November of 2020 Cozy Coffee Cafe took part in the 2nd Annual Latino Food Festival and the 9th Annual Ford Cuban Sandwich Festival. They took 1st place in World Best Tampa Historic Cuban Sandwich and 3rd Place for Traditional Cuban Sandwich. Quite an accomplishment they are proud of!!

Cozy Coffee Café LLC.  - Casey & Matina Schoonover

Continue reading
  1765 Hits

Maria DeSousa - Sacred Stone Messages

Sacred Stone Messages

Sacred Stone MessagesTM

Maria DeSousa

"Trials, Tribulations, Reminders, ConfirmationsTM"

By Maria deSousa

 Sacred Stone Messages are inspiring heart based words and designs handcrafted onto beach stones. Sculpted by Mother Nature over the millennia, each stone is unique in color, size, texture, and shape, inspired by our Spirit God and as unique as the stone itself.   

Continue reading
  1318 Hits

"Paint with Beautiful Color!" "Inspired by Love, Joy, Peace & Serenity!" - Natalia Londono

Art by Natalia Londono

Natalia Londono

"Paint with Beautiful Color!" "Inspired by Love, Joy, Peace & Serenity!"

It's my story on how I found my purpose in life to help others find their God-given talent.

Columbian born Natalia Londono has a love of bright, vibrant, happy color. Natalia was born and raised surrounded by the love of Family. First- her Father was her Hero. Natalia came to this country in 2015 and focused on raising her children with the loving assistance and support of her Father. She never experimented in the arts. She had no formal training. Being a full time, single parent she had no time nor interest. When her Father passed away of colon cancer Thanksgiving 2017, she was devastated. Her grief consumed her. Early in her grief, she had a dream - she was taken to her Father's transcended Reality. His Paradise. He walked with her through a beautiful countryside. He waved his arm around a rock covered hill and told her to Paint. "Paint with beautiful color!", he instructed. The dream was so real, that she felt his complete presence. She woke and knew what she must do. She told her family "I must Paint!" 

Continue reading
  1231 Hits

Ñeque: The Spirit Of A Resilient Mindset - Rosie Paulsen

Rosie Paulsen

 

Ñeque: The Spirit Of A Resilient Mindset - ROSIE PAULSEN

By Gary S. Hatrick

Thirty-three years ago in the Ecuadorian city of Quito, young Rosie Paulsen had a dream. She wanted to play sports. The problem was that at that time, sports were considered to be for boys.  “I used to play basketball,” Rosie said, “but I started to like playing soccer, but soccer was a no-no, it was an ‘only boys’ sport, so why would girls play soccer?”

Skill was not the problem, Rosie was good at soccer, it was the molds of society that made a wall, and not even a glass one, to keep girls from the playing field.

Continue reading
  1348 Hits

Power Gals Founder - Karla Arita

Karla Arita

Power Gals Founder - Karla Arita

When I first met Karla, her warm smile brought out her beauty matching everything I had heard about her. Originally born in Honduras, she carries strong family ties and traditions from her Japanese heritage which have filtered into her life, her business and everyone she touches.

Her last name, Arita, comes from a small village in Japan. It was common for family names to be named after their village. She is quite proud of her heritage, and it shows as she talks about her family. She comes from 3 generations of chefs (which is why she is such a great cook!). Her great grandfather was a well-respected general in the Honduran army, a civil war hero that can be found in history books today.

Growing up in Honduras, provided a unique childhood experience for her. Her father was a renowned chef owning several restaurants. His clientele was from all over the world. In his early travels, he brought back many recipes from different cultures. Karla was lucky enough to grow up eating dishes that children in normal households would never experience. She was actually born inside one of her parents’ restaurants, so growing up immersed in and around hospitality was natural for her.  

Not only is food in her blood, but the interactions with people from all over the World. Her people skills, service and friendliness prepared her for who she is today, influencing her everyday life and endeavors. Life was not always so easy though. When her parents divorced, her mom made the brave decision  of starting a new life with her 4 children in America. Starting from scratch, with nothing, Karla watched her mom work long hours in a flower factory in Miami to provide for them. Her mom’s struggles are what sparked Karla to want to help other women later in her life. 

Continue reading
  1528 Hits

A "Big" Can Do A "Little" Good-BBBS

Big Brothers Big Sisters

A "Big" Can Do A "Little" Good

The Journey To Change Starts With You!

By Gary S. Hatrick

For many, the experience of COVID-19 brought an aloneness that they had never experienced. The desire for human contact and sometimes just for someone to whom to talk – knowing that there is someone there.

Continue reading
  1280 Hits

A Rich History, Across Centuries - Le Vian

Le Vian at Boyd Jewelers, Wesley Chapel

A Rich History, Across Centuries - Le Vian

Le Vian is a family-owned jewelry company with a long history, dating from the 15th century. As purveyors of fine jewelry, Le Vian had gained such a reputation that in 1746, Nadir Shah, one Persia’s most powerful rulers, chose them to safeguard the collection of jewels he had amassed — including the famous Kooh-i- Noor diamond. A rich history, across centuries.

Le Vian is known for its LOVE of reinventing several categories of fine jewelry through unique combinations of colors of diamonds, gems and gold to create the various collections. In an industry where copying is all too common, Le Vian insists on having every design start with an original idea, sketched out with pencil and paper. This time and effort spent in new designs has led to an estimated 100,000 original designs created by Le Vian over the years. Today, Le Vian is at the forefront of creating the most exquisite natural fancy-color diamond and gemstone jewelry.

It is Le Vian’s innovative use of colors that led the company to seek out the under-appreciated brown diamonds and popularize the deep-colored stones as Chocolate Diamonds®. To ensure that jewelry buyers would be certain of getting diamonds of only the highest quality, Le Vian trademarked the Chocolate Diamonds® name. This is just one example of Le Vian bringing jewelry to consumers that no other company has.

Continue reading
  1210 Hits

Prevent Pets From Wandering

Keep your pets from wandering

Prevent Pets From Wandering

Pet owners can employ various strategies to keep their pets safe at home.

Wandering is a common complaint among pet parents. The urge to wander is inherent to many animals. Cats, dogs and animals in the wild naturally wander to claim new territory, find greater comfort and even seek out mates. However, companion animals that wander can land themselves in hot water. Some may scuffle with feral animals, while others may be permanently lost or suffer severe injuries.

In 2012, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals surveyed 1,015 households that had cared for a dog or cat within the past five years. Fifteen percent of participants had lost a dog or cat in the past five years. Pet owners can employ various strategies to keep their pets safe at home.

Continue reading
  1151 Hits

Dairy & Gluten - What Are They Doing To Your Body?

Dairy and Gluten

Dairy & Gluten - What Are They Doing To Your Body?

By Maria Scunziano-Singh, MD, NMD

Food is medicine. The food we eat impacts our health, and it can also affect how we feel. And, while many people consider milk, cheese, bread, and pasta to be staples in their diet, what does their consumption do to your body?

When you think of milk, what comes to mind? Do you picture Bessie the cow standing out in the field with her innocent face on just waiting to be milked lovingly by a farmer so that you have a nice glass of ice-cold milk, creamy ice cream, or rich, melty cheese on a burger?

Continue reading
  1733 Hits

The Basics of Diabetic Eye Disease

The Basics of Diabetic Eye Disease

As their vision worsens, people with diabetes may be diagnosed with diabetic eye disease, which is an umbrella term used to describe a handful of conditions.

Diabetes affects millions of people across the globe, and its prevalence has risen significantly in recent decades. Data from the World Health Organization indicates that the number of people with diabetes nearly quadrupled between 1980 and 2014. Life with diabetes can be challenging, especially when the disease leads to additional complications like vision problems.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases notes that diabetes affects the eyes when blood glucose, or blood sugar, is too high. The damage to the eyes caused by diabetes occurs over time and can contribute to poor vision and, in certain instances, blindness. As their vision worsens, people with diabetes may be diagnosed with diabetic eye disease, which is an umbrella term used to describe a handful of conditions.

Continue reading
  1118 Hits

It's Not Just Hearing Loss, It's A Communication Loss

Hearing Loss is Communication Loss

It's Not Just Hearing Loss, It's A Communication Loss

Hearing loss reduces quality of life and is dangerous. Adults with untreated hearing loss are …

… up to 5 times more likely to develop dementia

… up to 3 times more likely to suffer falls

… less likely to participate in organized social activities, leading to feelings of depression.

Continue reading
  1098 Hits

Common Carcinogens Everyone Should Know About

common carcinogens

Common Carcinogens Everyone Should Know About

A carcinogen is any substance that can be cancer-causing. Carcinogens can be found in the air, the products a person uses or even in popular foods and beverages.

Scientists continually study exposures that can contribute to the formation of cancer. The National Cancer Institute reminds the public that, while carcinogens have the potential to be harmful, not all exposure will automatically result in cancer. Many factors are involved in whether carcinogenic exposure will lead to cancer, including genetic predispositions and the duration of exposure. The following are some common carcinogens.

  • Arsenic: Inorganic arsenic may be naturally present at high levels in groundwater and the Earth's crust in various areas. Arsenic also may be found in the air and in tobacco smoke.
  • Asbestos: When products containing asbestos are disturbed, fibers can be released and trapped in the lungs. 
  • Crispy Cooked Foods: Charring food on the barbecue or elsewhere may taste delicious, but when certain foods are heated to high temperatures a chemical called acrylamide can be produced. 
  • Formaldehyde: The EPA says this product is found in certain wood products, fabrics and other household items because it is a preservative, germicide and fungicide. Formaldehyde also occurs naturally in the environment, and is produced in cigarette smoke.
  • Pollution: Outdoor air contains a mix of engine exhaust, metals and solvents that can lead to cancer. While this type of carcinogen is not easily avoided, people can stay indoors on days when air quality is poor or avoid industrial areas where pollution levels may be higher.
  • Preserved meats: Salami, bacon, sausage, pepperoni, and preserved foods can increase risk for colon cancer. Limiting how much salted, fermented, cured, and smoked foods a person eats can lower cancer risk.
  • Radon: The NCI indicates that radon occurs naturally from the decay of uranium, thorium and radium in rocks and soil. It can be released into the air and drinking water, eventually infiltrating homes and businesses.

Carcinogens are all around. Identifying common ones can help people take precautions that limit their exposure and potentially reduce their cancer risk.

  1459 Hits

6 Reasons To Use Cash

reasons to use cash

Holiday Purchases - 6 Reasons To Use Cash

Cash has fallen out of favor among consumers who find it easier to reach for a card in their wallets. Some shoppers may even wonder if people still carry cash when credit cards and debit cards have become so convenient and widely accepted? Actually, they do.

Cash can be a smart choice for many purchases, including holiday spending. Here are six reasons why cash can be king once more.

1. Limits spending in a tangible way: A key benefit of using cash is that it presents a visual cue that spending should cease. If a shopper has set a $200 limit for holiday gifts, when that $200 in cash is gone, it's a surefire reminder that it is time to step away from the register and leave the store. It can be hard to view spending in real time when using credit or debit.

2. Bills are accepted everywhere. Unlike some credit cards, merchants will not turn away cash. This is especially helpful when shopping at small businesses or pop-up markets that are popular during the holidays. Local artisans or other niche vendors may only take cash as well.

Continue reading
  1380 Hits

2 Unique Ways To Cook Thanksgiving Turkey

2 ways to cook Turkey

2 Unique Ways To Cook Thanksgiving Turkey

This year hosts who want to expand their horizons and think beyond the oven can consider two popular alternative methods to cooking a Thanksgiving turkey.

Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday. Families may have their own unique Thanksgiving traditions, but one staple of this kickoff to the holiday season is bound to make its way to Thanksgiving dinner tables no matter how unusual families' holiday celebrations may be: turkey.

Much effort goes into picking and preparing a Thanksgiving turkey. Depending on the size of the bird, turkeys can take many hours to cook. Thanksgiving celebrants are no doubt familiar with oven-roasted turkey, which is the most traditional way to cook turkey. But this year hosts who want to expand their horizons and think beyond the oven can consider two popular alternative methods to cooking a Thanksgiving turkey.

Continue reading
  1217 Hits

Not Just A Survivor, But A Thriver In Life

Pretty Lovely You

Not Just A Survivor, But A Thriver In Life

Denise Peske is not just a survivor of Breast Implant Illness, but a thriver in life.

For over 13 years, Denise suffered from debilitating pain and unexplainable illnesses until she discovered the source was her breast implants. She had been so ill for many years that she decided her health was more important than her breast size. She didn’t think twice and had the implants removed on April 9, 2019. Her health has been improving ever since.

The catalyst of the problem was the lack of self-confidence and poor self-body image she carried. A reflection of what so many women experience. Her journey to wellness was that of learning lessons and helping others. She decided she needed to not just advocate about the health risks with implants, but help other girls and women with the same body image struggles she did. 

Denise received the Butterfly Award through ALPHA House of Pinellas based on her journey to health where they stated “In Denise we see the confidence, intent and intensity of a person who feels blessed to have a second chance – a person who sees their second chance as a path and mandate to make the world better.” 

Continue reading
  1860 Hits

The Immune 8 Blend

Margie Vance, Founder

The Immune 8 Blend - Margie Vance, Founder

Immune 8 is made from eight 100% therapeutic grade oils. Immune 8 blend boosts the immune system which is affected by stress and organisms in the environment. The blend also defends against germs including bacteria and viruses. The US Patent Office has approved this blend as an air purifier. The safety data on each oil state; non-toxic, non-irritant, and non-sensitizing.  The essential oils are blended at 2% adult strength in the carrier of organic soap or organic lotion.

  • Lemon – antimicrobial, antiseptic, antitoxic, astringent, bactericidal, hemostatic, insecticidal, stimulates white corpuscles, but phototoxic do not use directly on skin in sunlight. (Top Note)
  • Lemongrass – stress-related conditions, analgesic, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent, bactericidal, fungicidal, and nervine. (Top Note)
  • Tea Tree – anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, bactericidal, fungicidal, immune-stimulant, and parasiticide. (Middle/Top Note)
  • Lavender – stress-related conditions, analgesic, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antitoxic, nervine, parasiticide, deodorant, and insecticide. (Top Note)
  • Rosewood – stress-related conditions, stimulates the immune system, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antiseptic, bactericidal, cellular stimulant, and tissue regeneration (https://www.msn.com/en-us/feed Middle/Base Note)
  • White Camphor – anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral, and bactericidal. (Middle Note)
  • Cinnamon Leaf – stress-related conditions, antimicrobial, antiseptic, parasiticide, and vermifuge. (Middle /Base Note)
  • Patchouli – stress-related complaints, covers offensive odors, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antitoxic, antiviral, bactericidal, and fungicidal (Base Note)

 

Immune 8 Products and Uses

Continue reading
  1275 Hits

Changing Lives, One Foot At A Time-Freedom Walk Foundation

Freedom to Walk Foundation

Changing Lives, One Foot At A Time

Imagine having one foot that weighs 

50 pounds. What would life be like?

By Gary S. Hatrick

Continue reading
  1437 Hits

Three Important Tests Your Child Might Need 

3 important tests for your child

Three Important Tests Your Child Might Need 

Being a parent seems to be harder than ever. On top of the peer pressure that traditionally comes with adolescence, now we have to contend with strong social media influences. Add to that a pandemic, which has undoubtedly turned life upside down for everyone, including our children. One of the biggest concerns for parents is keeping their children safe and healthy. As a parent, there are several options you can take to make sure your child's health is on track, starting with the right lab test. 

3 CRUCIAL LAB TESTS TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR CHILD:

COVID 19 RT-PCR TEST 

These days, the first sign of a fever and a cough will have any parent worried that their child might have contracted COVID-19. While these signs are indicative of COVID-19, there are symptoms that children experience that most adults do not —including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Other more common signs include body aches, fatigue, sore throat, and shortness of breath, as well as the most specific symptoms of COVID-19 — the loss of taste and smell. 

Continue reading
  1428 Hits

Oronzo Italian Restaurant

Oronzo's Italian Restaurant

Oronzo Italian Restaurant’s old-world, new world recipes will meld in your mouth

By Paul Catala

It’s not the predictable that literally drives Evan Rosenthal to the New Tampa Italian restaurant. It is Oronzo’s customized, tried-and-true chicken pesto, caprese breads and grilled chicken recipes that makes the drive from his Tampa home worth the time and effort.

Owner Dan Bavaro says he’s more than happy to unveil the uncommon at what he calls his “fast-casual” Oronzo restaurant with a focus on traditional tastes with modern and unique spins. 

Continue reading
  1554 Hits

FWM Logo JPEG NEW 090119

...is published monthly reaching readers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Pinellas and Hernando Counties through our digital platforms and in print! 

Featured Articles

01 August 2020
Karen Benedette Sequeira African Continental Finalist 2021 The Africa pageant was started in the year 2001 by Carolyn Baldwin-Botha, CEO of Pageants SA and who is known as the Mother of Pageantry in S...