THANKFUL to those who serve
By David Triana
Everyone remembers the terrible tragedy that occurred in our nation on September 11, 2001! Over 3,000 perished at the hands of terrorists who hijacked planes and crashed them into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Another hijacked plane, thanks to the heroic action by brave Americans, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania when those passengers confronted the terrorists and thwarted their plan to possibly crash that one into the White House.
On that fateful day, hundreds of First Responders, especially firemen from New York City, perished in the Twin Towers as they responded to the explosions and fires.
Harry Siegel, originally from Brooklyn, New York, is the owner of Havana Harry’s East Gate Café, located right outside the East Gate of Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso.
On September 11th of this year, Harry gave “thanks” to the area’s military and first responders in a big way, he gave free lunches to all that showed up at his place. By the time it was over, over 300 had come.
Harry understands that giving back to the community is an important thing that all businesses should do.
For THANKS-giving, Harry and his Havana Harry’s East Gate Café will once again do something special to thank the military, first responders and their families. He is having his first Annual THANKS-giving Dinner for them. All military, first responders and their families can come and eat for free at his restaurant. The event will take place on 26 and 27 November, 4pm – 7pm (see ads on this edition).
Harry moved to Miami, Florida in 1978. His father was in the restaurant business and Harry worked for this father as a dish-washer in his fathers’ coffee shops for many years.
At the age of 50, he decided to retire from his management level position at Publix. Harry said, “When I got to the age of 50, I figured it was time to move on to another chapter of my life, doing something different, and so I moved to Florida and opened my restaurant.”
Harry wanted to primarily cater to the military, “if it were not for the military, our area would just not be the great area that it is!”
Harry’s restaurant is known for its delicious Cuban and Caribbean cuisine, which includes a Cuban sandwich for which the bread is especially ordered and delivered all the way from Ybor City in Tampa.
In addition to the popular Cuban sandwich, his restaurant serves other Cuban dishes and has a large selection of many of the most well-known Latin American soft drinks and he offers Café con Leche.
In January 2016, Havana Harry’s will begin its expansion, it will now include the area of the building adjacent to his present restaurant. An expanded menu is currently being introduced that will include ceviche, paella, palomilla and skirt steaks, plus several other well-known Cuban and Spanish dishes. They will also be serving traditional tropical drinks like mango and guava drinks.
A Latin Fiesta is being planned the day the expansion of the restaurant takes place. In the meantime, Harry invites everyone to go Havana Harry’s, and if you are not sure of what you would like to eat, or you are not familiar with some things, he said “let us know and we’ll give you a sample of anything in our menu….you try it before you buy it!”
