From Cuba to Puerto Rico to Lafayette: A Cuban Sandwich Recipe's Journey | Pepin Pt. 2

A single sentence can haunt you for decades: “I should’ve given you that loan.” We sit down with Jose “Pepin” to follow the full arc behind that moment, from leaving Cuba in the 1960s to landing in San Juan, Puerto Rico with almost no money, and finding the one relationship that opened a door at the Royal Bank of Canada. What unfolds is a sharp, human look at how immigrant families rebuild through reputation, hard work, and the kind of trust you can’t fake. From there, Pepin walks us through the nuts and bolts of building a successful grocery and liquor shop in Puerto Rico’s tourist district, including blue law exemptions, supplier credit, and the mindset of stocking whatever people need when everything else is closed. We also talk about learning English on the fly, falling for American sports and rock music, and why Louisiana won over Miami when it came time for college. His culture shock at LSU is real, funny, and familiar to anyone who’s ever landed somewhere new and realized they don’t speak the local “version” of the language yet. Then comes the twist that feels like a movie: a Moody Blues concert, a late-night ride, and waking up in Lafayette with brand-new friends, new food, and a city that just fits. We connect that journey to Pepin’s later life in music, zydeco, salsa, and community, and finally to Pepin’s opening in 2002, where the legendary Cuban sandwich recipe from the 1950s becomes a Lafayette staple. If you care about the Lafayette food scene, Cuban sandwiches, Cajun and Latin culture, and what it really takes to build a small business, this one’s for you. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, share this with a friend who loves Lafayette stories, and leave us a review with your favorite local “first bite” memory. The podcast was made possible through partnerships with Rouses Supermarket, Logic Refrigeration HVAC, Ounce of Hope, Cajun Table, Vermilionville, Soul Haus Kitchen, Chris Logan Media, and Sunday Soda Fountain – proving that when a community rallies around celebrating local food culture, amazing things happen. Subscribe now to join this delicious adventure and become part of the movement that's transforming Lafayette's food scene one bite at a time! https://www.rouses.com/ https://getlogicservice.com/ https://www.ounceofhope.com/ https://sundayssodafountain.com/ https://thecajuntablellc.com/ https://bayouvermiliondistrict.org/ https://www.soulhauskitchen337.com/ learn more: https://foodiesoflafayette.com