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RAMON HERNANDEZ
Name: Ramon Hernandez
What is your Profession?
Restaurateur
Your Pais: Cuba
Hometown: Tampa Bay
Latin Times: How did you get
started in your career?
Ramon Hernandez: When
my parents opened their
first restaurant, I started out
washing dishes, and when I
was 15 years old, I was cooking
the full menu. After pursuing a
career as an Architect, at 25, I
opened my first restaurant after
13 restaurants later here I am.
Latin Times: What do you
enjoy most about you what
you do?
Ramon Hernandez: I enjoy
cooking and learning new
techniques, then applying them
to our recipes it’s the only way
to keep up with the Restaurant
Industry and whether it’s in the
kitchen or within the operational
aspect it’s always changing.
Latin Times: Tell us about
what Pipo’s Cuban Café
Ramon Hernandez: Pipo’s
Cuban Café is a family
restaurant that has proudly
served the Tampa bay area
since 1979. We offer our
traditional, over 30 year old
recipes, plus two Chef special
daily. The atmosphere is casual
and the portions are large at a
moderate price.
Latin Times: Tell us about
the awards you recently won
in both Hillsborough & Pinellas
County Florida.
Ramon Hernandez: This
year I’ve won Top local Chef
Award 2014 for the Second
year in a row, competing
against eight other great
Local chefs and winning an
entry into the World Food
Championship 2014. A win in
the Cuban Sandwich Festival
2014 for our traditional
Cuban Sandwich, and we
were awarded by Tampa
Bay Magazine, Best Cuban
Restaurant for 2014 in
Tampa Bay.
Latin Times: You were a
contestant at the 3rd Annual
Cuban Sandwich Festival and
you were a winner this year
winning # 1 in Pinellas County
for the Traditional Cuban
Sandwich. What does this win
mean for you?
Ramon Hernandez: Being
a winner at the 2014 National
Cuban Sandwich Festival
Award is the Highlight of
Pipo’s History. What’s a Cuban
Restaurant with out a Great
Cuban sandwich? I’m truly
honored by winning.
Latin Times: Who is a hero/
role model that you admire
(Living or deceased) and why
do you admire them?
Ramon Hernandez: I would
have to say my parent’s.
Although