Nice People and a Cuban

The Cuban
A few weeks ago, when Fidel Castro stepped down after almost 50 years in power, I decided to treat myself to a Cuban. And I'm not talking about a cigar. Or a human being.
A step into Pullaro's Italian Restaurant is a little like a step back in time. John Pullaro opened his restaurant on 901 W. Picacho in 1972, but in a lot of ways, it feels like 1952 inside.
The walls are filled with Italian paintings, maps, pictures, flags, family photos and memorabilia. There's even a signed photo collage of NMSU basketball coaching legend Lou Henson.
You're welcomed by Italian-friendly music, classic 1940s and 1950s tunes by crooners such as Dean Martin and Jimmy Durante. On a previous visit, I heard Durante singing "Hello Young Lovers" and some stuff that sounded like Leon Redbone.
The menus are in vintage red covers with tassels, and the red shutters keep the room darkened to an intimate level, even on the brightest summer day.
The day Castro stepped down, there was a foursome at the next table speaking a foreign language that sounded vaguely like Spanish. But even a gringo like me could tell it was actually Italian. I figured, wow, Italian tourists.
I asked Pullaro about it after they left and he said, "I passed the test."
They were seeking spaghetti al dente, meaning it's cooked less, with a little bite to it, not soggy like many Americans make it. I figured that says something, if real Italians like the place.
And while he wanted to be sure those customers were satisfied, that's the way he treats everyone.
"Hi Frank," says Pullaro in his boisterous voice, greeting a customer who's obviously a regular.
I'd stopped in a couple of years ago and tried John's Cuban sandwich. He regaled me with the history of it, and I asked him to refresh my memory.
John spent time in Florida, where the Cuban sandwich is ubiquitous.
"It's like a burrito is around here," John says. "Everybody sells them."
Everybody except John Pullaro.
"I'm the only Italian restaurant here that doesn't sell Mexican food. I'm a diehard."
He's also a diehard about his ingredients.
"When I started in 1972, I bought my cheese from Italy. I still buy my cheese from Italy."
It's Picarino Romano cheese, and he pays $300 for a block of it. But to John, it's well worth it to maintain the quality of ingredients and the continuity for his loyal customers.
The Cuban is a cold cut sandwich with ham and salami, mustard and pickles.
You can get it served hot or cold. Both are delicious.
But the signature of the Cuban is the long, thin bread roll on which it's served. Some would mistakenly call it a sub sandwich or a hoagie, but it has its own distinctive style.
Just like Pullaro's Restaurant. And just like Pullaro himself.

Nice People
Business Products Center, on El Paseo, occasionally runs an ad in the Sun-News with a simple, yet unique, headline.
It says, Nice People. That alone caused me to venture into the store. Just curious, I guess, to see if the headline was right.
And it was. And there's more than just business products in there.
Over Christmas, I found it much easier and quicker to mail packages from BPC than the post office. I guess that's no surprise.
But they also sell boxes and stamps and wrapping paper, and greeting cards.
I found a really cool card for my oldest daughter's birthday. When you opened it, it played the classing song "Shining Star" by Earth, Wind & Fire.