Gustazo’s Chef Patricia Estorino Hosts Chez Henri’s Paul O’Connell for a One-Night-Only Pop Up

One of Boston’s most beloved sandwiches is making a highly anticipated return, for one night only.

Chef Paul O’Connell, the longtime chef/owner of the former Chez Henri, will bring back his legendary Cubano sandwich during a special pop-up at James Beard–nominated Chef Patricia Estorino’s Gustazo Cuban Café in Cambridge on April 15. The event will run from 5 to 9 p.m.

Gustazo Cambridge is located just steps from the original Chez Henri, where the sandwich developed a devoted following over nearly two decades. Priced at $18, the Cubano is widely considered one of Greater Boston’s most iconic sandwiches.

Layered with slow-roasted pork and melted cheese, then pressed and grilled on crusty bread, the sandwich became a staple of Boston’s dining scene. When Chez Henri closed in 2013, the Cubano took on near-legendary status among local diners and food writers.

“We’re honored to host Chef Paul and give diners another chance to experience this iconic sandwich,” said Chef Patricia Estorino. “It’s a piece of Boston’s food history, and we’re excited to introduce it to a new generation.”

Following the pop-up, Estorino will debut her own take on the Cubano, which will be available every Wednesday at Gustazo Cambridge. Her version features slow-roasted pork, Gruyère cheese, Dijon, pickles, smoked paprika aioli, and is pressed on an Iggy’s Italian sub roll, served with boniato chips.

O’Connell is a longtime Boston chef known for blending French and Cuban influences at Chez Henri, where he helped popularize both the Cubano sandwich and mojitos in the city. A Johnson & Wales graduate, he trained under noted chefs including Lydia Shire, Todd English, and Jasper White.

Estorino, a James Beard Award semifinalist, opened Gustazo with her husband in 2011. The restaurant has since earned national and local recognition for its Cuban cuisine and hospitality, with locations in Cambridge and Waltham.