August 23 is:
National Spongecake Day
National Cuban Sandwich Day
A Cuban sandwich is a variation of a ham and cheese sandwich that originated in cafes catering to Cuban workers in Key West and Ybor City, Tampa; two early Cuban immigrant communities in Florida. It is believed by some that the sandwich was a common lunch food for workers in both the cigar factories and sugar mills of Cuba during the 1870’s. When the cigar industry in Florida shifted to Tampa in the 1880’s, the sandwich quickly appeared in workers’ cafés.
Many say a “true” Cuban sandwich, starts with Cuban bread. The loaf is sliced into lengths of 8–12 inches, lightly buttered or brushed with olive oil on the crust, and cut in half horizontally. A coat of yellow mustard is spread on the bread. Then sliced roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, and thinly sliced dill pickles are added in layers. Sometimes the pork is marinated in mojo and slow roasted. (Mojo is the name, or abbreviated name, of several types of sauces, varying in spiciness, consisting primarily of olive oil, local pepper varieties, garlic, paprika, cumin or coriander, and other spices.)
August 23, 1775, King George III delivered his Proclamation of Rebellion to the Court of St. James’s stating that ‘the American colonies have proceeded to a state of open and avowed rebellion.’
Western North Carolina (now eastern Tennessee) declared itself an independent state under the name of Franklin in 1784; it is not accepted into the United States, and only lasts for four years.
Anniversary of the death of Rudolph Valentino (August 23, 1926), Rodolfo Alfonso Raffaello Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentina d’Antonguolla, silent movie idol, died in NY at age 31. On August 15, 1926, Valentino collapsed at the Hotel Ambassador in New York City. He was hospitalized and an examination showed him to be suffering from appendicitis and gastric ulcers, which required an immediate operation. Despite surgery, Valentino developed peritonitis. On August 18 his doctors gave an optimistic prognosis. However, on August 21 he was stricken with a severe pleuritis relapse that developed rapidly in his left lung due to his weakened condition.
1931 – Birthday of Barbara Eden of “I Dream of Jeannie” fame.
Lunar Orbiter 1 took the first photograph of Earth from orbit around the Moon, August 23, 1966.
August 23, 1996, Osama bin Laden issued message entitled ‘A declaration of war against the Americans occupying the land of the two holy places.’