The Sandwich Locals Eat in Miami (Game-Changer) | Lechon, Crunch, and Chaos with Mika Leon

The Chewed Up crew wraps their Miami week at the W South Beach with a bold, flavor-packed finale alongside Miami-born chef and Food Network standout Mika Leon. Mika brings the group deep into authentic Cuban cooking, skipping the tourist-famous Cuban sandwich in favor of a true local staple: pan con lechón. Built from slow-roasted pork shoulder marinated in a garlic-heavy mojo, the dish delivers rich, citrusy flavor with perfectly crisped edges and signature chicharrón. The sandwich comes together with sautéed onions, a smoky-spicy cumin aioli, and a surprising crunch from shoestring potatoes — a combination that hits every texture and flavor note. Along the way, Mika shares her journey from baking in her mom’s garage to launching a food truck and competing on Food Network, all while staying true to her Cuban roots. The conversation moves from Miami food culture to late-night hustle, parenting, and the realities of the restaurant industry. The episode wraps with a Cuban coffee demo (complete with espuma technique), a surprise guest appearance, and one of the most satisfying bites of the season. Guest: Mika Leon Social: (@mikabites) 👉 Grab the full recipe + more at: https://www.chewedupshow.com/recipes Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome + Miami energy 02:30 – Meet Mika Leon 06:30 – Lechón + mojo breakdown 09:00 – Shredding pork + cooking onions 11:30 – Food truck story 14:30 – Toasting bread in pork fat 16:30 – Spicy cumin aioli 17:30 – Building the sandwich 19:30 – First bites 21:30 – Mika’s origin story 24:30 – Chew It or Screw It 30:00 – Cuban coffee demo 35:00 – Surprise guest 37:30 – Fan giveaway 🙌 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors: Frontgate → Premium home, kitchen, and entertaining essentials — including Michael Symon’s collection featured on the show. https://frontgate.com W South Beach → Iconic Miami beachfront hotel bringing vibrant energy and luxury hospitality https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/miaws-w-south-beach/overview/ Produced by Simple Alien → https://www.simplealien.com/ Camera, Audio and Crew provided by TV Boy → https://tvboynyc.com/ About Chewed Up Three lifestyle icons reunite with zero filter, strong opinions, and even stronger flavors. Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall, and Michael Symon are back in the kitchen with comedy, comfort food, and unfiltered conversation — served loud. Episodes drop 3x a week: * Monday – Appetizers * Wednesday – Mains * Friday – Desserts Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a bite. Fan Giveaway This week’s Giveaway: Cuban moka pot + Cuban coffee Want in? 👉 Subscribe and sign up here: https://chewedupshow.com/fangiveaway Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy