Things I Enjoy
Posted 1 year, 7 months ago at 11:33 pm. Add a comment
cigars, Cigars, CIGARS: Been smoking them since the age of 19, when my best friend Frank and I started down the road of becoming cigar afficionados. Growing up in a Cuban family, cigars is as natural as water to me. Several family members including my Father and Grandfather (mom’s side) were life long smokers. I have smoked from all over the world. Currently I have cigars customed made at a factory in Miami, Florida called Havana Classics, the owner Maria and her son are awesome!!! When you go they all greet you with cafe and a smile. My current regular is a 7 inch 46 ring Oscuro with a Maduro wrap, the filling and wrapper come from Nicaragua. It is a nice consistent smooth smoke great for any day of the week.
My all time top 5 cigars (as of 02/01/2009):
5. Davidoff Churchill (Cuban)
4. MonteCristo #1 (Cuban)
3. Romeo & Julieta Churchill (Cuban)
2. Ashton 898
1. Trinidad (Cuban)
I have yet to smoke any cigar as elegant and outstanding as the Trinidad. It was around 2000 when I was given the cigar as a gift. I was doing computer work for a international bigshot who had recieved a box of these cigars as a christmas gift from his banker who in turn got it, allegedly, from Fidel Castro. At the time Trinidad cigars were made only for Castro to give as gifts. The cigar was long and thin like a Lancero or Panetela, a strong concentrated smoke. It burned smooth all the way to the end. Never so good another cigar has been…
Food & Wine: Growing up around chefs and food lovers I learned to appreicate the art of food and cooking at a very early age. I always enjoy trying new cuisines from around the world either at a 5 star restaurant or a hole in the wall. Good food is everywhere and I love to find it. I especially like being invited to eat at somebody’s home. This is a triple treat: 1. eat great food 2. get a chance to see the food preparation and 3. Meet new people and make friends. A possible 4 would be to learn the culture and traditions of the hosts and other guests. I have always enjoyed good wine, but started learning about it in 2005 with Juan, one of my Patas (that’s Peruvian for close friend). He taught me and Frank (our other Pata) the correct ways to appreciate wine. This led to many nights of debauchery and silliness but all for a good cause. I think wine is best appreicated with friends and family, laughs and smiles. One good wine I often drink and give as a gift is Goats Do Roam from South Africa, a great red at really great price ($8-$10). Juan told me about it around 2007 and I have been enjoying it every since.
Favorite Miami Food Spots:
6. Sheba (design district) - Awesome Nigerian Cuisine
5. Picnics (bird and 67) - great old school american diner
4. Arbetter hotdogs (bird and 87) after 6pm the “all around” is $1
3. Versalles (calle ocho and 30something avenue) - always good
2. Gourmet Gourmet (in the Gables off Ponce) - awesome take out Chinese
1. Dim Sum (calle ocho adn 70something behind Denny’s) - authentic Chinese food, ask for the Dim Sum menu, mmmmm delicious!