Smoker on Smoker Abuse: Oh the Tragedy!

[PapaDisco]

So one of my favorite dining experiences is Angelina's in the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi. Not because the food is off the charts (it's darn good though, and quite creative at times), but because it's a wonderful restaurant, has a great bar (willing to make any crazy cocktail you want even if they've never heard of it), great air conditioning (vital in the summer months in Vietnam) AND they allow smoking!

Until now . . . . . . the cigarette smokers complained about the cigar smokers so now only cigarettes are allowed until 9:30 p.m. No more pre-dinner stogie for me!

The waiter who delivered the sad news graciously carried my cocktail out to the (outdoors) Bamboo Bar, where it was a sweltering 92F and 95%rH . . . and me in suit and tie! I was more concerned about what the heat and humidity was going to do to my Punch Punch (a 2013), but lo and behold it was fantastic! One of the best smokes I ever had and certainly the best I'd ever had in a jungle environment.

Normally the high heat and humidity add a bitterness to a stogie (not always, but frequently) and make it hard to draw as well as bringing an uneven burn. This Punch Punch was perfect in every way, a throwback to the sweet, molasses and honey dark Punch Punch from 2009. A firm but not too tight draw, and a perfect burn that never went out nor needed a touch up. I smoked it super slow too. And this stick was just off a 20 hour flight and a 2 hour connection to Hanoi . . . so much for travel sickness!

So, sorry to lose the restaurant as a regular haunt, but a memorable cigar nonetheless. Even made me forget I was wearing a suit in all that heat! Well, almost . . .

[jmg]

the cigarette smokers complained about the cigar smokers? thats just sad. shoulda complained right back. lol

been living in Hanoi for the last 20 months and one of the pros is that you can light up pretty much anywhere.

[oliverdst]

Man, this cigarette policy is crazy.

I understand cigar smoke is stronger than cigarette's but it's smoke anyway.

Maybe if somebody starts complaining about cigarette smoke everyday... :-)

[TCContender]

Man, this cigarette policy is crazy.

I understand cigar smoke is stronger than cigarette's but it's smoke anyway.

Maybe if somebody starts complaining about cigarette smoke everyday... :-)

Yeah, that's what happened in my area....then they will ban smoking everywhere. I live in North Carolina too, the cigarette manufacturing capital of the world (at least at one time).

[stogieluver]

Same here on the Gulf Coast in some of the casino bars. I was pissed to be told I couldn't light up my cigar while people all around me were smoking cigarettes. Haven't been back. Screw 'em.

[Fugu]

Man, this cigarette policy is crazy.

I understand cigar smoke is stronger than cigarette's but it's smoke anyway.

Maybe if somebody starts complaining about cigarette smoke everyday... :-)

"I understand cigar smoke is stronger than cigarette's .."

Pardon?!

Cigarette smoke is plain disgusting, strong, biting in the eye and nothing but a pain.

Cigar smoke's a treat....

As you say it, oliver, we should start and turn the tables.

[oliverdst]

"I understand cigar smoke is stronger than cigarette's .."

Pardon?!

Cigarette smoke is plain disgusting, strong, biting in the eye and nothing but a pain.

Cigar smoke's a treat....

As you say it, oliver, we should start and turn the tables.

Agree. My nose loves cigar smoke and hates cigarette but most people I know cant stand cigars. Probably they are used to cigarettes.

[wabashcr]

Agree. My nose loves cigar smoke and hates cigarette but most people I know cant stand cigars. Probably they are used to cigarettes.

I would also add that not all cigar smoke is the same. I love the smell of smoke off a quality cigar, but the smoke that comes from the cheap, machine-made stuff is revolting. Cigarettes on the other hand all smell the same to me. Not good, mind you, but not as offensive as cheap cigar smoke.

Allowing one kind of smoke but not another means it's no longer a health issue, but purely a matter of taste. That offends me a lot more than an across the board ban.

[Fugu]

I would also add that not all cigar smoke is the same. I love the smell of smoke off a quality cigar, but the smoke that comes from the cheap, machine-made stuff is revolting. Cigarettes on the other hand all smell the same to me. Not good, mind you, but not as offensive as cheap cigar smoke.

Allowing one kind of smoke but not another means it's no longer a health issue, but purely a matter of taste. That offends me a lot more than an across the board ban.

I'll take the smoke of a Guantanamera over a cigarette anytime

[El Presidente]

That really does suck

I would push for them to install one of those outdoor air conditioners you often see in Asia. They certainly take the edge off the heat.

[PapaDisco]

I speculate that it's more an issue with the volume of smoke we put out. Anyway, both sides of this coin ought to be sticking together!

The Bamboo Bar does bring out tall fans to help cool things down (the ceiling fans are mostly decorative, they turn but don't push much air). None were out this evening however, and the Punch Punch was going so spectacularly well that while I thought about asking for a fan, in the end I didn't. I was loving that smoke so much I didn't want anything to ruin it and I didn't give a damn if I was slow cooking myself.

[MIKA27]

"I understand cigar smoke is stronger than cigarette's .."

Pardon?!

Cigarette smoke is plain disgusting, strong, biting in the eye and nothing but a pain.

Cigar smoke's a treat....

As you say it, oliver, we should start and turn the tables.

I agree.

I've enjoyed many cigars at a friends home, we'd light up in his 'Man cave' and his wife would then enter with a dirty cigarette. I say dirty because immediately you can smell the differences between TOBACCO from a cigar versus the Chemical filled cigarettes. BIG DIFFERENCE IMO.

Hypocrites regarding the complaint @Papadisco

[Ken Gargett]

So one of my favorite dining experiences is Angelina's in the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi. Not because the food is off the charts (it's darn good though, and quite creative at times), but because it's a wonderful restaurant, has a great bar (willing to make any crazy cocktail you want even if they've never heard of it), great air conditioning (vital in the summer months in Vietnam) AND they allow smoking!

Until now . . . . . . the cigarette smokers complained about the cigar smokers so now only cigarettes are allowed until 9:30 p.m. No more pre-dinner stogie for me!

The waiter who delivered the sad news graciously carried my cocktail out to the (outdoors) Bamboo Bar, where it was a sweltering 92F and 95%rH . . . and me in suit and tie! I was more concerned about what the heat and humidity was going to do to my Punch Punch (a 2013), but lo and behold it was fantastic! One of the best smokes I ever had and certainly the best I'd ever had in a jungle environment.

Normally the high heat and humidity add a bitterness to a stogie (not always, but frequently) and make it hard to draw as well as bringing an uneven burn. This Punch Punch was perfect in every way, a throwback to the sweet, molasses and honey dark Punch Punch from 2009. A firm but not too tight draw, and a perfect burn that never went out nor needed a touch up. I smoked it super slow too. And this stick was just off a 20 hour flight and a 2 hour connection to Hanoi . . . so much for travel sickness!

So, sorry to lose the restaurant as a regular haunt, but a memorable cigar nonetheless. Even made me forget I was wearing a suit in all that heat! Well, almost . . .

loved the metropole.

a mate of mine, a chef here, and myself did a food/wine presentation there for a week or so ages ago. it was in the main dining room - don't remember it being called angelina's. or anything else. i did the wine, russell armstrong (brisbane finest chef when he wanted to focus but sadly now in south africa) did the food. we'd done a week in saigon.

i especially remember that when we arrived, their head chef at the metropole spat the dummy (he was quite a famous french chef) and took his entire staff out. was not having an australian in his kitchen, he told the hotel. so russell was forced to do the entire service - a 100 or so lunch and dinner - by himself with 3 young vietnamese kids. worked 20 hours a day during the week and also for the three days leading to it. was hell for him. first, he had to teach the kids enough english words to get by. it was near hysterical watching the kids come in and say to russell - "two beep". meaning two serves of beef. meanwhile i got to swan around the room and sit and talk wine and drink with the customers. great fun. every now and then, if it was getting quiet, i would go in and annoy russell for a bit. he'd usually throw a knife at me.

half way through the week, the french chef and his entire staff returned. he told russell that they had been watching closely and he'd seen that russell could actually cook so he and the staff were at his service. they became great friends and still are.

[perkinke]

The bamboo bar there is one of the best memories of my time in Hanoi, but I didn't have to be in a suit and tie! It is too bad about the new policy though.

[TomF]

My wife is a cigarette smoker...don't get me started...but at least she doesn't complain if I smoke in the house...

[MrGTO]

Sad....

I've never been back to a few places I loved because of the same "policy"

Cigarette smokers, unfortunately, hold the trump card in these places because of their numbers.

[polarbear]

I've been kicked out of a number of smoking sections by cigarette smokers because they objected to my cigar smoking

[jmg]

My wife is a cigarette smoker...don't get me started...but at least she doesn't complain if I smoke in the house...

same here. I'm just glad she lets me smoke cigars

[Fugu]

I speculate that it's more an issue with the volume of smoke we put out.

I'd even object to that. While I smoke a Minuto or Robusto, cigarette Joe draws in three or four cigarettes, perhaps more. Smoke volume might be less, ok, but it is much more annoying (to me).

Smoking lounges should be reserved for smokers and not for addicts.

Sad....

I've never been back to a few places I loved because of the same "policy"

Cigarette smokers, unfortunately, hold the trump card in these places because of their numbers.

I guess, that's the point, they simply are in the majority.

[TCContender]

I was kicked out of a ex-pat restaurant/bar in Shanghai, Malone's (which is now closed) for smoking a cigar. The manager, who had just arrived, immediately came up to me and advised that cigar smoke was annoying his patrons and proceeded to escort me out of the place. unbeknownst to him and prior to lighting up, I had eaten dinner and had several drinks, for which I had not yet paid - it was a 600RMB+ bill. The cab was pulling away as the manager ran out waving his hands for me to come back. I just smiled and waved back, cigar in hand. Thanks for the free food and drinks!