Popular Post El Presidente Posted July 2, 2016 Popular Post Posted July 2, 2016 It was at a little delicatesan in Maiori on the Amalfi Coast when the idea came to Rob Fox and I. We were together at Maiori for the June 2015 AmiCigar hosted by Gino and his remarkable crew of friends. What a fantastic week! Now it is one of my few strengths to be able to sniff out a little bar or club off the beaten trap. In this case it was a delicatesan run by Federico and his good wife and they were marvelous. Each day we would sit on the barrels outside, smoking fine cigars, eating fabulous local cheese, meats, vine ripened tomato’s, figs and all while drinking copious amounts of Amaronne. Rob and Stuart Fox are brilliant company. I like having mates who make me look sane. I suspect they think the same. It was over a bottle of Amaronne that we conceived the idea of a joint dinner in China for 2016. There wasn’t a lot of detail discussed. I had a friend in George Chen who owns Shanghai’s best steak restaurant in Roosevelts with an impressive Divan. George loves cigars and so I touched base, he was thrilled, a date was set and the Fox/Ayala expedition had no turning back. Cigar dinners and follow up functions are not easy to plan. Huge kudos to George and his team (Yvonne,Joyce and staff) for making it seamless. Rob and I arranged the cigars in Bolivar Belgravia 2015 GB RE, Romeo y Julieta Prince of Wales 1982, Ramon Allones Celestiales Finos 2009 AP RE. Did I say George had a steak restaurant….throw that out the window. Here was the menu. The dinner was on Saturday night. I flew into Shanghai on the prior Wednesday evening. Rob Fox and Justin Seldis (Founder of Cigar Traveller Lighters) flew in on Thursday Morning. It had been a year since I have seen them in London. Hugs a plenty ensued and once they were set we were all off down town for a cigar at the Metropole followed by lunch at a local Chinese restaurant where we introduced Foxy to the joys of braised goose feet with white beans. He declined. However by the end of the week he was eating everything and anything. How could you decline this! The three of us had agreed prior to arriving in Shanghai to bring 30 cigars each for the 5 days but nothing too special. I was the only one who complied albeit I thought I had some crackers in perfect 2001 SLR Lonsdale’s, Vintage Monte 2 etc. Justin decided that closer to 100 cigars would be appropriate including Cuban Davidoff, Russian Regionals, Vintage Ramon Allones, Vintage Lusitania, Vintage Connie 1’s etal. I love Justin. Foxy was much the same. Paid no heed to what was agreed upon and just had some absolutely cracker cigars. In my defence I did bring three boxes of Bushido for the follow up Tuesday event which left plenty left over. On the Thursday night we caught up with George Chen. To say that everyone hit it off is an understatement. Lifetime friends were made well before the end of the week. George has a capacity to give of himself unreservedly that is rarely seen. Foxy and Justin are the same. For the two days leading up to the gala dinner on the Saturday I would like to tell you that we worked hard in preparation. We didn’t. By day we drank great wine and ate some of the best Chinese food available from 5 star to corner stalls. We talked, laughed, drank some more and smoked brilliant cigars. By night we partied in Shanghai until 4am. The dinner was proving to be a potential respite and before long it arrived. Justin, Foxy and Myself What a spectacular event. Kicking off at 7pm, the room was already full which is surprising as the Shanghai crowd are notoriously late in arriving. With 70 people we had to split the groups into 4 rooms but it worked well under Georges supervision and planning. After a brief introduction, Rob and I delivered our opening speeches and before long we were winging it. Personally, I thought we were hilarious J. What a great night. Everything from the food to the cigars to the wine and service was exquisite. I have done enough cigar events to know when something is on song. Havanathon has taught me that the strength of any event comes down to the people attending. Everyone on that Saturday night in Shanghai had an absolute ball and the vibe manifested itself throughout the room. The best cigar of the night was Rob’s Romeo y Julieta Prince of Wales 1982. After a subdued start in the first inch it came alive and burst with power and flavour, spices overflowing and yet it had balance in spades. The cigar has another decade in it at least. Rob and I went and spent time with all the guests. We were both humbled by their welcome, hospitality and genuine interest in the diversity of our own businesses. In the end, regardless of nationality or experience, we are bound together by a love of cigars. Cigar people are in the main good people no matter where you go. 2016 marks my 20th year in the Cigar business. Rob Foxes goes back a couple of hundred years. Now while JJfox and associated entities has rubbed shoulders with monarchy, aristocrats and politicians since 1787. My cigar business was borne at the dawn of the internet and rubbed shoulders with pornography on one side and erectile dysfunction pharmaceuticals on the other. Yet, Foxy and I are peas in a pod, just different sides of the same cigar coin. George and myself doing the rounds. The dinner ended with a Question and Answer session that would have made Habanos s.a reel. Imagine, real answers to real questions. Not one HSA cliché. Our industry is made up of the good the bad and the ugly. You might as well call it. The dinner ended up well past midnight and both Rob and I were invited out by Clarence and some of his crew who flew in for the event for an early morning “Hot Pot” supper where Rob was introduced to a “scare the white man” feast inclusive of cows throat, pig intestines, goat intestines and duck kidney. Rob had never been able to handle real “spice” before that night. Post that dinner….I never saw him sweat once regardless of how hot the dish was or how “foreign” the contents! Naturally all good suppers in Shanghai are followed by great karaoke. Clarence took us and his fantastic group out to a HTV which was pure fun in a private room big enough to be a house and complete with pool table/bar etal. Now I am blessed in the knowledge that I cannot sing. Foxy missed that blessing. Thankfully the rest of Clarence’s crew are bloody excellent! Thank you for a great night! Where are we….Sunday?...We went birko. Monday…we had a follow up one on one gathering with guests from Saturday night and smoked Bushidos. We then went birko. Tuesday….we went birko extreme ..went to dinner with George and ate some sensational food!...then went birko again. Wednesday….wrap up, long lunch, long flight home. All in all one of those trips that you remember for a lifetime. Old friends that you embrace, new friends that you look forward to sharing time again. Just once in a while you are entitled to drink from the trough of excess. We guzzled. To George, Rob Fox, Justin Seldis. I am a wealthy man while I have friends such as yourselves walking beside me. Next stop, Havana November. Look forward to seeing many of you there! 15
Sunsmoke Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Awesome! Sounds like a great trip. Sad to have been unable to join! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Jeremy Festa Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 So good! Well played mate! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
kuma Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Congrats on your 20 years of being in the cigar business Rob. As far as I can see from the consumer end and being limted to buying CC's from either the internet or when on vacation sourcing CC's in countries I'm visiting you have been nothing short of a "god send" in the pursuit of quality smokes. Since 2011 / 2012 since I found your site I have learned so much from FOH about the art of smoking CC's I can't thank you enough. You, your staff and members of FOH I am for ever gratefull. Wish you and staff another successful 20 years in the biz. Someday here in the states we may be able to buy CC's but I'm sure I will not find the same quality and standard that you offer. Hats off to the 20 years in the biz and thanks again. 3
demer Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Oh man my finances parents are Korean so o can relate to the " lets fuck with the white guy." Level of spice at Korean restaurants. Awesome trip Prez looks like a great time with some great folks.
Ethernut Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Great post! Deeply appreciate the long-form posts and the fantastic pictures! Thanks!
LordAnubis Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Brilliant mate! Tell us the story of how you were browsing porn and looking for erectyle dysfunction remedies and you suddenly had the idea of cigar business. Please Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 3
OZCUBAN Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Great musings Rob looks like a great night /week LOL was had by all good friends/cigars /drinks hard to beat cheers
Mr.T Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 Brilliant stuff! Congrats to all on a very successful and fun event Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hypersomniac Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 That trip sounds like it was a blast! If you ever feel like coming to the midwest, I will make it a priority to be there. 1
PapaDisco Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 I particularly liked the lead-in, 'We were sitting in a cafe on the Amalfi Coast when we got the idea for a glamorous dinner in Shanghai!' Never leave a party unless the next one is planned! 1
El Presidente Posted July 3, 2016 Author Posted July 3, 2016 14 hours ago, LordAnubis said: Brilliant mate! Tell us the story of how you were browsing porn and looking for erectyle dysfunction remedies and you suddenly had the idea of cigar business. Please Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Mus When I started on line, the Internet had 10 million active users and only 35 million people used e-mail . I was using "Ask Jeeves" as my Search Engine 1
madandana Posted July 3, 2016 Posted July 3, 2016 OMG. Stellar. I get so jealous when I have to sit back and read about these awesome party's. Just am great full to have taken part in one of Robs excursions and can't wait for the next.
First Lady Posted July 4, 2016 Posted July 4, 2016 Damn Rob looked like a fun time and I am glad George you got to know George like I do ( he is a good guy ;-) ) 20 years which means I have been working with you now for 14 going on 15 Years ... I must love you a lot to stay with you that long LOLOL here's to another 15 years
SofaKing Posted July 4, 2016 Posted July 4, 2016 Meeting with friends new and old in another part of the world awesome, the debauchery that insues, priceless! Wish China wasn't so far!
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