WINNERS ANNOUNCED!! Weekend "Pick Me Up".....& comp!

[Habana Mike]

8 hours ago, Taco said:

A little unconventional for the thread but a great pick me up and spirit lifter. Hung out with the guys last night for a diaper party they threw me (having a baby in a month or so). We played poker for a pair of Texas Rangers tickets which will be used at a later date because of postponement. Also, it’ll probably be the last time we hang out for a few weeks due to the corona scare. Trinidad Reyes were past around. The love was tremendous. Here’s the haul...not bad eh?

 

 

 

Perfect timing. Probably can't even find any more at the moment...congrats!

[havanaclub]

The last 24 hours has been pretty upsetting. Our family had planned our March break trip to Cuba and we were very excited to try out a new resort we had not been to and heard so many good things. I had my cigars packed and was ready to go. What broke my heart was my son was almost in tears when I told him we had to cancel due to the recent travel restrictions due to Covid 19.

On the positive side, looks like we might get a voucher for a later date and our family is safe. So I made some burgers which my kids love and decided to have the recent Cuba regional with a Corona and some new Barbados rum.

Be safe everyone!

RAT DIC 19 la cabana

 

Also fired up an OR 2015 personal reserve

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BoliDan]

1 hour ago, PigFish said:

I don’t know that if I am going to qualify for much here. I smoked a cigar... a JL#1 from 08. I drank some lime infused sparkling water...

I too needed a bit a pick me up. Humanity never seems to change much, and it is a damn shame. How in this day and age, a mad run at markets for a disease that has done so little actual damage when viewed historically has got me a bit shaking my head.

You folks can debate it as you wish. I side a bit with those more skeptical of the media push than the germ itself. I just wanted a cigar... Perhaps so I can continue my ever-present cough and spread a little more fear!

Yes, I am cruel... After a near fatal heart attack in ‘08, mortality does not grip me as some others I suppose. F that ***... Like humanity, I don’t change easily. A-hole to the end... that’s me!

 

The cigar was nice. Not over-the-top nice, just nice.

I have no great meal to show you. I have slept most of the day. My wife is down about this stuff. Our retirement got hit... I have to fly weekly for work. I have a heart condition. I am old... and at risk. Most of you know about the adage of life! I figure I am gonna’ get it. I have not been sick in 2 years, and what happens, happens!

Here is the cigar, but that is not what I want to share with you. Not my cynical evil streak either... not really.

You know what made me smile today? I watched a wonderful documentary about the Spitfire today while smoking my cigar.

If any of you enjoy WWII history, vintage aircraft, and the unmitigated guts of our British brothers I will suggest you watch this film. It was truly beautifully done. Here is a sneak peak...

I loved it...

With all that good feeling and a good night sleep, I may venture into the despair of the masses, and try to hunt us down some toilet paper!

Cheers! -the Pig

Ray, best of health to you. Youre the opposite of an a-hole, just an opinionated but with a bog heart. If you need a couple rolls hit me up. Love those dog fighters. Those aviators were amazing men.

[Meklown]

Very classy from all at FOH. A good reminder for us to stop and smell the roses. 

I've gotten into buying and hoarding whisky (Scotch, mainly) in recent years to be drunk at a later date during some special occasion. And why shouldn't the special occasion be today?

Got together with my old man to have a smoke. His was a mag50, I had a sir Winston. Did not take detailed notes but the coffee, cream, nuts went very well with the classic Speyside notes of apples, pears, honey from the Linkwood 

[zigarrenziggy]

I had my first Cuban cigar when I was 18; a Partagas Serie D No 4 that was recommended to me by a shop owner just across the US border in Niagara Falls. I smoked my second tonight.

I grew up learning to enjoy cigar smoking with a friend, navigating the waters of this hobby together as we scraped what money we had to buy the best that we could.

We are slightly older now, although hardly enough to be considered old; we still have much to learn about life and cigars. We have both grown and gone our separate ways through life, taking the paths presented to us, however different they may be. We still keep in touch like old friends do. As I discovered this community and the ability to purchase Cuban cigars when previously they were seen as a sort of "Holy Grail" in our quest for acquisition of luxury, all I could think of was enjoying one with my friend, as we had so many times before.

I selected a few in a size that I know he'd enjoy, a Corona Gorda, and sent them to him in the middle of January. Today was his birthday. So in celebration and in homage to times gone by, we FaceTime'd and enjoyed the experience of smoking a cigar, albeit this time a Cuban.

In times uncertain, like we face today with this new virus and new world in which we live, a cigar and an old friend is familiar and acts as an anchor. It brings solace and normalcy and just plain enjoyment, when sometimes that's really all that we need.

I hope that everyone stays healthy, and happy smoking.

 

 

[nKostyan]

I opened the summer kitchen season and my winter Smoking room is now in the summer gazebo. Traditionally, I cook a Saturday family dinner in a wood-burning cauldron according to an Uzbek recipe. My assistants are Tawny Porto and RyJ Churchill.

[Bri Fi]

Franks Family Chardonnay 2018 from Napa. A little tuckered out on all the red. It’s gorgeous in Northern California (75 degrees) as long as you’re not in the toilet paper section of any grocery store. 
 

Paired with a Cohiba Siglo II TOU SEP 17. 
 

Not sure about the chicken breast my wife made but it was delicious. There’s still hope for her cooking. 
 

The next day I went into work I was at the county hospital (yuk) for five hours in the ER. there areseveral confirmed Corona cases in the ER. And now we wait and see... bury my cigars with me. Better yet cremate my cigars with me. 

[JohnS]

My sister is getting married in May this year and we had her kitchen tea party at my home today. I was the bartender serving champagne, moscato wine, strawberry daiquiris and pina coladas. It was a great party! You wouldn't believe the name of the love of her life! By George, it's the very same name as my Dad and son (and wife's brother incidentally). Yes...George. ? ?

 

[Akela3rd]

Usual Sunday lunch for me - rib eye steak with a fried egg on top, chunk of good bread for mopping up, Brewdog AF beer and a Party Short to follow. I look forward to this solo treat every week, the only variation is the cigar.

Sent from GJ 1151

[Wookie]

Birthday weekend breakfast of champions

this is a great cigar...only thing it’s missing is the vanilla I get from nicely aged BCGs. Hopefully that might develop over time.

a bit early for one of these but why not?

 

 

 

 

[Doctortrent]

Getting ready for lunch

 

[dominattorney]

14 hours ago, Habana Mike said:

Perfect timing. Probably can't even find any more at the moment...congrats!

It is like toilet paper, but for babies. 

[dominattorney]

Friday night was spent at the office until way too late working to free my client. His wife stopped by and brought my wife and I cuban dinner of rice, ceviche, roast pork belly and canoas de platanos.  It was phenomenal and very heart warming. Cross your fingers that by Thursday the gentleman will be out of prison. No cigar Friday  because of the late hour we got out of work. 

 

[dominattorney]

Now for the fun stuff. Saturday night and it's time to cut loose.

 

Primo, the cigar. An rj churchill so I can kill two birds with the weekend review competition. 

Secundo, tri tips rubbed down just right and waiting for the smoker. 

Tertio, the company. My partner and our two legal secretaries and families. 

I love smoking tri tip. I use the leftover spices from the rub, cumin, rosemary, onion powder, paprika, garlic salt and water it down with whatever is left of a cheap vermouth bottle in my fridge. I prefer a red, and I had some gallo that I thought just for the occasion. It's a shame to waste a good vermouth on the smoker so I stock gallo for this purpose and this purpose alone. I have a negroni made with a higher caliber rouge, but somehow it didnt make it to the camera roll. Baste the steaks every 8 minutes with the vermouth and turn them over until done. 

hot smoke, roughly 400 degrees on charcoal with post oak, pecan, and apple wood thrown in for flavor. Take these puppies off when they hit 135 for rare, but I leave the smaller one on until 155 because some of my party dont know a good thing if you carved it for them and put it in front of their faces. 

I guess the negroni made it to the show after all, albeit in the background. 

pair with grilled ciabatta bread, brussel sprouts roasted with honey mustard glaze, and a homemade chimichurri with horseradish. Oh and the wine. We had California cab and red zinfandel. Needed something with a lot of body to hold up to the strong mix of flavors. All was quite good. I told the guests all what the purpose of the party was and it really did lift our spirits.

 

we have been used to sights like this at our local grocer for some time now and it's hard not to feel a little like you're in some apocalyptic film sometimes. We are also worried because there are threats to close down the court system, which would be an unprecedented move with significant consequences to many of the people our firm represents. The fight will still be there on monday. Sometimes it helps to just sit back and relax. Our paralegal said in between bites of chocolate cake that she almost cancelled because she was afraid to go out but was glad she came. 

so were we, Carrie. Stay safe all, but dont forget to have fun. 

[PigFish]

14 hours ago, BoliDan said:

Ray, best of health to you. Youre the opposite of an a-hole, just an opinionated but with a bog heart. If you need a couple rolls hit me up. Love those dog fighters. Those aviators were amazing men.

Thanks brother. Cheers! -R

[PigFish]

21 minutes ago, dominattorney said:

Now for the fun stuff. Saturday night and it's time to cut loose. 

Primo, the cigar. An rj churchill so I can kill two birds with the weekend review competition. 

Secundo, tri tips rubbed down just right and waiting for the smoker. 

Tertio, the company. My partner and our two legal secretaries and families. 

I love smoking tri tip. I use the leftover spices from the rub, cumin, rosemary, onion powder, paprika, garlic salt and water it down with whatever is left of a cheap vermouth bottle in my fridge. I prefer a red, and I had some gallo that I thought just for the occasion. It's a shame to waste a good vermouth on the smoker so I stock gallo for this purpose and this purpose alone. I have a negroni made with a higher caliber rouge, but somehow it didnt make it to the camera roll. Baste the steaks every 8 minutes with the vermouth and turn them over until done. 

hot smoke, roughly 400 degrees on charcoal with post oak, pecan, and apple wood thrown in for flavor. Take these puppies off when they hit 135 for rare, but I leave the smaller one on until 155 because some of my party dont know a good thing if you carved it for them and put it in front of their faces. 

I guess the negroni made it to the show after all, albeit in the background. 

pair with grilled ciabatta bread, brussel sprouts roasted with honey mustard glaze, and a homemade chimichurri with horseradish. Oh and the wine. We had California cab and red zinfandel. Needed something with a lot of body to hold up to the strong mix of flavors. All was quite good. I told the guests all what the purpose of the party was and it really did lift our spirits. 

we have been used to sights like this at our local grocer for some time now and it's hard not to feel a little like you're in some apocalyptic film sometimes. We are also worried because there are threats to close down the court system, which would be an unprecedented move with significant consequences to many of the people our firm represents. The fight will still be there on monday. Sometimes it helps to just sit back and relax. Our paralegal said in between bites of chocolate cake that she almost cancelled because she was afraid to go out but was glad she came. 

so were we, Carrie. Stay safe all, but dont forget to have fun. 

... man, that looks great. Just spoke to Lady Piggy, and we are gonna’ smoke some tri-tip tonight. Nice job!

-the Pig

[El Hoze]

Funny, I used to think how much less I’d eat, smoke, and drink if there weren’t any sports to watch. Turns out that was completely false thinking! Doing beef ribs tonight with a couple bottles of old Bordeaux, just lit up a 2008 HU Monarca....been averaging 3 or 4 cigars a day. Last night I made mashed potatoes that may have had more butter than actual potato. 

This 2008 Monarca AT is a 99 pointer to me. 

 

[MooseAMuffin]

Saturday we were supposed to take the little one to the circus, but of course it was cancelled. So we took her to our local Farm/Home supply store to play with the baby ducks and chicks. The ducks were her favorite!

Started off Sunday morning by watching Frozen 2 with her. Definitely trying to enjoy as much free time with her as possible since she is getting pretty independent and has started liking to do her own thing. ?

We also watched the birds enjoy our feeder.

Made some BLTs for lunch and then the ladies went off to nap. Im gonna brave the cold and enjoy this Monte 4 with a little sip of Weller.

We will close the weekend out with a quick and easy Americanized version of Korean pork with steamed rice and then we will probably settle down by playing some good old fashioned Solitaire. Good way for her to learn numbers and maybe kickstart her professional gambling career!

[BeerPimp]

Man all these pictures of Wellers are making me Jelli.  I have had it a couple of times at the local bars but its crazy hard to get a bottle around here.

[dominattorney]

2 hours ago, PigFish said:

... man, that looks great. Just spoke to Lady Piggy, and we are gonna’ smoke some tri-tip tonight. Nice job!

-the Pig

Let me know how it turns out. Pics or it disnt happen!

[djrey]

Spending this beautiful Sunday afternoon smoking a RASCC with a NOV 13 box date. Pairing this with a espresso shot of Ethiopian Coffee. Cigar has a tightish draw but reveals beautiful rich flavors of some chocolate and earth with a touch of spice on the back end. Cheers everyone! 

[DaBoot]

With work slowing down, took the evening and invited some friends over to pre party before heading downtown for some music, and a good breakfast to cure the hangover!!

[sho671]

Friday's dinner: some steak, veggies and Japanese whisky.

[PigFish]

1 hour ago, dominattorney said:

Let me know how it turns out. Pics or it disnt happen!

... start out with right stuff! More to come...

-Piggy

 

 

[RDB]

**Wholesome Post Alert** I spent the weekend with dear friends, my partner, and our collective gang of kids. Theirs are 2, 5 and 8 years old, ours are 7 and 9. My friend is a great cook (lapin au moutarde last night), and we drank some ‘99 Burgundy and some ‘97 Hermitage. But honestly the best part of the weekend was the kids. Maybe my favourite bit was getting his outrageously cute two year old to eat her lunch. But lots of fun: playing soccer (I am atrocious), feeding swans on the riverbank, listening to my boy playing guitar, exploring the local woods. Here’s a picture of my little girl on a cool found wood sculpture, enjoying the unfolding adventure that is her life: