Memoirs of a Cigar

Last weekend Chloe and I had dinner with her friend Nicole at La Bodeguita Del Medio in Palo Alto, which is an authentic Cuban Restaurant, Bar & Smoking Lounge. It is without doubt one of the best places in the San Francisco Bay Area to enjoy a fine cigar. It is also one of the best places in the world to enjoy a Mojito, as they have been serving them, most notably to Ernest Hemingway, in their Havana location since 1942.

For appetizers we ordered Marinated Olives & Cheese, Croquetas, and Plantain Chips with Black Bean Salsa. As a main course I ordered the classic Cuban Dish called Ropa Vieja, which translates means Old Clothes. It’s essentially shredded skirt steak which resembles a pile of old clothes. Its mixed with tomatoes, peppers and spices, piled on top of yellow rice, a surrounded by fried plantains.

After dinner we headed back to the Cigar Lounge which consists of a luxurious indoor smoking room, complete with walk in humidor, as well as an outdoor smoking patio which resembles a Cuban Garden. It was there that I indulged in a Old Cuban Cigar from 2003; the Sancho Panza Molinos Seleccion Delamonte.

Upon lighting my 9 year old Sancho Panza Molinos Seleccion Delamonte I was greeted with light flavors of coffee and chocolate. The cigar transitioned beautifully into a velvety and creamy smoke with predominant flavors of cloves and sweet cedar wood. As with a good aged Cuban, there were abundant vegetal notes throughout, accompanied by an intoxicating aroma. You can read my full review of this fabulous cigar here: Sancho Panza Molinos Full Review