Of course, Cybrus. Duhhhhhh. I'm still a little oxygen-challenged. I'll just put up a picture of my butt someday, with a bulls-eye and a sign that says Slam Foot Here, so that you all can just haul off at will whenever I need one. Sorry about that. :mrgreen:
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The floating poker game was held at my house this month and since Le Madame was cooking, everybody showed up. My wife loves to cook and being raised in France cooks in the traditional way, which means that everyone shows up for dinner instead of when the game starts.
We began with Velouté de Potiron et de Cèpes (Creamy Pumpkin and Mushroom Soup), followed by a salad course (Vince, I think you would have enjoyed the meal, and I know my wife loves your recipes on “free style” cooking that I’ve printed out for her). The next course was a Veal Fricassee with wild mushrooms in a creamy white wine sauce, followed by mushroom and basil tarts, a Cipaille (a layered meat pie with potatoes – French Canadian recipe); the cheese (it is sacrilege of the worst sort NOT to serve cheese at a meal) was Tom De Savoie -- a semi hard cheese from the Haute-Savoie, with a fudge taste.
Dessert was a chocolate strawberry fraisier cake (chocolate genoise filled with fresh strawberries and Fraisier (almond butter) filling) covered with chocolate butter cream and ganache (Le Madame does not allow me to indulge frequently. I have high blood pressure and she claims that “she can hear my arteries harden from across the table” when I indulge). We had 4 or 5 bottles of wine (there were 8 diners) and everyone was ready for poker when we moved back into my office.
First things first, we selected cigars and scotch before settling in. FuManChu, my golden retriever did escort duty (I know he was looking for handouts and Le Madame was scolding everyone about Fu sneak into the dining room and getting fed, which he was). We torched Cohiba Siglo Vs (vitola is Dalia). These are dark sticks that are silky to the touch, with a wrapper that is a dark chocolate color and shiny as if polished. The stick has rich flavors of cocoa and almonds and the trademark Cohiba spice. The burn was very even. The burn was slow and true (which IMO is always the mark of a great cigar).
The Scotch was a 1975 Strathmill Single Malt Whiskey (The Strathmill distillery was originally built from a converted corn mill and named Glenisla-Glenlivet in 1891). The color was straw with gold highlights. The nose was lemony with some floweriness and the flavor was sweet, fruity and very smooth; finish was delicate, and very dry. It goes well with cigars.
The game went on until late and Fu carried out double duty (escorting players to and from the bathroom, counting cards and keeping track of my losses. We finished a second round of cigars, lighting up Partagas Presidentes (vitola is taco) which was a great smoke for late evening. All agreed that it was a fine cigar, a powerhouse with wood and leather notes, great aroma and flavor. Once you get it going the smoke is very smooth and has a complex finish. Over all, a great cigar for special evenings.
Since I was a winner for a change (despite Fu’s poor counting efforts) that made it even better. As we enjoyed the Caribbean evening and the twinkling, dancing cruise liner lights at Havensight, Le Madame asked, as she sometimes does after the poker game, why men drink and smoke to excess. I always tell her what Arthur Lewis said about men and their consumption of fine spirits: “The difference between a drunk and an alcoholic is that a drunk doesn't have to attend all those meetings."
cian
We began with Velouté de Potiron et de Cèpes (Creamy Pumpkin and Mushroom Soup), followed by a salad course (Vince, I think you would have enjoyed the meal, and I know my wife loves your recipes on “free style” cooking that I’ve printed out for her). The next course was a Veal Fricassee with wild mushrooms in a creamy white wine sauce, followed by mushroom and basil tarts, a Cipaille (a layered meat pie with potatoes – French Canadian recipe); the cheese (it is sacrilege of the worst sort NOT to serve cheese at a meal) was Tom De Savoie -- a semi hard cheese from the Haute-Savoie, with a fudge taste.
Dessert was a chocolate strawberry fraisier cake (chocolate genoise filled with fresh strawberries and Fraisier (almond butter) filling) covered with chocolate butter cream and ganache (Le Madame does not allow me to indulge frequently. I have high blood pressure and she claims that “she can hear my arteries harden from across the table” when I indulge). We had 4 or 5 bottles of wine (there were 8 diners) and everyone was ready for poker when we moved back into my office.
First things first, we selected cigars and scotch before settling in. FuManChu, my golden retriever did escort duty (I know he was looking for handouts and Le Madame was scolding everyone about Fu sneak into the dining room and getting fed, which he was). We torched Cohiba Siglo Vs (vitola is Dalia). These are dark sticks that are silky to the touch, with a wrapper that is a dark chocolate color and shiny as if polished. The stick has rich flavors of cocoa and almonds and the trademark Cohiba spice. The burn was very even. The burn was slow and true (which IMO is always the mark of a great cigar).
The Scotch was a 1975 Strathmill Single Malt Whiskey (The Strathmill distillery was originally built from a converted corn mill and named Glenisla-Glenlivet in 1891). The color was straw with gold highlights. The nose was lemony with some floweriness and the flavor was sweet, fruity and very smooth; finish was delicate, and very dry. It goes well with cigars.
The game went on until late and Fu carried out double duty (escorting players to and from the bathroom, counting cards and keeping track of my losses. We finished a second round of cigars, lighting up Partagas Presidentes (vitola is taco) which was a great smoke for late evening. All agreed that it was a fine cigar, a powerhouse with wood and leather notes, great aroma and flavor. Once you get it going the smoke is very smooth and has a complex finish. Over all, a great cigar for special evenings.
Since I was a winner for a change (despite Fu’s poor counting efforts) that made it even better. As we enjoyed the Caribbean evening and the twinkling, dancing cruise liner lights at Havensight, Le Madame asked, as she sometimes does after the poker game, why men drink and smoke to excess. I always tell her what Arthur Lewis said about men and their consumption of fine spirits: “The difference between a drunk and an alcoholic is that a drunk doesn't have to attend all those meetings."
cian
Now, in two and a half hours, I can leave sated and happy. Great post Cian, as usual. Thanks to everyone who chimed in. We'll keep the fires burning until Vince can smoke again. AND, until he starts smoking again, he's STILL got plenty to contribute. :thumbsup:
Joined Feb 2004
3K Posts | 42+
159 Knobvue Drive Freedom Pa 15042
The meal sounded GREAT tell your wife I enjoyed reading about her kitchen escapades , maybe some day I will be able to taste some thing she makes , one never knows who will ring the door bell ! hahaha ! , I have never had that cheese you spoke of but it sounds wonderful, I wonder what it would taste like with a few drops of great old balsamic vinegar ???? , just thinking about it is making my taste buds dance ! , it reminds me of the great strawberrys & 50 year old balsamic vinegar that was as thick as chocolate syrup I had with a chunk of hard Italian cheese, dammmm those taste buds are dancing all over the place , all I have to quell the sensation is some hot pepper cheese & a few Fuji Apples ~ better than nothing hahaha
Even if I cant have a cigar we did go for a ride tonight , coffee & music was the evening, I do miss the tobacco but seam to be handling it some what better than I thought I would , no finger nails left but I havent hit anyone YET ! hahaha , well I hope you all have a save week at what ever you will be doing , I will be relaxing & counting the days, weeks & months till my next smoke, I wonder what should it be?? , do I want to come back with a Fine old Cuban or start back with some thing mild like a Macanudo? ( I would need to go out & purchase a macanudo) some thing in between? well I am open to any help any of you can give on the subject, what should I smoke first when the doc gives me the OK ??? Enjoy, Vince
Even if I cant have a cigar we did go for a ride tonight , coffee & music was the evening, I do miss the tobacco but seam to be handling it some what better than I thought I would , no finger nails left but I havent hit anyone YET ! hahaha , well I hope you all have a save week at what ever you will be doing , I will be relaxing & counting the days, weeks & months till my next smoke, I wonder what should it be?? , do I want to come back with a Fine old Cuban or start back with some thing mild like a Macanudo? ( I would need to go out & purchase a macanudo) some thing in between? well I am open to any help any of you can give on the subject, what should I smoke first when the doc gives me the OK ??? Enjoy, Vince
Well, got the top half of the kitchen done this weekend, coulda got more done but Sunday turned into a Mojito fest and the resulting nap put the Kabosh on any more work. La Aroma de Cuba torpedo with the coffe, Puch rare Corojo for lunch and a Brazilia Gol between the nap and bed time.
First smoke of the day was a AF Hemingway Perfecto. Didnt care too much for it, little on the strong side for me. I couldnt even taste my meal and coffee after smoking it while walking the dog. Last of my good cigars is this Monte Platinum. Prolly smoke it later after lunch, and have to deal with the TCC's till wensday morning when I go pick up my box of 5 Vegas A series.
vince said:
That wouldnt be a problem for me right now anyway...I dont have 30 bux to dish out on a single cigar for a long time lol
vince said:
Ill be around Langely AFB in Virginia from Thursday till Tuesday. Lol..closest ill be to PA for many many months to come, still too far away. Ill gladly take a mail shipment of the Opus though 8)
Appreciate it though!
If the Hemingway is too strong for him, the Opus X will put him in a casket. At that point, I'll be over with five other guys to carry him out.
:cryinlaugh: :neer: :neer: :cryinlaugh: :rotflmao:
umpkin:
:cryinlaugh: :neer: :neer: :cryinlaugh: :rotflmao:
umpkin:Bloofington said:If the Hemingway is too strong for him, the Opus X will put him in a casket. At that point, I'll be over with five other guys to carry him out.
:cryinlaugh: :neer: :neer: :cryinlaugh: :rotflmao:
Just remember to grab the unfinished Opus on the way out!
No, that'll put me in a casket, too. I'll grab it for one of the other pallbearers. :cryinlaugh: :cryinlaugh:
I still want to experiment. You guys from the 60's and 70's are the masters of 'experimentation' haha. You brought definition to the term!
Bloofington said:
In that case, let ME know....I'll be there in a flash to get that Op...I mean to help carry him.
Joined Feb 2004
3K Posts | 42+
159 Knobvue Drive Freedom Pa 15042
Pittsburgh isnt all that far from Lexinton just across the river ftom Cincinnatti isnt it, well I have made a reds game & a bengales game & made it back to the Burgh to go to work Monday morning , that was back in the 70's when Pittsburgh had a base ball & football team , some one told me there is a hockey team & a baskatball team here also, I think I did hear some thing about world team tennis being here also , duhhhh ! ~~~~ Road trip hahaha Enjoy, Vince
Lexington is about 2 hours or so from cincy. I havent been up to PA in years, and I drove there from Charleston,SC to catch our flight to Italy when we moved to Naples. That was a drive I never want to take again...it was aweful.
Joined Feb 2004
3K Posts | 42+
159 Knobvue Drive Freedom Pa 15042
when you were in Pa last , what part of the state were you in ? Pa is a big place , if you were flying to Napoli, you might have been in Philly, & then yes I agree with you , it would have been aweful, I lived there for a few months when I was in the Navy , BUT Pittsburgh, that is a different story, the skys are blue , the beer is cold & the scotch is single malt, & all the cigars are 70F & 70% humidty - at lest here at the Qtr.Deck !!! Enjoy, Vince
Lol yup. Downtown phili. We were lost dt for nearly an hour.. my mom was FREAKING out thinking we were all gonna get shot and that she was gonna get raped. I was crackin up. Somehow we ended up in the projects and that got a little scary.
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