Cigars and Gourmet

 Cigars and Gourmet

There are two schools of thought when it comes to matching food and cigar: those who believe in it, and those who don’t. It’s true that you should be free to smoke what you like, when you like and hang the rules. If cohiba’s your thing and you’ve ordered steak then go ahead. If it tastes good to you, then it’s a good pairing.

Food and cigar matching is often cast as a rather mysterious science, but in my opinion, it is actually quite simple, and the experimentation involved is great fun.
When the marriage of food and cigar works well, each enhances the other, making the meal greater than if you had consumed them separately. The goal is synergy and balance. The cigar shouldn't overpower the food, nor should the food overpower the cigar. Think of cigar as if it was a condiment - it should compliment the food.

Immediate, short-term effects of a cigar on your tastebuds are undisputable and potent. If you plan to eat during or immediately after smoking a cigar, your choices need to be made carefully to avoid a mismatch. The smoky, cedary bouquet of a strong cigar can linger on your palate for hours, and it will continue to contribute to whatever you are eating.

There are certainly both good and bad choices to be made. I would not smoke a cigar with a baked beans soup. The results would be disgusting. Paired properly with the right food, say a Caesar salad rich with garlic and anchovies and capers, tenderly braised venison with sage risotto, this match may be made in heaven. I enjoy puffing on a creamy Vintage Butera cigar while I lick my lips over quail seared in a rosemary-chestnut crust and served on a bed of smoked onions and morel mushrooms. The cigar's potent contribution: a creamy smooth smoke with hints of cedar and spice. After having a meal of her pulled barbecue pork with mustard greens and crispy grits, diners might want to order a darker paper cigar with heavy flavor. I recommend the black Angus steak and golden mashed potatoes also with a full-bodied cigar.

Not too long ago cigar-friendly restaurants were old-boy steak houses where, after the meal, stogie lovers fired up their favorite Dominican blends, maybe with a sweet dessert. However, in the last couple of years, the cigar lovers found out that steak isn't the only food that matches up with cigars. Italian, new American, Mexican, microbreweries and other ethnic cuisine segments are joining steak houses in making their restaurants cigar friendly.

Many restaurateurs regularly are promoting cigar dinners in which fine cigars are savored between each course. Despite the high per-person price points cigar dinners carry, most operators sell out each time. Beyond just adding humidors, smoking rooms and cigar menus, operators of new places and revered establishments are looking at their menus to complement the taste of cigars and vice versa.

Best dishes to be matched with Cohiba Espléndido (which is my favorite cigar)

• Coconut Prawns
• Maple glazed ribs
• Grilled oysters with fennel butter
• Sassy steak marinade and souse
• Crab Stuffed Shrimp Wrapped in Bacon