On the Art of dining Well

The “Art” of dining is exactly that, an art. For the connoisseur, it begins and ends with the right frame of mind. Approaching a fine meal, hopefully shared, requires the mind to relax so as to fully enjoy the sensory feast to follow.

In this regard, there are many choices to be made, but the ritual of Artful Dining is best accomplished in small steps, each leading to the next as a musical composition leads a listener through a stirring melody.

No matter the taste preferences or style of cuisine to be enjoyed, there is one simple pleasure that a true connoisseur looks forward to in order to bring the meal to a sumptuous end…a cigar and a fine liquor, each a hand-crafted labor of artisans, perhaps through many generations.

Certainly the more politically correct among us will scoff at such a notion, for the wafting of any smoke in a dining environment is most often seriously frowned upon. But, an opinion proffered by Garison Keillor, of Prarie Home Companion fame, puts this in to perspective. The estimable Mr. Keillor correctly called Political Correctness “a mean-spirited fastidiousness”. With this in mind, a True Gourmand doggedly pursues one of Life’s simple pleasures without guilt or fear of condemnation.

The master cigar maker is like the master wine-maker; they both are working with an agricultural product where flavors change from one growing season to the next. How each craftsman “blends” batches from one year and/or from different plots of land determines the consistent style of a brand. People choose a grape varietal and winery because the taste profile remains stylistically similar each year. So too with cigars, where aging, blending and meticulous handling are hallmarks of the great houses.

The basics of enjoying a fine cigar begin with a choice of how a cigar looks, which includes its shape, color, width and length. The next step is to be aware of how the cigar feels in the hand. Then comes the aroma of a cigar unlit. Again, as in the appreciation of a fine wine, spending a moment to notice the smallest details, such as in the way a cigar smells BEFORE fire is applied gives subtle hints as to what lies ahead.

The final step gives the most pleasure. Lighting a high-quality cigar and watching the first dreamy billows of smoke rise brings all the senses to the party. The relaxed sound of a breath exhaled. The sight of a lazy puff of aromatic smoke that drifts past the nose. This is a rare treat in a very hurried and mostly artificial world.

Anto’s Cigar Lounge in Long Beach's ultra trendy, Belmont Shore, offered an evening of cigar discussion and enjoyment for this article. Anto, himself, along with Jack, his knowledgeable and accommodating manager, brought forth several examples of the best of the best.

First, there was the Davidoff 100th Anniversary. The “Anniversary” in question is that of the birth of Zino Davidoff, the company founder. Davidoff’s were among the most highly prized of the Cuban cigars for most of the last century and their outright relocation to the Dominican Republic sent shockwaves through the cigar-smoking world.

This particular cigar has a medium “body” to it as it is smoked with smoothness and an almost “creamy” finish that reveals the exquisite blending and precise hand rolling that the company has always been known for. It retails for $29.

Next was the Arturo Fuente Opus X. The House of Fuente has accumulated an impressive “back stock” of bundled tobacco, which is used to seamlessly blend from one year to the next so as to keep a very consistent product coming to market.
The Opus X is the top of the line for the biggest cigar producer in the Dominican Republic. This is full-bodied, beefy smoke that is both rich and spicy. If you are a cigar newbie, stay away from this beauty. It also retails for $29.

The last cigar for the evenings review was from Paul Garmirian. Dr. Garmirian, chemistry P.H.D., began this Dominican based company 15 years ago and now is widely acclaimed for his studious approach to cigar manufacture. It is a small, family run company that is not widely distributed but is nonetheless sought after by aficionados.

I’d like to thank Anto and his staff for a pleasant evenings passing, spent comfortably speaking with men about the earth and it’s many bounties. They have the right products for the connoisseur. You'll also find an atmosphere where one can relax and enjoy, in an unhurried way, some of the finest works of those Artists whose canvasses are a wisp of smoky pleasure.