Where: Ybor City Saturday Market, Centennial Park in Historic Ybor City, 1800 E. 8th Street

 
Ybor City Streets will be closed to honor the Greatest Sandwich that Tampa has ever known The Historical Tampa Cuban Sandwich!

 
The biggest names in Tampa’s Latino communities are joining efforts in celebration of Tampa Bay’s Rich Latino History, Culture and Foods! An exciting FREE COMMUNITY event the “Cuban Sandwich Festival” celebrates the richness of Florida’s Hispanic/Latino communities!

 
The Cuban Sandwich Festival is an exciting festival and contest to find THE BEST Cuban Sandwich in Florida and beyond!

 
Enjoy LIVE cultural musical and dance performances on La Bahia Stage, and a true cultural festival featuring over 50 Latino Food, Art and Cultural Exhibitors! Admission is FREE but we ask guests to visit our community help booth which will be present collecting donations for baby Emberlynn Padilla a 6 month miracle baby born with Congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

 
Hosted by Bahia’s own Carlos Jose Peralta and Tampa Natives Mario Nuñez and Tony Morejon! The Cuban Sandwich is a favorite tradition of Tampa Bay, and is offered in many local restaurants, café’s, bakeries and even grocery stores. Not only is a Good Cuban Sandwich a true Tampa tradition, it is a way of life for most Tampa natives and residents.
40 Florida Restaurants participating in the Cuban Sandwich Smack down to find the BEST Cuban Sandwich in Florida, including Restaurants from Hillsborough, Pinellas, Hernando and Broward Counties.

 
Who is Competing for the Title: Best Cuban Sandwich!? Alessi Bakery, Mata Monchies, Mr. Empanada , La Teresita, Stone Soup Company, Gaspars Grotto, Franks & Subs, Cacciatore Brothers, Danny’s All American Grill, Cafe Masaryktown – Hernando County, Silver Ring Café, Cuban Guys – Broward County, NY Cafe- Pinellas County, Ofelia’s Café, the Floridian and MORE!

 
This family oriented festival will feature a great Kidz ZONE, where kids will enjoy Clowns, Jumpers, face painting and MORE!

 
Performing LIVE: The famous and much LOVED Cuban legend: HANSEL of HANSEL y RAUL, performing GREATEST Hits including “Maria Teresa y Danilo” and MORE!
The Greatest Cuban Dance Band in the World (Time Magazine 1985), Los Gallos de la Salsa, Los Reyes, de la Charanga, Glorias del Exilio Cubano, Las Voces de la Charanga, Leyendas de la Musica Tradicional Cubana PLUS many more exciting entertainers, dance performers and ZUMBA!

 
Meet The Judges: Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Tampa Chief of Police Jane Castor, State Representative Janet Cruz, Richard Gonzmart of the Columbia Restaurant, John Oliva of Oliva Tobacco Co, Cigar City Magazine founder; Lisa Figueredo, Pedro Galvez of Tampa Cigar Club, Ana Cruz of Floridian Partners, City Councilman Mike Suarez, Congressional Hopeful Evelio “EJ” Otero, Tampa Steve of the Tampa Native Show, HART Board Chair John Melendez, David Audet of Audet Productions, Daytime TV’s Food Critic Larry Cotton and more community leaders!

 
And special Guests: Yvonne Yolie Capin presenting the resolution naming the Cuban Sandwich the Historical Sandwich of Tampa!

 
Event Sponsored by: Latin Times Media, Inc., Tampa Latin Chamber, HART, Ana G. Méndez University System, Solmed Health, Alessi Bakery, Oliva Tobacco Company, Tampa Natives Show, Hispanic Professional Women’s Association, La Bahia Radio WTMP, Cigar City Magazine, Clear Channel Outdoor, Gaceta Latina Newspaper, Estrella TV, MOR-TV, This-TV Tampa Bay and V-Me!

 
Exhibit and Sponsorship: Jolie@Latin-Times.com or Vpadilla@Latin-Times.com (813) 407-6866 or (813) 407-719. Restaurants, do you think you make the BEST Cuban Sandwich in Town!? Register for the contest TODAY!

 
HELP Emberlynn Padilla

Admission is FREE but we ask guests to visit our community help booth which will be present collecting donations for baby Emberlynn a 6 month miracle baby born with Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. CDH is a congenital malformation (birth defect) of the diaphragm. Malformation of the diaphragm allows the abdominal organs to push into the lung formation. CDH is a life-threatening in infants, and a major cause of death due to two complications: pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension. Emberlynn has lived most of her short life in a hospital.

Here is my twist on a drink from the 1800′s. My thanks to Spicebox and Worldsbars.com for the samples used in this video.

The Spicebox Crusta

• 1 1/2 ounces Spicebox Whisky
• 1/4 ounce triple sec
• 1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1 to 2 dashes bitters
• Bar Sugar
• Orange peel garnish

Rim your glass with bar sugar. Prepare the orange peel garnish and arrange in the glass.

Add the whisky, triple sec, lemon juice and bitters into a mixing tin.

Add ice and shake.

Strain into your prepared cocktail glass.

Darafeev Cigar Chair

Darafeev Resort Furniture has introduced the “Cigar Chair”. I first heard of this product a few months ago in one of the cigar related groups on linkedin.com and it intrigued me.

The photo above is the newest ad copy for the product. I also found a photo gallery for the Cigar Chair that shows many more angles and fabric styles.

The chair looks very luxurious and puts just about anything a cigar smoker would want within their arms reach. On one arm of the chair, there is a spot for a wine glass or a bottle of spirits. At the end of this arm, a slide out section reveals a glass holder. The other arm has a built-in Spanish Cedar lined humidor, complete with hygrometer and passive humidification. On the front of this arm, there is a pull out section with a built-in ash tray. The ash tray is easily removed for cleaning.

I do not know how much a chair like this would cost but I am sure it is worth a pretty penny. Darafeev’s Resort Furniture website shows similar quality furniture and provides a list of “celebrity” clientele. That list may be an indication of how much the furniture costs.

Are you are new to cigar smoking?  Or perhaps you have decided to move up from enjoying the occasional single cigar at your local fine tobacconist to making larger purchases.

So, there you are with a handful of premium tobacco cigars or perhaps an entire box. Now, your tobacconist will put the singles in a zip lock bag for you to bring home. A box of cigars will be sealed in some fashion. Neither the zip lock bag nor the sealed box qualifies as proper cigar storage.

In this article, I will discuss the various factors and methods used to properly store and humidify your growing cigar collection. The three main subjects I will discuss are temperature, humidity and storage containers.

A premium cigar that is maintained properly is a beautiful sight to behold. The wrapper leaf will have an oily sheen in the light and you can feel a slight spongy give if you gently pinch the foot. These indicators are just two aspects that an aficionado will look for when selecting a cigar.

To properly maintain cigars you need to create a perfectly balanced environment of 70 percent humidity and a temperature of 70 degrees. The best way to maintain this environment is by using a humidor.

A basic humidor is a solid container with a thermometer, a hygrometer and some type of humidification device. The container should be lined with Spanish cedar because this particular wood is best at holding a consistent humidity level over time. The thermometer and hygrometer can be either analog or digital. This is a personal choice that will be influenced by how much you can or want to spend. The humidification device can be as simple as wet florist foam or some form of humidification beads.

The most popular humidors are made out of wood. You can use anything that is airtight however. Examples of containers that have been used for humidors are Tupperware, large coolers and even converted wine refrigerators. Other people have converted closet space or even whole rooms in their homes into humidors.

Once you have selected your humidor, you need to “season” it. This seasoning process is critical for proper cigar storage and you should take your time with this preparation. Basically what you will do over the next 48 hours is gradually build up the humidity level inside the humidor.

When the 48 hours are up, you will check the humidity level with your hygrometer. But first, how do you know if that hygrometer is accurate? Here is a simple test you can perform with a few household items. All you need are a zip lock baggie, a medium sized bottle cap, some table salt and your hygrometer.

Fill the bottle cap with the table salt. Add enough water to make a paste out of the salt. Place the hygrometer and the bottle cap into the baggie and zip it shut. The combination of table salt and water will create an environment of 75 percent humidity. After 8 hours, record what your hygrometer is reading. If it indicates 75% humidity, it is right on the money. If it doesn’t and you can calibrate the hygrometer, do so. If not, just remember how much the device is “off”.

To season your humidor, you must use distilled water only. Regular tap water will only turn your humidor into a breeding ground for mold. Take a fresh, clean, unscented sponge and dampen it with the distilled water. Wipe the interior surfaces of your humidor with the damp sponge, taking care to wipe down the seal as well. Do this process twice to make sure you get every square inch of the interior.

Now, fill a shot glass or a small bowl with distilled water, place it into your humidor and close the lid. Leave the humidor alone for 24 hours.

After 24 hours have passed open the lid and wipe the interior wood down again. Remove the shot glass or bowl from the inside. Leave the humidor alone for another 24 hours.

Once 48 hours have passed you are ready to test the humidor’s environment. Take your newly tested hygrometer and place it into the humidor. Close the lid and leave it alone for about 20 minutes. Hopefully, if all has gone well, the hygrometer is reading somewhere between 70 and 72 percent humidity. If it is too low, repeat the wipe down process one more time and check the humidor the next day. You may also want to wet your humidification device and install it in the humidor at this time to assist in the seasoning process.

Once your humidor’s humidity has been stabilized, you are ready to fill it full of cigars. If you have not already installed the humidification device, do that now.

You will have to monitor your humidor at least once a week to see if distilled water needs to be added and to make sure the temperature / humidity levels are correct. One small tip: a humidor full of cigars is easier to keep properly humidified than an empty one. The cigars themselves retain humidity and help regulate the environment.

Enjoy your new humidor and the treasured cigars inside. A well maintained humidor will keep your cigars in top shape for many years.

(Miami, FL) January 12, 2012— South Florida will see the happy return of the annual Miami Wine & Spirits Expo from February 24-27^th 2012. The spectacular event debuted last year, presented by Aeromexico, Corona Extra and Republic National Distributing Company. In 2012, fully loaded with a slew of great brands and on the heels of the success of the first run, the event is sure to be more dynamic and more “Miami” with additional elements, events and surprises.

The show is the brainchild of a seasoned team that has combined their unique experience in the spirits industry and visits to expos all over the world. Upon noticing an obvious void in the marketplace, the choice was made to launch and create a place where all brands would convene, under one roof in true “exhibit” style. This platform would provide the infrastructure to promote new and existing products, engage the consumer and the opportunity for networking with other members of the beverage trade. 2011 saw the successful goal of creating this platform with many well-known brands. Brands from multiple distributors included: Southern Wine & Spirits, Premier Beverage Distributors, Gold Coast Distributors, Republic National Distributing, Diageo, and Brown-Forman. Amongst the many suppliers were: E&J Gallo, JcBoisset, Champagne Louis De Sacy, Corona, L’Chaim Kosher Vodka, Choco Noir, Santos Sangria, Ron Abuelo, Cocks Spur Rum, Red Bull, Don Q Rum, Veev Vodka, SX Vodka, Polar Beer, Stella Artois, Dos XX Beer, Bacardi and more including Prestige Imports- Audi and Lamborghini.

The event was conceptualized and created as an annual trade and consumer event to be held on Miami Beach as a culmination to delight the taste buds of consumers and educate the trade on “what is out there.” With the show being held at the height of the season, the organizers have aimed once gain to bring the world’s best producers of Beer, Wine and Spirits. This task, to be completed via the involvement by the three important tiers in the beverage industry: importers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers. At this upcoming February event, attendees can expect to see an array of new and exciting products, interesting exhibits, contests, great prizes, delicious bites and more. In addition, there will be wine, food and mixology seminars as well as a concert, golf tourney and series of cocktail events. So whether a wine lover , foodie or member of the beverage trade, there will be an array of activities and events for all to attend including chef and wine dinners that have been added to the roster. For those beer lovers a special “Beer Renaissance Festival” at the Miami Wine & Spirits expo will feature a great number of the hundreds of delicious beers available in the market.

“We are so excited to invite everyone including the [multiple] distributors, brands, beverage trade professionals and of course the general public back, now is our second year,” said event founders Juan Dangond, Fernando Otero and Jaime Aparicio.

The expo will kick off with a media and sponsor kickoff cocktail later this month (January 2012) with full details to be released in upcoming weeks. Those of the 7,000 that attended in 2011 were part of the commencement of an annual event that would be cemented as a true “Miami” expo that would grow organically in years to come. We welcome you to visit us in 2012 at “The Expo.”

For more information: please go to: http://www.MiamiWineExpo.com. The Miami Wine & Spirits Expo will take place: February 24-27 2012 at the Miami Beach Convention Center located at: 1901 Convention Center Drive | Miami Beach, FL 33139-1820. For TICKETS:  miamiwineexpo2012.eventbright.com.

Chambord White Chocolate Cocoa
1 – 1 1/2 oz. White chocolate sauce
6 oz. Steamed milk
3/4 oz. Chambord®
3/4 oz. Crème de cacao
Garnish: Sweetened whipped cream and fresh raspberry

Fill glass coffee cup with boiling water to pre-heat and then pour out water.  Mix white chocolate sauce and steamed milk in coffee cup. Add Chambord and crème de cacao. Garnish with whipped cream and top with raspberry.

TUACA Hot Apple Pie

1½ parts TUACA® Liqueur
5-6 parts warm apple cider

Pour ingredients into a coffee mug. Garnish with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick.

Conjure and Coffee
1½ oz Conjure Cognac
6 oz hot coffee
1 oz Kahlua

Pour ingredients into a coffee mug. Whipped cream dusted with cinnamon topping optional. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Shortly after that announcement, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and several health groups protested Camacho’s sponsorship.
Stating that tobacco had no place in sports, and that it would send the wrong message to the youth that attended the game, the Senators and the health groups conveniently ignored the sponsorships of Budweiser, Bacardi, Stella Artois, Corona and the Hard Rock Casino. Any one of those companies has a constant barrage of advertisments and campaigns. While these campaigns are not targeted at young children, they certainly get exposed to them.

By December 23rd, the Orange Bowl Committee, weakened by the anti-tobacco pressure announced that the deal with Camacho had been cancelled.
So, once again, the cigar industry has come under attack and dealt a blow. I have written the three Senators asking them why they had singled out Camacho from all of the other adult focused sponsors. If you are tired of seeing our rights as cigar smokers trampled upon, I hope you do the same.

You can also contact the Orange Bowl Committee and voice your opinion to them. Their contact information is:
Orange Bowl Committee, 14360 NW 77th Court, Miami Lakes, FL 33016. Fax: (305)341-4750 Phone: (305)341-4700

I also suggest that we cigar smokers boycott the Orange Bowl this year. To that end, I have placed a countdown to the Orange Bowl Boycott on the sidebar of this website.

While we are on the subject of anti-tobacco groups, don’t forget that the FDA is still after premium cigars and that many states are looking to increase tobacco taxes or ban smoking. If you enjoy your freedom to smoke cigars where you choose, please join the fight against our opponents. Also, if you have not already, please join the Cigar Rights of America and help one of the few organized pro-smoking groups to defend our rights.