If you live in an area where the seasons change, then you are experiencing the awesomeness of autumn at this very moment. Here in north Jersey, the weather is cool and crisp, leaves have hit the turf, and football dominates the airwaves. I LOVE smoking a cigar outside this time of year. Staring at the orange, red, and yellow foliage while puffing a fine premium handrolled stogie is so relaxing and something I really look forward to. The Fall season is also an amazing time for great food, especially with the holidays around the corner. But for some reason, maybe because there’s a chill in the air, hot comfort foods are so goddamned enjoyable right about now.
What exactly is the definition of comfort food? Wictionary.org says…
1. Certain foods that people associate with their formative years, or with “home”; frequently simple home-cooked style food, and often the staple of diners and other informal restaurants.
2. Food that one eats to feel comfort or alleviate stress rather than to receive nutrition.
Webster’s Online Dictionary says:
1. Food prepared in a traditional style having a usually nostalgic or sentimental appeal.
I think the bottom line is, just like time spent with a good cigar, comfort foods offer a form of unexplainable mental relaxation. When I was a kid, my mom made a macaroni and cheese casserole that was so awesome, (and so fattening) that every time I eat Mac & cheese today, I really do get a sense of nostalgia that comes over me. Then it’s usually followed by a bout of gas that could knock the horn off of a charging rhino, but that happens with just about anything I shove down my pie hole. As mentioned in the above definition, comfort foods aren’t usually the healthiest for the physical body, but much like cigars, they offer heartfelt nutrition for the soul.
Even though we’re dealing with foods that are traditional to the U.S., where you live or your ethnic background does certainly bring about different dishes that are close to the heart. If you live in New England, a clam chowder gives you warmth, but in the southeast, there’s nothing like a basket of crispy fried chicken. If you grew up in an Italian family, then macaroni and meatballs (with gravy, here in Jersey) is your go-to meal. So I made a list of some of my favorites, and did a little internet research as well, of some true comfort foods that we all might agree on, no matter what part of America you’re from. Of course you guys will need to get all-nostalgic and throw in some of your homegrown faves. (WARNING: I put together an offering that would make all of us give Monty Python’s Mr. Creosote a good run for the money.) Hey, there’s no right or wrong answer here, it’s just a bunch of wonderful food that makes you feel oh so good inside.
Some Main dishes…
Meatloaf – A lot of people rank on the loaf, but to me it’s an amazing standby in the comfort food category. There’s a lot of ways to prepare it: breadcrumbs or onion soup mix, spinach, with tomato sauce, or even bacon wrapped (damn straight.) You can add ground veal, pork, or make a turkey meatloaf. And what better to throw a few hunks on some crusty French or Italian bread for tomorrow’s lunch? I’ll eat the whole damned thing like a bat out of hell!
Macaroni & Cheese – Again, there’s a million ways to make this American classic, but my daughter does one with cheese soup and crispy baked breadcrumbs on top. It’s 12 million calories and impossible to stop eating. I’ve seen restaurants that offer five cheese casseroles with crumbled bacon, and it even comes with your very own defibrillator.
Chicken Soup – Thick noodles, big chunks of tender chicken breast and fresh veggies in a savory broth. Thank you, grandma!
Chili – Although it’s known as a southwest favorite, a hot bowl of chili definitely soothes the soul. And it’s another dish you can make so many ways and add so many toppings like onion, shredded cheddar, sour cream, and hot sauce. Spicy or mild, it’s a homerun at any party, especially Super Bowl Sunday.
Side Dishes…
Potato Salad – I freakin’ LOVE traditional tater salad with mayonnaise, onion and celery, and a little pickle, and I especially like it when it’s still a little warm. It can almost work as a side to any meal, and is the staple of the American barbecue! But do me a favor, will ya? Please don’t go sticking weird stuff in there like apples, cranberries, and walnuts. That’s way too much culture for a pungent slob like me.
Green Bean Casserole – This classic is usually something you only have around the holidays, but that’s what makes it so special. Fresh green beans, mushroom soup, and those crispy fried onion thingies on the top is just so damned special.
Mashed Potatoes - Fluffy, creamy, buttery and drowned in gravy if you wish. It’s a scoop of heaven on a plate.
Corn on the Cob – I make mine on the grill and the flavor is simply amazing. A little butter and garlic salt and those goddamned cobs don’t stand a chance.
Desserts…
Warm Apple Pie – Thick, flakey crust and the smell of warm cinnamon. Being from New Jersey I will NEVER even remotely get the “hunk of cheddar cheese” thing, but add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and even a Bernie Madoff could forget all his worries and cares.
Brownies – I always feel like I’m ten years old when I eat brownies. Yes, I like mine with fudge icing on top, please.
Chocolate Chip Cookies – Fresh from the oven, all gooey, hot, and waiting for that ice-cold glass of moo juice! Yessuh!
Other timeless classics… A great comfort food lunch is a hot bowl of cream of tomato soup with a grilled cheese, tomato, and bacon sandwich. You know, if you add bacon to just about anything, it tastes a whole lot better. It just could be the ultimate comfort food enhancer! I think hotdogs on the grill definitely have that nostalgic effect, as does a juicy, beefy cheeseburger. Stuffed cabbage reminds me of being a kid as does a fresh baked, chicken pot pie. And of course, a bowl of rich, sweet, creamy ice cream with your favorite toppings can even make the movie 2012 seem like a Disney flick!
Okay… If you’re not starving by now, please check your pulse because you are no doubt deceased. This is the time of year for good smokes and good foods so let’s hear some of your personal faves, in each of the comforting food categories!
Have a great week, you fat bastid,
Tommy Z.
JR Cigars Blog With the Zman
Perhaps some of you read my review of the maduro version of this cigar. Mike, AKA KnightRid commented that his experience was horrible with the natural wrapper version of this cigar. He hated it so much that he asked for me to review it. Shortly after our conversation, in the mail came several samples for me to try. He was nice enough to throw in some other sticks that he wants my opinions on as well. Thanks for the cigars Mike! Without further ado, I bring to you my take on the Perdomo 2 (Pronounced Perdomo Squared) Limited Edition 2008 Natural. As always, I am paired up with water.
Wrapper: Nicaragua (Natural)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Robusto 5×50
Price: Around $6.00
Pre-smoke & Construction:
Overall, the wrapper looked nice, with a few small veins. Sniffing the foot and wrapper reminded me of a barnyard and grass. When squeezing the cigar, it was very firm and packed with tobacco. Naturally this led to a draw that was a little tight, but it seemed doable. The pre-light draw had a slight earthy and woody taste.
I only had to correct the burn a couple of times, and as expected, the ash was firm and held for over an inch. Although the draw was on the tight side, it wasn’t bad and didn’t bother me.
Flavor:
The first third started with simple earthy flavors. After about an inch, a slightly sweet woody note crept in and wasn’t bad. I got a peppery spice when passing through the nose. It was bordering on harshness, but wasn’t quite there. Overall this was an OK first third.
The second third continued with that peppery spice, which crossed over into harshness. Sweet caramely mocha notes would come and go. The earthy flavors were there, but were very weak and in the background. Unfortunately, the only constant was that harsh pepper. It left me parched and I chugged water in between draws. This helped wash away the chalky feeling left on my tongue. Yuck…
The last third… I didn’t enjoy it very much. Initially I caught a subtle fruity flavor, but it went away quickly. I was left with a plain tobacco taste along with that constant harshness. Sweet notes would come and go, mostly they went. The pepper wasn’t even pepper anymore. It was just ashy nothingness. Again, I found myself feverishly drinking water to help the cotton mouth. The chalky sensation on my tongue was just…gross.
Conclusion:
Obviously this cigar gets the thumbs down. The body was medium, but it really doesn’t matter. The few I had before were inconsistent. Some were OK, others were not. It just so happens I reviewed one that was bad. I generally like Perdomo products. Unfortunately, I won’t be smoking anymore of these.
The Contest is closed. Thanks to all who participated!
If the answer is yes, then ignore this post. If you have answered “No, I haven’t entered the Canimao contest.” Then I have to wonder what is wrong with you. Do you not like FREE cigars?
Entering is easy enough. Simply click HERE and enter the raffle! In the very near future, I will draw a random winner.
With all the economic problems hanging over our heads, more and more people are looking for a cheaper smoke. I think that most people shy away from bundle cigars simply because many of them use poor quality tobacco. Most of the time the flavors simply can’t compete with premium cigars. Lately I’ve been dabbling in the cheap cigar market, and have found quite a few that are enjoyable.
Talk on the street is that the Forcade will be reblended by Pepin and reintroduced next year. With Pepin’s name attached, I suspect the price will change accordingly. Is the Forcade good enough to stock up on? I grabbed the usual glass of water and found out…
Wrapper: Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Cuban-seed
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Double Corona 7 X 48
Price: Around $50.00 for a bundle of 25
Pre-Smoke & Construction:
The dark wrapper had a few flaws and bumps, but overall looked nice. Sniffing it reminded me of rich soil. The foot had a similar odor with a touch of sweetness and slight pepper. I squeezed the length of the cigar and found it to be very tight feeling. Some Forcades tend to draw on the tight side, but this particular smoke had an easy draw. The pre-light draw had a simple earthy natural tobacco taste.
The burn required only one correction in the first third. The ash held firm for over an inch.
Flavor:
The first third kicked things off with simple earthy notes. The smooth sweet peppery spice had a decent kick, but wasn’t even close to being over the top. As this third came to a close, I started to pick up coffee flavors.
Coffee dominated the second third. The spicy pepper mellowed out considerably and became much more subtle. All the while it kept a punch that was pleasant and easy. Earthiness underlined the rest of the flavor profile. It was subtle and consistent.
That classic “Zing” you often hear about picked up in this third, and it remained very smooth. Again, coffee dominated the flavor profile, but an addition of wood mingled along side it. The smoke developed a mellow cooling effect. Every now and then I could swear there were fruity notes.
Conclusion:
This was a very good medium to full bodied cigar. The flavors and strength easily kept me interested in this slow burner. If I didn’t know any better, I would say this was a $5 to $6.00 cigar. I really can’t say anything bad. For around $2.00 a stick, you can’t go wrong. You may want to get these while you can!
The fine people at Duque Cigars sent me a sampler awhile back. The DCC line is exclusive to Duque, and I couldn’t find a lot of specifics about the blend. To find out more or to order some, visit Duque Cigars website. As always, I paired up with water and got to reviewing.
Blend: ???
Size: Toro 6 x ?
Price: $24.95 for a five pack
Pre-smoke & Construction:
The dark wrapper looked great, with minimal veins or flaws. Sniffing the wrapper and foot revealed a sweet earthy and natural tobacco odor. When squeezing the cigar from head to foot, I found the head to feel a little tight. I clipped the head and as I suspected, the draw was a bit tight. The draw wasn’t extreme, and had a simple earthy taste.
The burn required about 3 corrections, and the ash held firm for over an inch. The tight draw loosened up quickly and I forgot all about it. As I got into the last third, the wrapper started to split, but it held together to the end.
Flavor:
The first third began with a very simple, easy earthy flavor. A slight spice could be detected when passing through the sinus. As this third came to an end, I started to pick up coffee and woody notes.
Time for the second third. Again, like the first third, there was not a lot of complexities. In fact, it was almost exactly the same the first. The only change was a slight increase in body.
On to the last third… The body increased a bit more into the medium body range. The earthy flavors decreased into the background. This prompted the coffee and woody notes to become more pronounced. I picked up a slight increase in peppery spice when passing through the sinus. Mocha notes entered the picture with about two inches to go. The smoke feel became thicker and almost creamy. It was the last third that encouraged me to finish the cigar.
Conclusion:
This was a decent medium bodied cigar. The flavor profile didn’t meet what I usually look for in a cigar. But when I am in the mood for a simple, easy cigar, I could see this one fitting the bill. My complaint is that the flavors took too long to build. I could see a finicky smoker not having the patience to stick it out. In fact, if it weren’t for the last third, I would have had to give this cigar a bad review. Luckily the flavors built to a level that I enjoy. They just came a bit too late. I wish they started earlier. If a simple flavor profile in a cigar is something up your ally, I say give the DCC Maduro a chance.
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