Everyone is all antismoking these days -- for good reason, cancer is a terrible disease -- but that makes it tough for the occasional smoker to indulge every once in a while.
And cigar fans: forget about it. Unless you go to a cigar-specific bar, you're getting looks like you killed a baby or something.
Dada Restaurant & Lounge is offering a safe-haven -- actually a celebration -- for cigar enthusiasts on June 25 with its first-ever The Garden of Earthly Delights Cigar Pairing Dinner.
See Also: Dada Launches Cigar Line, Small-Batch Spiced Rums
Taking place on Wednesday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m., the pairing is bringing together rum, cigars, and great food for an entire night.
Executive chef Bruce Feingold is putting together a five-course menu to pair with the cigars and rum.
"We decided to do a cigar pairing dinner because I'm a big cigar smoker!," says Dada general manager Carlos Gambarini. "But really, Bruce loved the challenge of pairing cigars with food. Here at Dada we do pairing dinners all the time, but never with Cigars, so we thought would be fun. Cigars and drinks have been a timeless pair, but food is a little more tricky, as some foods may taste off with the bold flavors of cigars in your mouth, as well as the taste of a cigar will change in a negative way with certain foods and temperatures. However, it is possible, and when done carefully and well, the results can be fantastic."
Gambarini originally wanted to host a cigar and drinks event; he was hashing out the details with local cigar enthusiasts Sean Pocker and Michael Glikas, when he decided to throw the food pairing challenge at Feingold.
Feingold jumped at the chance and the whole idea snowballed from there. Pocker and Glikas introduced Gambarini to Vincent Prestigiacomo, managing partner at Smoke Inn Delray, who helped with finding the right cigars to pair. And it was a match made in stogy heaven.
The group settled on Sindicato Cigars for the event.
"We cigars smokers tend to be creatures of habit, having our favorite brands and sometimes not venturing to try new brands," says Gambarini. "We wanted to feature a new brand, to get everybody out of their comfort zone and try something new. After tasting them we knew this new brand would blow their minds, they are sophisticated and complex, but also delicate enough they will not overpower but enhance the food and drinks."
Since Dada specializes in rum, Gambarini wanted to incorporate the "house spirit" into the pairing. At the start of the evening, guests will be offered a choice of several cocktails made with Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva and Diplomatico Blanco as well as wine, beer, and non-alcoholic pairings, like tea, coffee, and craft sodas.
"Honestly, one of my favorite pairings with cigars is a simple Mexican Coke right out of the bottle," says Gambarini. It will be offered for the event.
The cost to attend is Dinner is $42 per seat, which includes cigars, two drinks, five-courses, live music, and a raffle ticket. Gratuity is included.
The Meet & Greet starts at 7:30 p.m.; dinner will go from 8 to 10 p.m. The "After Dinner Social" starts at 10:30 p.m., with drink specials, live music, cigars, as well as Dada's regular menu and prices. Seating is limited; there is no charge for the After Dinner Social.
Dada Restaurant & Lounge is located at 52 N. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach. Call 561-330-3232, or visit dada.closermagazine.com..
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