Now dinner and after dinner are a different ballgame. Again, it depends on what you’re eating. A grilled steak calls for a hearty red vino and a cigar with some flavor like a Fuente Don Carlos or a Punch Grand Cru Number Two. Ribs or chops could call for some sweet sangria, a cold cervesa, and a gar that stands up to the sauce and spices like CAO Brazillia or a tasty Cameroon wrap of some kind. Now there’s always shrimp and lobster tails which makes for some interesting choices. Since white wine is not in my repertoire, a lighter red works for me, I also like ice cold vodka with sea food, and again, a mid-range gar is good, not to overpower your meal.

I don’t know about you, but I am friggin’ starving right now and just about to eat my shoe. But I haven’t really talked about ethnic food. Starting with Italian, it’s always a dry red or a beer like a Peroni. Again with red sauce, pasta, meatballs, sausage (stop me please, somebody stop me) you want a cigar that cuts through the food and lets you taste it. I love Portuguese, Brazilian, Cuban, and meat and bold seafoods are the chosen fare. Sangria rocks with Hispanic food, including Mexican and your cigar during or after had better be bold. You don’t think of cigars too much when you think Japanese or Chinese, but a nice Camacho Corojo would work so well after any of those choices!

Okay, I can’t talk about ethnic foods any longer because I am losing my mind. But I will talk about wrapping up with a great after dinner drink and smoke. A stronger scotch or bourbon can surely hit the spot after a long day’s work. I usually tend to lean towards a sweet and flavorful maduro for my dessert. There are too many brands to name, so pick  your fave. Some people like ice wines and such, but give me a good aged port any day – Fonseca, Taylor, Cockburn, Presidential, the list goes on and on. I actually love a bold and flavorful coffee with my port and maduro – and if you add some dark chocolate and strawberries, you will be set for an evening to remember.

I’m going to stop now because this really isn’t very fair to any of us. Eating, drinking, and smoking fine cigars is a pleasure everyone should enjoy, but tonight, I’ll have it all to myself if you don’t mind.