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The Columbia Restaurant & Cigar Factory
The Columbia Restaurant is the nation's largest Spanish
restaurant and Florida's oldest at 100 years old. Started in
1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez in the burgeoning
cigar capitol of Ybor City Tampa, they now have 7 locations in
Florida as well as their own cigar factory and store, where they
make the "Gonzalez y Martinez" brand of cigars.
I was on the West coast of Florida recently and decided to visit
two of The Columbia's locations. On my way driving up the coast,
I stopped in at the Sarasota location on St. Armand's Circle and
then drove an hour North to the original location in Tampa's
Ybor City. I have been to both locations to eat, drink and smoke
several times throughout the years. The Columbia remains one of
my favorite places. I even have their cookbook.
In Sarasota, John Monetti, the General Manager was very gracious
in granting me his time as my visit was impromptu and they were
right in the middle of preparations to open for the day's
business. We picked out a couple of Gonzalez y Martinez cigars
from the humidor and browsed the gift shop.
In the gift shop, they sell the Columbia Restaurant Spanish
Cookbook, which not only has 178 recipes, but the history of The
Columbia as well. I've had the book for several years and
frequently use the recipes to recreate my favorite menu items.
They still serve some of the original dishes from 1905, such as;
Spanish Bean Soup, (which combines sausage, garbanzo beans, and
potatoes in beef stock); Arroz con Pollo, (the classic chicken
and rice dish); an authentic Cuban Sandwich; and the 1905 Salad,
dressed with the family's special blend of fresh garlic,
oregano, wine vinegar, lemon juice, and Spanish olive oil.
Two of my favorite dishes that I frequently make at home are;
Lobster Columbia, which combines onion, green peppers, garlic,
tomato, chopped ham, sliced mushrooms, lobster and shrimp; and
Picadillo (Cuban Beef Hash) which includes ground beef, onions,
garlic, green peppers, olives and raisins among other
ingredients.
In Sarasota, there is ample outdoor sidewalk seating, which is
great for people watching. Or, if you'd like some eye-candy
while you sit at the bar,
bartender Stella is one of the best
reasons to get drunk during the day.
The Columbia is also the place where I had my first "Cuban
Manhattan". This one got left out of the book somehow, but it's
easy to make. It's just like a regular Manhattan, except you
substitute rum for the bourbon.
Next stop - The original Columbia Restaurant to check out the
cigar factory and store. John paved the way for me with a phone
call to the store manager, Meylin Garcia, who gave me a hearty
welcome with a big smile. (Everybody is super-nice at both
locations I visited.)
Meylin was kind enough to demonstrate how the in-store rollers
make the cigars. There is usually a cigar roller there Monday -
Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. I think Meylin is cuter than
the regular cigar roller though.
As I write this, I am smoking the Gonzalez y Martinez Torpedo
Maduro accompanied by a Starbucks Frappuccino. It's an excellent
combination of a sweet drink with a full-bodied cigar that burns
perfectly with a nice white ash. This shows that the cigar was
well-rolled with quality tobacco. The wrapper is nice and dark,
and the cigar is dressed with a handsome red, black and gold
band.
The Gonzalez y Martinez brand made by The Columbia offers six
different sizes, both in natural and maduro for 12 cigars to
choose from including; Churchill, Corona, Robusto, Perfecto #1,
Perfecto #2 and Torpedo. They can be purchased in Bundles of 25,
Boxes of 10, a sampler pack of 4, gift box of 3, or in singles.
The Columbia is one of Florida's finest treasures and a
must-experience for Spanish food lovers and cigar smokers.
Different locations offer flamenco dance performances, cigar bar
café, live jazz, tapas, spirits and cigars.
If you are in Sarasota or Tampa, be sure to visit The Columbia
and tell them Cigar-Review.com sent you. Visit their web site at
www.columbiarestaurant.com.
About the author:
Kevin Godbee is the editor and publisher of http://www.cigar-review.com, a web site dedicated to cigars and all the things that go
along with them including fine food and drink as well as the
gorgeous women who smoke cigars.
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