Hangin' With Hemingway

You'll Never Be This Cool.

    (Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)


But... how cool would it be just hanging out with Hemingway? I think it would be awesome to be down in Key West, at Sloppy Joe's (or was it Captain Tony's?), having a cocktail and taking it all in.

I mean, if two of the most famous bars in the Keys (Sloppy Joe's and Captain Tony's) are actually battling in court for bragging rights to a piece of Hemingway legend; it's gotta mean something.  Although I believe that this battle has more to do with tourist dollars than Hemingway himself.

The stories he could tell... Oh, wait he did! And, what great stories. I was always partial to "The Old Man and the Sea".

So, pull up a barstool and grab your daiquiri.

The Pots Are On...

The Plate...

The Ultimate Cuban Sandwich

Thought of some more traditional cuban dishes like Carne con Papas or Cuban Ropa Vieja, but I figured hey; if your hangin' with Hemingway you're probably in a bar or the boat.

Besides this is my favorite go to sandwich. And, I'll tell you how to do it "Panini" style without having to run out and by a machine.

What you need... 

2 tbsp Mayonaise 

2 tbsp dijon mustard

1 large loaf of French bread, halved lengthwise and quartered

8 slices of Swiss cheese

4- 6 slices deli ham

5 -6 oz pork tenderloin

Pickles

4 tbsp butter

2 iron skillets

What you do...

Best if you grill a small pork tenderloin to medium temp on the grill then slice.  If not you can substitute any pork. 

Mix the mayo and mustard in a small bowl and spread evenly on the bread.

Layer one half with cheese, ham, pork pickle and then extra cheese.

Cover with another slice of bread and butter the outside top and bottom of the sandwich.

Heat your iron skillet to medium heat and place the sandwiches in the pan for about 2 minutes.

Flip the sandwich and weigh it down with the second skillet. 

About 1 more minute (or when the cheese melts) and take of the stove.

You are now ready to hang with the man. 

The Playlist...

Hangin' With Hemingway

Love the Salsa, Lambada and just overall "Hot" music.  This stuff really gets me going.

Starting us off is one of my favorites... Sierra Maestra.  Great group and awesome song "Felipe Blanco" will get you up and moving for sure.

Had to include another favorite "Chan Chan" from the Buena Vista Social Club.  If you haven't seen it go rent the DVD now.  Great documentary, produced by Ry Cooder, on the music heroes of Cuba.

A few others not to miss... Guajir Guantanamera by Compay Segundo & Oye Como Va by Tinto.

Hey... No que para la fiesta!

("The Playlist" runs on Spotify. Don't have Spotify?... Click here it's free )

The Bar...

Hemingway Daiquiri

What you need... 

1.5 oz White rum

1/2 oz grapefruit juice

1/4 oz Luxardo maraschino

3/4 oz lime juice

3/4 oz Simple Syrup

What you do...

Put all ingredients into a Martini shaker with ice. 

Shake and pour into Martini glass rim with lime.

Ok, this is not your average Daiquiri...

So the story goes, the novels had stopped into Havana's El Floridita bar, close to the hotel where he lived. 

On his way out, he noticed the bartender setting up Daiquiris. Never one to pass up a drink, Hemingway took a sip.  Not bad, he said, but cut the sugar and double the rum.  The bartender remade the drink and named it after him. 

"Those are the facts," writes drink historian Ted Haigh... 

"and from there the story goes straight to hell."

Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk... 

That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. 

-Ernest Hemingway

Please... Day Drink Responsibly 

& 

Keep On Cookin'!