A big part of the cugine routine is enjoying a fine cigar. And the Cugine Cigar is numero uno for me. I have no affiliation with the Cugine Cigar company, but when I found out about these, I just had to give them a try. They were created by Brooklyn-born actor/cookbook author (“A Meal To Die For”), Joseph R. Gannascoli, and the Alec Bradley Cigar Company. Madonne, these guys know their stuff!

Being someone that grew up around cigars, I can tell you that this is one that would have certainly been present with the Sunday dinner spread back in my old neighborhood.

See, just like strong espresso in fancy ceramic cups or the bottles of homemade vino from down in Grandpa’s wine cellar that would always be prominent on the table, so would ashtrays. Mainly it was the anisette-flavored Avantis—the little cigars you see the little old Italian men (and this young baccia-galoop whippersnapper) proudly puffing on. They take me back to the aforementioned unofficial Italian-American day of the week, where, along with the puffy white clouds of smoke, there was a mix of garlic frying in an olive oil-heated pan, and the strong scent of Pino Silvestre, Canoe and other men’s after shaves and colognes ever so present—creating quite a paisan potpourri…

My grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives were always over the house on Sundays when I was a kid, and I was never sure if all the old-timers who would come to play Scopa, eat, and smoke their stogies were cousins or just friends. Whatever the case, we all called them cousins, and everyone was always welcome. It’s quite fitting to me that the Cugine Cigar is now on the market.

Lots of people may find the cigar element to be a tad unwelcoming—but anytime I smell one or enjoy one myself, I feel a sense of contentment. And that’s really what the cigar is supposed to represent. Cigars should be enjoyed in moderation just like anything else. I’m not here to play surgeon general or anything, just as I’m a cook, not your doctor…and if you eat too many cannolis, you aint gonna feel too good either. Same with knowing your limits and balance with wine (or any alcoholic beverage). It’s a shame too many people take advantage of the beauty of such things and don’t appreciate them properly. I’m proud and lucky to say I tasted my first zip of vino when I was barely one. If you hear about something like that occurring now, it’s considered grounds for an investigation by the Child Protective Services. But I never wanted to divorce myself from my parents—or any of my family—and I think I turned out okay.

Food, wine and cigars (along with yelling and hugging) were just always grouped together at my house, or at the homes of any relatives I’d visit—like salt and pepper, or capellini with clams. It was just automatic, you didn’t even think about any of this—it was all perfectly acceptable, encouraged and equally enjoyed as an extension to the meal and just another part of my cultural upbringing.

As I reached my twenties, I began doing some research on these hand-rolled bundles of joy, and while I’m not quite an expert, I’d like to attempt to provide just a bit of insight here. I had the pleasure of trying a CAO Italia cigar in Italy, and my contentment level went to pure bliss. I probably could have been smoking on a chicken bone, I mean being on my hotel balcony and looking out at the mountains and the Mediterranean helped raise the bliss factor.

I can be here all day talking about everything from the cheap stogies like the Philly to the White Owl and the Black and Mild, all the way up the ladder to the most popular new selection listed in Cigar Aficionado. It’s really all a matter of one’s preference. On a trip to Mexico a few years back, I had a Cuban Cohiba. Supposed to be the best of the best, right? Yes, very nice indeed, but don’t think you have to travel to another country (I know a joint right in the Bronx…just kidding!) Really though, you can find a comparable one here in the states imported from Hondurus or the Dominican Republic and other places—from the Hoyo Monterrey to well-known premium brands like Romeo y Julieta, Davidoff, and the Macanudo, all of which will not break the bank, yet one can give as a gift with confidence. Try the Cugine Cigar, it may become your new Sunday afternoon favorite.

Oh, and my birthday is coming up in May by the way…

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Anyone in the New Jersey/New York area have a unique regional recipe or food they wanna share? Know of a great local pizza joint or deli I just gotta check out? How about the best place in the area to watch the World Cup? Any local organizations or charities with upcoming events? Is there a tradition or practice that I could explore in a future blog? I always want to learn as much as I can about all things with “roots from the boot” (books, TV shows, movies, music, fashion, cars, anything and everything). So, my fellow cugines and cuginettes, pretend it’s a Sunday at my house and we are all gathered around the table with an antipast’ platter, vino and cigars, and send me some feedback on my “CUGINE CORNER THE BLOG” facebook fan page. Current events, old-school memories...whatever your heart desires, paisans!

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