{"id":23241,"date":"2018-12-09T16:12:54","date_gmt":"2018-12-09T14:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/flyingcigar.de\/?p=23241"},"modified":"2018-12-09T16:17:26","modified_gmt":"2018-12-09T14:17:26","slug":"havana-november-2018-cooking-outfitting-and-meditating-the-crazy-chefs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/flyingcigar.de\/startseite\/havana-november-2018-cooking-outfitting-and-meditating-the-crazy-chefs\/","title":{"rendered":"Havana November 2018 – Cooking, Outfitting And Meditating – The Crazy Chefs"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Yes, it was Chris meditating barefoot on the railway tracks again … \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Lucky for him there are only a few trains a day passing on that line.<\/p>\n

It was the last part of my trip and it continued more or less as usual so far, only that now it was more Michelin-Star-like meals – small correction here by Chris : He cooks Cuban with Belgian and Moroccan influence – and decidedly more Champagne and wine.<\/p>\n

Chris and Joerg brought a truckload of cooking stuff, from olive oil to condiments and spices to 12 bottles of fine bubbly and both German and Belgian wine for their stay.<\/p>\n

The crazy Chefs.<\/p>\n

The kitchen staff in the Villa were happily laughing to see Chris whirling like a Dervish through the kitchen and preparing all meals with incredible style. It also gave them some ideas on European high-level cooking which I hope they do not adapt to …. I am not particularly fond of the Michelin diet \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

One memorable lunch was the one he prepared for two Cuban couples, friends of ours living outside Havana, typical Guajiros\/farmers, who happened to arrive at the exact time we told them to come.<\/p>\n

That took Chris by surprise as he thought they’d arrive like two hours later – after all : we have the watches, Cubans have all the time …<\/p>\n

It was a very slow and long lunch with small plates arriving like every hour and a lot of talking, smoking and drinking in-between the courses.
\nIt was a 4 course menu so we spent 4 hours and I could feel the nice Guajiro friends getting hungrier by the minute.
\nThey must have been dreaming of pork, rice and beans for dinner that Sunday … \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Talking about pork – Chris and Joerg left me alone for 2 days while touring the tobacco plantations and Vi\u00f1ales and I was happy lunching on pork fried rice and enjoying a good cigar, cafecito and a glass of Rum by the pool myself – my own style of meditation.<\/p>\n

While I was doing that, Chris and Joerg spent a day at Hector Luis’ farm and guess who proudly prepared the pork dinner at Hector’s – yep, Chris proudly told me he had taken over the kitchen at the farm …
\nJust hope he didn’t spoil the cooking manners and traditions there and I will find myself lunching on a small plate with a tiny meatball at the farm next visit !<\/p>\n

Chris is just as methodical on outfitting and clothing as he is on cooking, so a few of the 5 suitcases that came to Havana were to pass out a load of clothing.<\/p>\n

He proudly outfitted a good friend in a splendid suit for his upcoming beach wedding next year. There goes the dress code … \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

He was also kind enough to outfit the daughter of a good friend with nice and sturdy eyewear as it is very difficult to find proper fitting glasses for kids in Cuba.<\/p>\n

That was a moving gesture and we were also very happy to meet the new-born boy of the family. A happy, smiling little blond Buddha.<\/p>\n

Other than that our days were the usual Havana routine – lazy morning, good cigars, meeting friends and having fun.<\/p>\n

Specially when offered a few fake boxes during lunch at a seaside Paladar.<\/p>\n

Now that we didn’t really need …. but it was a good laugh when the guy told us that the labels had to be applied on the “IKEA Cohiba” boxes before leaving the country ….<\/p>\n

The last few days in Havana it got cold – 14C at night is cold by Cuban standards, so it was like the weather was preparing me for my return to the cold climate in Europe.<\/p>\n

Looking back it was a great trip – certainly too long at almost four weeks but not too short on good stories and experiences shared with good friends.<\/p>\n

Nino<\/strong><\/p>\n

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