Monday, September 1, 2008
Last week, Gilberto Leon passed away...he was 87 years old. For those in the know, his quaint sliver of a store front, served as one of the few places left in Los Angeles where cigars are still hand-made, on site, with the care and precision usually attributed to painters or sculptors.
Mr. Leon rolled a fine cigar; The Leon #1 falling somewhere between Partagas Green Label and Vintage Rocky Patel 1993 Connecticut (which happen to be two of my favorites). And although I only knew him from our brief encounters at his counter top, and our allusions to Miami - a city we both shared in the past. It was sad to see an artisan of his caliber pass away, silently and "into the good night."
So, Mr. Leon this smoke is for you. Thank you for providing me with such fine tools - for the perfect ending to porter house steak dinner, cooked medium rare (of course), to watch the setting west coast sun, and to ponder the importance of all things both big and small.
