3.13 - VOLVER A LA TORRE Y TODO ESE JAZZ

Dinner "With a View" was their goal

The Menu looked great as a whole

But Reservations they had not

So they must find a new spot

To feed much more than their soul

Hmmm… Soul… Whole… could Nantucket still be far off ? [Earl...are you on it?]

Meanwhile…. Back at the Ranch… OK… no ranch,  back at 55 Linea, all hands were finally accounted for and Tia expressed a desire to go back to La Torre for cocktails and the view while deciding on what to do about dinner.  Drinks and Snacks??? Yeah Chucky was down with that, as was Jake, Doug and… well… everyone.

Taking the short cut this time going West with a better sidewalk to get South, they managed to walk into the residential entrance at the Focsa Building by mistake and had to re-route the crowd back out, down, around and back up more steps to the special elevator to La Torre. 

Once on the 33^rd floor, it was easy to see why LA Torre, atop the tallest building in town, also known as the "Roof of La Habana" was one of the most popular spots among the locals and tourists “In The Know”…   the view was Spectacular! La Habana lay sprawled at your feet like a carpet of old and new [OK, very little new]. The Sun setting in the West {where else would it set dummy!} bathed El Moro in a soft glow and this, along with the plentiful adult beverages, mellowed the group immediately... Sooooo Coooool!

Along with the colorful cocktails,  platters of Olives, Meats and Cheeses were ordered to stave off the hunger pangs and the Expedition settled in to relax, enjoy the view and contemplate dinner… or maybe not.

Lots of Pics from all angles with all the cameras, phones, whatever - including Chucky "Sippin' Fine Aged Rum on the Roof of La Habana".
The conversation grew lively about the days happenings - the adventure in Miramar and the Museo de la Revolucion girare-U’s and all, and soon turned to "Where and When" for dinner.  A quick look at the dinner menu and La Torre’s unusually high prices spooked some of the crowd {Well it WAS the "Roof of La Habana"!} as did the fact that reservations were needed at least a couple days in advance.

OK… down the elevator, back to 55 Linea and the “What About Dinner” conversation, Part "Dos".  Once again Maria La China is consulted and she now recommends Café TV, downstairs from La Torre on the ground floor [which we later found is actually behind the HAVANA TELEVISION studios - hence CAFE TV].  Once again, Jesse and Jake, fearing another "slab of Pork" Cuban sandwich, elect to stay back and do something with Tortilla wraps for their dinner… fine by us… We've given up trying to get them to experiment a bit with REAL Cuban Cuisine. [whatever that was supposed to be]

Alright... Back around to 17^th street, and the Focsa Building, “¿Disculpe señor, dónde está la Café TV?

“Lo siento Señora, está cerrado.”
CLOSED?!?  {La China!!!… You Got Sum 'splainin' To Do!!!}

Soooo… now what? This back and forth from Linea to 17th street and back is getting old... Fast!

“Helloooo… what's this place?” asks Chucky, spotting a restaurant on the corner of the walkway to CAFÉ TV.  Hmmmm - “El Emperador - Ok… Everyone look at the Menu… Seems fine?… LETS EAT!!!!”

The crowd is led into a classic super club of, reds, blacks and dark woods with gilded wall sconces, a muted guitar in the background and a fully stocked bar through the archway.  We’re seated at a lovely round table for 6 across from the bar, near a piano and guitar… OK… just a guitar player leaning on the piano.  we're the only ones here.... Uhhh, is this really a good idea?!?

A wine list is ordered… "Sorry, Señor the List is being updated"  "What have you got"… “Don’t have this… Don’t have that, let me check the price for that…”
By now Chucky has had it…“Where is the wine rack, lets go”, and he leads the hapless waiter to the wine wrack and starts inspecting for familiar labels and something that will please everyone [this one likes merlot… that one likes Cabernet… She wants a Rioja…]  One by one, he holds up a bottle, they run in the back, consult the secret list and come back with a price.  This goes on for 10 minutes until he finds a Chilean Merlot that he recognizes and walks it back to the table to have it opened. 

The “Sommelier” Waitress appears, struggles with the wine, and manages to get it poured around with out dribbling too much on the tablecloth, and another bottle is ordered as this one gets drained.

A toast is offered for the days adventures, Pictures are taken, the waiter is implored to take one of the table and...
dontcha… just… know it?!? As Tia is raising her glass, her elbow glances off "Other CUZ’s” glass and Bada-Bing!!! Red Wine - all over "Other CUZ’s” new White sweater!  This bunch is gettin' almost as good at spillin' wine as drinkin' it!
“NO… DON'T-YOU-DARE put Water on that Spot!" Orders the Cuban Lady… Seriously!?! "Chucky will take care of it when we get back to the house."

[P.S. the Peroxide/Baking Soda Paste – DID stop the stain from setting and on return from the trip "Other CUZ” reported: "IT WORKED – No Stains - Thank You Chucky! Thank You - Thank You!!!]

Back to the menu.  The consensus was for Chicken Parmigiana [in Cuba?] Roast Pork in Marsala, another Chicken something and Chucky decides to brave it with "Lobster Thermidor" [the waiter tries to talk him into a whole lobster  the Termidor is just chunks of tail] - Yada... Yada... Yada {build that check boy!}  Nope, that’s all Chucky wants.
Wrong again!!! While the lobster was fine, the Thermidor sauce suffered the same issue as the cream soup at Carmelo 23 the day before. Again, waaaay too much flour that hadn't cooked down and we were back to wall paper paste.
Oh welllll!
Editor Note: DO NOT
order anything in a Cream Sauce in Cuba, even the simplest Bechamel recipe seems to elude them... maybe they should try corn starch in the future.

Most of the other meals are fine and the discussion turns to what's next after dinner. Chucky has everyone convinced that they should go to La Zorra y El Cuervo [the Fox and the Crow] touted as one of the BEST Jazz clubs in La Habana.  {Chucky has been aching for some Good Cuban Jazz and tonight was the night!}

Except for “CUZ”, {Uh Ooohh!!!} who comes back from the ladies room with the announcement… "She needs to head back to 55 Linea and FAST cause… She Aint Feelin' So Good".
"Uhhh... la cuenta, por favor! [CHECK PLEASE!!!!]

Poor “CUZ”  first she misses out on Salsa Night at HOT-HOT Salseando Chevre over Wine Soaked Khaki’s, now she’s gonna miss a night of great Cuban Jazz over sour Chicken Parmigiana. This poor Vedado Chic just can’t catch a Break!

The entourage heads back to drop off Doug and “CUZ” as Tia, the Cuiban Chic, "Other CUZ" and Chucky head out to find La Zorra y El Cuervo on Avenida 23 between N & O. {Uuhh... that's doesn't mean "NO"... N y O are the street names}

As they cross Avenida 23, they spot the club in the middle of the street and circle the block looking for parking.  Spotting a lot around the corner on "O" they slide into the last spot up front.  Navigating the broken sidewalk and rocky street with the wheelchair was a tricky gambit but they got to the Club without much travail only to find… its down a couple flights of steep stairs!  Sooooo…. with Tia, now on cane, it's one in front, one in back..."One… Two…Three.. Uunnnh" [OK, you get it] Chucky muscles the folded wheeler downstairs, and parks it behind the Cute little hostess' podium and they start lookin for seats in the already crowded cellar club.  The gracious manager sees the the impaired Tia and petitions a table of 2 to join another 2 up front, Jazz folks are friendly, and PRESTO a table for 4 is  ours.

With pictures of international Jazz Greats that covered the walls looking over our shoulders, we settled in for an evening of really Cool "Authentic" Afro/Cuban Jazz.  [Yeah... he bought the CD]  It might have been a bit TOO "Straight Ahead" Jazz for the other three, but Chucky was Groooooovin!! Great pics and excellent Aged Rum.  He by danced by himself, He danced with the Cute Little Hostess, and of course He had the obligatory dance with a light pole…
Tia had a GREAT time appreciating a night out, even if it was a bit loud.  In fact a great time was had by all [even the pole].
Here are rough studio cuts of Eduardo Barroetabeña [the drummer] & Oddara, preparing for their CD "Orientalismo" some of what we heard live, some just searchin' for a groove.
Click à Oddara jazz Pt 1  - Oddara Jazz Pt 2 - Oddara Jazz Pt 3

Nothing special about the trip home; Chucky ran for the car so they wouldn't have to navigate the broken sidewalk back; the nice manager carried the chair up and they were back at 55 Linea by 1:30AM, and off to Zzzzzz land... except for Chucky, who just had to jot down some NOWAT notes while groovin' just a liiiitttllle bit more to the cool sounds of Oddara's CD... from the Cellar of La Zorra y El Cuervo... Avenida 23 / N y O... en Vedado... La Habana... Smooooooth........

Tomorrow… More tchotchke expedtions, some old trains, ancient Cathedrals, La Bodeguita del Medio a Santaria reading for Tia and a Fabulous Asturian Restaurant in La Casa Amarillo on the Malecon

HASTA LUEGO,

Uncle Chuck & The still gigglin' je,je,je about him & the pole

Cuban Lady

Sippin’ Fine Aged Rum ’n’ Groovin’ to All... That... Jaaazzzzz