Smoke and Savor
Smoke and Savor
she shed, he shed to kick off the new year with cigar pairing event
For some it’s a relaxing treat to enjoy every now and then. For others, it’s a lifestyle - something to savor at the end of a long day. Still, for some it’s a great night out with friends, enjoyed best after a delicious meal or with a drink or two. No matter how often you enjoy a cigar, Smoke & Savor - a cigar pairing event hosted by Susan Baryza, owner of she shed he shed - is the perfect occasion to try something new. In the words of Baryza, “There are no bad cigars, just better ones.” Find yours on Friday, January 20 at 6:00pm during Smoke & Savor at Ellicottville’s Silver Fox Steakhouse.
Baryza is looking forward to the return of this event, which she introduced last March for the first time. New York state allows businesses to host a limited number of indoor smoking events per year through special licensing. Once again, the upstairs area of the Silver Fox, located at 23 Hughey Alley, will be the setting, an ideal location, according to Baryza.
“This time, things will be a bit more casual,” she explained. “Rather than everything happening primarily upstairs, people can go downstairs, get some drinks, visit with people at the bar. The smoking will be upstairs in a relaxed environment.” Baryza added, “The Silver Fox is the perfect place to have dinner afterwards! I’m grateful to the owner, Michael Nickolson, for allowing us to use this space once again.”
The January 20 event offers even more options this year. “There are different packages this time for people who like different kinds of drinks, and packages for people who don’t drink,” she explained. “Everyone is different, so why have just one package for so many people?” Guests can choose a non-alcoholic package for those cigars that pair well with coffee or cola. The wine/beer option includes cigars that pair well with light beer and oaky wines. For whiskey or bourbon drinkers, the spirits package includes a Maker’s Mark, a Jim Beam, or a cocktail to pair with your cigar.
For Baryza the fun of the event is also the learning experience it provides for her guests and herself. “In the past, we’ve had some long-time cigar smokers who are there for the cigar experience, and we’ve also had guys who have less experience but are there to try something new and get together with some friends,” she said. These indoor smoking events also help Baryza learn more about the industry. “It helps me learn the process,” she explained. “With every event, I’m learning more about what people are looking for, what’s new, and what seems to be really popular.”
About a week or two before the event, Baryza contacts her wholesaler Phillips and King out of California to order cigars specifically for Smoke & Savor, based on the package options selected by her guests. “They’re great to work with and very accommodating,” she noted. “They get me everything I need! I’ll also have items available to purchase at the event.”
Registration for Smoke & Savor is open now (must be 21 years of age or older to register). “People can stop in she shed, he shed to register or call us at 716-699-9121,” said Baryza. Located at 22 Washington Street, she shed, he shed is open from 11:00am-5:00pm Sunday through Thursday (closed Tuesdays) and 11:00am-7:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays. To see more photos from past events, follow she shed, he shed on Facebook and Instagram.