Little Havana, West Africa’s first Afro-Latino restaurant and bar, recently hosted an interactive cigar pairing event in collaboration with Martell Cognac and Havana Club Rum.
The night was led by tobacconist, sommelier and cigar aficionado, Kevin Norman who educated guests on how to pair a selection of the finest Cuban cigars with vintage cognac or rum.
“Through our food, events and the cigar pairing night, our aim is to explore the common experiences and cultural heritage between Cuba and West Africa. Cigars are one of the symbols of Cuba, a symbol that some historians believe have actual ties to Ghana in particular as the name of Cuba’s capital city “Havana” may have come from enslaved Africans working on tobacco farms and cigar factories who called the leaves “Ahaban”, the Akan word for leaf,” explains Marcus Morgan-Etty, an experienced chef and restauranteur who is the owner of Little Havana.
Ghanaian Celebrity tailor and actor Elikem Kumordzie was featured in a short video filmed during the event capturing his cigar pairing experience.
Attendees enjoyed classic Afro-Latino food and Havana Club cocktails while learning about Cuba’s rich cigar and rum making history.
The cigar pairing night afforded guests the opportunity to uniquely experience Cuba in Ghana. As Ghana’s first Afro-Latino inspired street-food restaurant and bar, Little Havana restaurant and bar will continue to highlight Africa’s connection to Cuba through cigars, music, art, culture, drinks and a menu that incorporates classic Cuban and Latino recipes made with fresh Ghanaian ingredients in flamboyant pre-revolution Cuba style opulence, in the heart of Accra.
