It’s that time of year again, food fans!

The Comfort Brothers are doing their part to break down stereotypes…hopefully. At some point, whether you hire us or not, you’ll wonder. So let’s get it over with.

For the last thirty years Sloppy Joe’s Bar on Duval Street in Key West has held an Ernest Hemingway Look-a-Like contest to trade on the legend of one of its most famous customers. The latest took place this past late July and produced one more winning older fat white guy that sort of resembled Papa. Two years ago, apparently not old enough, not fat enough and not a repeat contender (I had the white part down…), I foolishly gave it a shot nonetheless. I chronicled the experience for a newspaper chain. I called it A Country for Old men. Read on.

Now that there is some serious talk about the travel restrictions to Cuba being lifted, several CB fans have asked if I would post the piece I wrote for the Media General newspaper group upon my return from Havana and Santiago de Cuba last Spring. Hope you who missed it then will enjoy Sketches from Cuba.

Havana, Cuba

Hanoi Meneses, a 37 year old overnight bartender at the Hotel Raquel in Old Havana can’t wait for the freedom to travel outside Cuba. Like many in this island nation of just over 11 million, he’s hoping President Obama and the Castro brothers will make a deal. Soon.

But his first stop won’t be the U.S. He’ll be headed to Spain.