My Favorite Cigar
Michael Schulson • Chef/Restaurateur • Montecristo White Series
Michael Schulson has been feeding Philadelphia for more than 15 years and he not only does it well, he does it in high style. The cigar-loving 52-year-old carefully considers the relationship between ambience and food at every one of his gorgeous restaurants—a culinary empire that includes red-sauce Italian (Giuseppe & Sons), an elevated Italian (Via Locusta), a steakhouse (Alpine Rose) and a Japanese izakaya (Double Knot). This is only a partial list. He owns and operates 15 restaurants in total, with more on the way. Ask him which restaurant is his favorite and he won’t answer.
Ask him his favorite cigar and it’s the Montecristo White. “That could change,” he allows. “I used to smoke Partagas.” Schulson has been enjoying cigars since 1990 and says it certainly helps with the creative and cognitive process required to keep his concepts fresh and interesting. “Everyone has their outlet. The beautiful thing about cigars is that it’s relaxation, it’s clearing your mind to be creative. The cigar calms me down and when my mind is free and clear, I can definitely conceptualize. I’ll have a paper and pen and write down notes and go from there.”
