Celebrate Hemingway’s 118th Birthday around the world
Hemingway was a lover of life, a gourmet, a hunter, a traveler, a drinker and above all a prolific writer. Alcohol was a part of his life and he used to say “I drink to make other people more interesting.” Here are some suggestions to celebrate his creative, adventurous and definitely unconventional life.
Celebrate Hemingway Days in Key West
The annual celebration of the legendary author’s work and lifestyle takes place the week of his birthday in Key West where the author lived during the 30s. Follow his footsteps and raise a glass or two at his two favorite bars (with a different name at the time): Sloppy Joe’s and the Captain Tony’s Saloon. You can also enjoy a storied stay in one of the Spa Suites at the at the Pier House Resort & Spa where guests are welcomed with the author’s drink of choice –a Papa Doble!

Make food and drinks at home
The EH Gourmet Brand launched a series of products inspired by Hemingway’s travels. The Sun Always Rises is a Bloody Mary Mix and Hemingway’s book written in Paris during the 20s. If this is not your cocktail of preference, try the Cocktail Sauce of the range for some Hemingway inspired appetizers, recipe suggestions here: http://www.ehgourmet.com/recipes/

Visit the El Floridita Bar in Havana
The author lived in Havana during the 30s and early 40s and was a regular patron of the El Floridita. The bar is claimed to be the birthplace of the Daiquiri “invented” by Constante, the owner of the bar since 1918. The Papa Doble was reportedly created in this establishment after Hemingway asked for a much stronger and less sweet Daiquiri -it is indeed a double Daiquiri!
Fly to Paris
If time and money is not an issue, a trip to Paris will do it. Go straight to The Bar Hemingway at the recently renovated Ritz Hotel where you can have it all. Along with your favorite cocktail, feel his spirit with photos on the walls. And if you are lucky the bartender will tell you everything you need to know about this famed establishment and his even more famous patron!
Read one of his books
My favorite: the Moveable Feast, an honest confession of the author’s difficult years in Paris. Read about his favorite and already successful authors, the French foods and wines of preference and his struggles with both his career and love life. The winner is Paris, the city of light, as the background of the author’s complex and challenging days.
