paladar

After a three-year hiatus to open a restaurant, birth two children, and weather the pandemic, Sub Rosa Supper Club kicked off the 2023 series with a Cuban-inspired dinner with Virago Spirits (Richmond, Va.) at the Manufactory Collective in Harrisonburg.

The Manufactory Collective is a large and airy warehouse space where makers, manufacturers, artisans, and entrepreneurs can gain access to assembly, storage, and production space, large and specialized equipment, and industry experts to help them scale up their businesses. The spirit of innovation that co-founders, Debbie and Nate Irwin are creating shares synergy with that of the Cuban people. After a nearly sixty year U.S. economic embargo, Cubans have learned to invent and innovate—keeping cars from the 1950s running strong, pioneering modern organic farming due to lack of access to chemicals, and popping up paladars—privately run home restaurants across the country.

We created our own paladar-inspired space with a living room, and family photos on the wall behind the bar serving up Virago Rum cocktails for our guests as they arrived. Pro tip: If you haven’t tried replacing your bourbon with a dark aged rum in your Old Fashioned, you should.

After cocktails, our guests headed to the dining room for a five-course Cuban-inspired dinner capped off with traditional cafecitos and a rum tasting by our friends at Virago Spirits.

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Ham Croquetas with Guava Reduction
accompanied by Guarapo de Piña

Tuna Tartare with Mojo de Ajo, Compressed Mango,
Avocado Crema, Micro Cress, and Cassava Chips

Tomatoes on the Vine, Green Beans, Radish, Baby Lettuces, Avocado,
Cucumber, and Pepitas with Coriander-Lime Yogurt

Ropa Vieja, Rice, Black Beans, and Maduros
with local GlenDor Farms beef

Grilled Pineapple with Virago Rum Caramel,
Coconut-Crème Fraîche Ice Cream, and Aged Gouda
accompanied by Café Bustelo cafecitos

A Fine Selection of Virago Spirits to Sip
including Cognac and Ruby Port Cask-Finished Rums

Photography by The Commoneer
Furniture Rentals from Valley Heirlooms
Flowers from Blakemore’s (arranged by Jen)
Plants from The Plant House