Task: Sample one—sometimes two—martini(s) from 12 of DC’s best mixologists and be able to walk out of Beacon Bar & Grill without falling. It may seem like an impossible feat, but on Tuesday, March 30, more than 200 guests were able to sip shot glasses full of each Absolut vodka martini and soberly (or not so soberly) vote for their favorite.
At the third annual Best Martini in DC contest, Nage, Poste Brasserie, Hudson, and Mova (formerly Halo Lounge) were among the contesting establishments that set up shop in the Rhode Island Avenue bar.
Capitol Hotels & Suites Vice President Hector Torres planned the event with a team including Food and Beverage Director R. Kamran Vakili, their partners, and Beacon restaurant employees. “We treat this like a community event, our ‘non-official’ Best Bartender Contest, allowing us to recognize and include well-respected area bartenders, and offer them the opportunity to win a cash prize,” Torres said.
Guests were provided with ballot sheets to rank their favorite quaffs from one to five in terms of creativity, taste, and presentation. Guest votes counted for 50 percent of the total score, while a panel of nine local “celebrity” judges—including DC Council Member-at-Large David Catania, Restaurant Association of Washington President Lynne Breaux, and Metro Weekly Co-Publisher Sean Bugg—counted for the other 50 percent.
Participating bartenders either were invited by the restaurant or asked to be included because of the contest’s growing reputation. First place went to Gina Chersevani of PS7, who won for the second time in the contest’s three-year run with a cotton candy–garnished martini. Second place went to Babak Pakravan of TenPenh with his secret caviar cocktail, and third place went to Alliance Tavern’s Chris Cunningham, whose “Oprah” featured acai berry vodka and blueberries.
“This serves as the season opening introduction to Sky Bar, which opens in late April/early May,” Torres added. This contest and other neighborhood-centric events have become traditions at Beacon, a way to stay in touch with the local community.
Torres concluded, “I think next year will be even more fun. And yes, there will be a fourth annual Best Martini Contest.”
Copyright © 2010 Metro Event Specialists