KELOWNA – Some of Kelowna’s top bartenders and chefs have been working to produces original creations, hoping to reap the benefits of being an award winner.
Next Thursday, they’ll be competing in the fourth annual Okanagan Spirits Winetender’s Mixoff at the Laurel Packinghouse.
“They make some amazing cocktails,” says contest spokesperson Tyler Dyck of Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery. Usually they’re quite complex, they’re the ones you’d tend to find at a high-end cocktail lounge so they’re really creative.”
The drinks are paired with an appetizer with awards being handed out for Judge’s Choice, People’s Choice and Best Bite.
Cameron Colin, bartender at The Xchange restaurant, says it would mean a lot to win an award with his cocktail creation called The Three R’s which is made with Riesling wine, rhubarb liqueur and rosemary.
“There’s a lot of pride that goes into these competitions for both the bartending and food side and I know the chefs are really excited too.”
But there’s more at stake than just bragging rights.
“I’m a new business and I want to show what we can do,” says Fermented Dining owner Cody Pollard. “Doing really well at this event would prove that we belong and we’re putting forward a really good product for our customers.”
The 2015 winners:
Andrew Schneider from Raudz/Micro won Judges Choice Cocktail with “The Matriarch”.
Karl O’Dwyer from Globe Cafe and Tapas Bar won People’s Choice Cocktail with “Only Thyme will Tell”.
Jordan Wilton from Social 242 won People’s Choice Best Bite with “Moroccan style Braised Pork” with garnishes.
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