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1/17 Iron Bartender Competition

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Started 2 years ago by Cotters_Restaurant
Latest reply from RAWoogi33

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Cotters_Restaurant
200 W. Nationwide Blvd
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Cotters Restaurant is hosting the 2010 Columbus Iron Bartender Competition on January 17 from 6-9pm. Columbus' best bartenders, representing Black Olive, Hyde Park, M, and Martini Park, will compete head to head to create the ultimate cocktail using a fully stocked bar and the night's special ingredient in a competition reminiscent of the "Iron Chef" series.

NBC 4's Monica Day will be the evening's official emcee. Columbus celebrity judges include WNCI's Jimmy Jam and (614) Magazine editor David S. Lewis.

Presale tickets are available at Cotters or by calling 614.221.9060. $25 Tickets include complimentary hors d'ouevres, samples of each cocktail, and live music. Proceeds benefit the Mid Ohio Foodbank.

200 W.Nationwide Blvd|Columbus|OH|43215
614.221.9060
http://www.cottersdining.com

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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But when is it?

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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But when is it?

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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But when is it?

Posted 2 years ago #
DavidF
Elysium Fields
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???

umm, prob. Jan 17 like it says above.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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@DavidF, yeah I was just giving him a hard time for posting three times in a row.

Posted 2 years ago #
DavidF
Elysium Fields
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I know. I was just giving you a hard time for replying three times in a row. It's all good.

Posted 2 years ago #
Bear
The woods
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First of all, this is a good thing -- thanks, and props, to Cotters for putting it on. Competitions like these benefit the cocktail-loving public, of which I'm a proud (even charter) member.

Can I ask a question, though? I've seen a few of these competitions, now, and some of them seem to be for more than bragging rights: winners fly off to national competitions, that sort of thing. (Not sure whether this is one.) And they seem to be competitions among bartenders from a similar list of restaurants... last year's Columbus Inspired Bartenders Competition included entrants from Hilton Polaris & Easton, Eddie Merlot's, Mitchell's Steak House, Ocean Club, Hyde Park, Martini Park, Eleven, Black Olive, and some others.

I can't say I've frequented every place on the list, but even so, I'm just wondering how these bartenders or restaurants are chosen? There seem to be a lot of entrants, and some very good bartenders at some very good (generally, smaller and independent) restaurants don't seem to be on the list.

Thanks.

Posted 2 years ago #
drew

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^^^What Bear said.

I can't say that the picks are all bad, but you're undoubtedly throwing some mediocre talent in (what should be) the deep end and you are definitely overlooking some of the top mixologists in town.

I appreciate the effort, but you lose legitimacy when you exclude so much obvious (superior) talent that just happens to reside outside of this small group of restaurants. Why them?

Posted 2 years ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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I'll echo Bear and Drew's thoughts and say that if you really want to promote to Columbus Underground, you've left out at least two CU favourites that would turn out more than a few of us.

Specifically:

Chris Dillman - Currently of Sage, and formerly the designer of the most excellent cocktail menu at Details

CU's own Shmack - Currently of Nida's.. Knows her way around some classics and has a pretty creative menu of her own.

There may be others that I've overlooked, but for cocktails these two names come up most often.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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Jack Daniels' 2010 Columbus Iron Bartender Competition sponsored by Jack Daniels.

Ohhhhh the suspense is killing me
I wonder what the secret ingrediant will be?

Should we have a pool?

Posted 2 years ago #
lisathewaitress
SoHud
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Tenzo wrote >>
Jack Daniels' 2010 Columbus Iron Bartender Competition sponsored by Jack Daniels.
Ohhhhh the suspense is killing me
I wonder what the secret ingrediant will be?
Should we have a pool?

Well, then I suppose it's for the best Mr. Dillman isn't a contestant. He hates Jack Daniels passionately.

Posted 2 years ago #
Bear
The woods
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Too late to edit, but I should have written, it also benefits the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, which is very generous. Which, to Michael's point, speaks to the desirability of bringing out more people.

Shmack and Chris would be at the top of my list of top mixologists who'd been left off. I might also add Alana Shock (maybe not someone you'd normally think of, but damn her original cocktails are good)... and whoever does the mixology at Surly Girl is pretty inspired too. None of which, I should emphasize, is meant as an insult to any of the entrants.

But personal favorites aside, I'm wondering mainly about the process by which these people (or restaurants) are chosen. The thing's happening in 11 days, so even if Cotters did clear it with the Jack Daniels rep (that's funny) to add a couple of additional people, who knows if they'd be available. I'm thinking more down the road... how do these people get invited to these things in the first place? Is eligibility basically a reward for selling a lot of Jack Daniels, or is there something more to it than that?

Posted 2 years ago #
shmack

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Bear, I wonder about that too. Since Cotter's is owned by the Vito's Catering folks, is this a multi-establishment event? Who lead organizes this stuff (the venue or the distributor)? And how do I get invited?! (Granted, I'm scheduled to the gills these next couple of months...)

There was also a flair event a couple months ago... but that's kinda off topic.

Posted 2 years ago #
Bear
The woods
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shmack wrote >>
Bear, I wonder about that too. Since Cotter's is owned by the Vito's Catering folks, is this a multi-establishment event? Who lead organizes this stuff (the venue or the distributor)? And how do I get invited?! (Granted, I'm scheduled to the gills these next couple of months...)

Something tells me Nida would let you off for a night.... :-)

lisathewaitress wrote >>
Well, then I suppose it's for the best Mr. Dillman isn't a contestant. He hates Jack Daniels passionately.

Well, when life gives you absinthe, make Sazeracs.... ;-)

Posted 2 years ago #
drew

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shmack wrote >>
There was also a flair event a couple months ago... but that's kinda off topic.

LOL... same restaurants competing, too, I suspect...

Posted 2 years ago #
RAWoogi33
Columbus, OH
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Cotter's Cocktial listHello all,

Due to all of the interest, I decided it would be beneficial to reply to clear up some speculation, comments, and questions.

The bartenders were chosen because of their proven experience in excelling in 4 different types of bartending, the 4 have completely different styles and personalities, and come from a variety of different backgrounds and establishments:
-Cris Dehlavi (M at Miranova) has created some of the most complete and interesting cocktail menus this city has ever seen.
-Mike Vehlber (Hyde Park) is hands down the best customer service oriented bartender I have ever seen, and also practices intense attention to detail---he has the classics down the the 't'.
-Brandon Bowsher (Martini Park) makes all types of martinis and cocktails at a large volume, and just won the Columbus Alive Bartending Challenge at Lodge Bar at the end of 2009
Zak Renzetti-Voit (Black Olive) beat every bartender in the state of Ohio to become our respresentative in the 2009 Bombay Sapphire Inspired Bartender Competition

All of them have more than earned their place in this competition, and fit the description and qualifications perfectly.

As for our partnership with one of the most successful Liquor Distributors in the US, Brown-Forman, represented by Jack Daniels in this event---Brown-Forman has been a leader in the industry for many years, they also represent Finlandia Vodka (many inspired bartenders rely on infusing Finlandia to make truly original cocktials), and both products will be featured in our cocktail hour prior to the competition, but won't necessarily be used in the competiton. Brown-Forman and Jack Daniels have been a great partner that truly cares about the cause we are contributing to, and have made a very generous donation on behalf of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

One name you are leaving out is Cotter's very own Hans Maggard. He and Kevin Payne designed our current cocktail list, and in my humble opinion, it is one of the best in the city. Check it out:
http://cottersdining.com/menus/Fall09%20Cocktail%20Menu%203.pdf

Thanks again in your interest in what we are doing at Cotters, we always have new ideas brewing, make sure you stay updated on our event page at http://www.cottersdining.com

Reed A. Woogerd
Manager
Cotters Restaurant
r.woogerd@cottersdining.com

Posted 2 years ago #