The Faith Middleton Food Schmooze® Martini Competition was held on June 25 at The Riverview in Simsbury. Local bartenders and restaurants featured their signature cocktails in a bid to win the annual event’s top place. Infinity Music Hall and Bistro took the gold medal with their “Lime in the Coconut.” The winning martini was made with Sugar Island Coconut Rum, lime juice, coconut cream, pineapple and Midori with a dried pineapple garnish. The silver was awarded to DoubleTree by Hilton in Bristol for their “Time Outtini.” Max Burger took the bronze medal with their “BRB” martini. Anthony DeSerio, a regular contributor for The Faith Middleton Show’s “The Food Schmooze” segment, awarded the Best Craft Cocktail to Waterbury’s Highland Brass Co., for their martini featuring Don Q Rum.
-
- Faith Middleton Food Schmooze Martini Competition
-
- Anthony DeSerio, USBG CT Member, Bartender and WPNR contributor with event host Faith Middleton of The Food Schmooze Martini Competition.
-
- Ed Dunn, Account Development Manager, Brescome Barton; Jason McClellan, Owner, Olde Burnside Brewing Company; and Sarah Alokones, General Sales Manager North, Brescome Barton
-
- Khalid Williams, USBG CT Chapter Member and Bartender at Barley Vine in Bristol mixing the martini “Forager’s Tipple.”
-
- Hillary Tanaka, USBG CT Chapter Member and Bartender at Feng Asian Bistro mixing martini “Wild Rose.”
-
- Olivia Mucha, Manager, Half Door in Hartford with Christine Blower, Bartender and Server, Half Door with martini “Luscious Garden.”
-
- Gold medal winners: Infinity Hall’s Shelby Thomas, Bartender with Bistro Manager Justin Morales.
-
- Anthony DeSerio awarded Carl Summa and Dimitrios Zahariadis of Highland Brass Co., the Best Craft Martini during the competition.
-
- Richard Clemens III, Bar Manager, Nix Hartford with “What’s the Matter Yuzu” martini.
-
- Center: Lelaneia Dubay, Owner and Co-Founder of Hartford Flavor Co., with left to right, Edd Russo, Erin Sheehan, Tom Gugliotti, Len Comeau and Patrick O’Connor.
-
- DoubleTree by Hilton in Bristol’s Rob Martini, Bar Manager and Lukas Peaslee, Bartender. The team took home the silver medal for their “Time Outtini.”
-
- DoubleTree by Hilton in Bristol “Time Outtini.”
-
- Tisane Euro Asian Grille “One in a Mellon.”
-
- Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ created a “Smokin-tini”
-
- Featured ingredients on display.
