Last night at Barchef in Toronto I bore witness to the National Bar Chef Competition, sponsored by Ketel One Vodka. Six talented mixologists – one from Montreal, two from Vancouver and three locals – competed ably to craft the most interesting, flavourful and original cocktail, using Ketel One, ‘natch. And the winner was…
Vancouver’s David Wolowidnyk, who mixes, shakes and stirs at West Restaurant. Second place also went to a Vancouverite, albeit a transplanted Torontonian, Lauren Mote, of The Refinery
Now, kudos to all who competed and also to those who so enthusiastically attended – and doubly so to Aaron Gaulke, who with one other ‘tender, whose name I did not catch, handled a very busy bar while Barchef’s head cocktailian, Frankie Solarik, served as judge – but I couldn’t help but leave the bar scratching my head, and for a quartet of reasons. To wit:
- Why do these things seem so often to be sponsored by vodkas? I mean, I enjoy a good vodka as much as the next guy, but it’s hardly the most thrilling spirit to mix. Where are the gins? (Oh, I remember, in the audience in the form of one Mia Hunt of Victoria Gin.) Where are the Canadian whiskies, who want so much to buoy up their slowly sinking ship? Rums? Bourbons? Supporting spirits?
- What can be done to make these affairs more interesting? I’ve yet to be to a single mixology competition that hasn’t lost the interest of at least half the audience midway through.
- Why does it seem like the audience never, ever gets a chance to try the cocktails being created for the judges? Surely it wouldn’t be too hard to have the recipes submitted in advance and created in miniature for everyone to taste along with the judges.
- What’s with Kevin Brauch, the Thirsty Traveler, always judging at these things? Is he really that thirsty?
