A night of cocktails and bartending flair

Participated in by 18 teams from different culinary and hospitality schools in Iloilo City, the 4th Dinagyang Bartending Cup (Tandem Edition) was one night talent and skills both in showmanship and cocktail concoctions. Presented by Great Foods Concepts Inc. and sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions and Pepsi, among others, the 4th installment had pairs of contestants juggling it out on stage and mixing it in in glasses. The Avenue Complex hosted the event gathering hundreds of spectators in and around the Smallville area.

I served as one of the judges of the competition concentrating on how each concoction tasted, so it was an intoxicatingly enjoyable night for me that lasted almost midnight. But as it was the Dinagyang weekend, the fun was just starting that time. I only had sips of the cocktails, two the most then wash it all away with a gulp of water in preparation for the next and next.

I also enjoyed the showmanship of each tandem with mostly juggling acts of bottles whether as individual (while the other mixes) or in tandem performances. Witch each school rooting for their own teams it was a very lively event as cheers and jeers come expectedly from our backs and sides.

Not even the fireworks display during the Luces In the Sky competition from the SM City vicinity distracted the spectators and the tandems as their performances were worth more than the lights and sounds of the actual fireworks.

Some had themes like these ninjas above and as expected I heard the ultimate "ninja song" Kung Fu Fighting in their repertoire. Some played safe with their usual get up but had the "Moves like Jagger" among others. Of course, one can't have it perfect all the time as some dropped bottles and even broke a lot of them.

But one accident created a very big laugh from the spectators as a tandem was juggling, a second of miscommunication sent on those stainless steel cups right on the head of another with one big thud that echoed around the area. Good thing it wasn't those bottles filled with liquor and the likes.

In the end, the St. Therese MTC Colleges tandems went home with the top plum as well as the third place while the pair from WVCST took the second place. But they were all winners as they not only showed grace under pressure, with all those lights, cheers and jeers but they also concocted good cocktails and presented them well. It was also a good ground for them to showcase their learnings as well as their hardwork in making these performances and those colorful and flavorful drinks.

A night of good cocktails and skillful bartending flair at The Avenue Complex as a successful 4th installment of the Dinagyang Bartending Cup came to a close with a promise of a bigger, more entertaining and more intoxicating competition is up on it's wooden (5th) anniversary next year. And it was another experience for me not only as a judge but also as a spectator ... with some hints of intoxication-lol.

Check out more photos on The Avenue Complex Facebook Account.

Unmarked photos in this blogpost are courtesy of Great Foods Concepts Inc.

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