‘Dropout’ Wins Cocktail Contest

Shaken or stirred, this Valley bartender is ready to put Culinary Dropout on the national map

Last night we were invited to help judge a cocktail competition as part of the 2010 Crave AZ food festival. (On a related note, is the sun extra bright today, or is that just us?) Hosted at everybody’s fav speakeasy, Kaz Bar, it featured nine of the Valley finest mixologists going head to head for a chance to represent AZ in a national mix-off coming this October as part of Crave’s three-day food and wine extravaganza. And to make things interesting, each round featured a surprise special ingredient, including an obscure French liqueur handcrafted by monks. That said, perhaps the oddest secret ingredient was brought by one of the bartenders, who served his drinks in Hanna Montana cups adorned with silly straws. (We’re talking about you, Steve Douds of Renegade Canteen.)

Yes, it got a little silly inside Kaz Bar last night. But at the end of the day, Culinary Dropout’s Eric Carfagnini was the last barman standing after whipping up a savory cocktail featuring Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters. Yes, the same bitter-sweet vegetable traditionally found in fruit pies, although in this case it tastes like a very pungent, concentrated grapefruit.

Carfagnini, who won a free stay at the posh Camelback Inn and dinner at Cowboy Ciao for his efforts, will now take on the nation’s best bartenders at Crave AZ’s National Top Bar Chef Mix-Off. Hosted on October 22 at The Chef’s Loft in Downtown Scottsdale, the national champion will receive an all-expense paid trip to New Orleans next summer to enjoy the five-day elixir festival, Tales of the Cocktail. Now, that sounds like one hell of a hangover.