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Archive for November, 2007

Cheap Shot | Drink. Drank. Drunk.

Thursday, November 15th, 2007

The City Weekly
Phil Jacobsen

“Phil you’re a nobody,” Brad said when I answered the phone.

My brother Brad is a lawyer, so I know he could not have come to this conclusion without evidence, facts and possibly even a little ipso facto lawyer talk. “Are you one of the judges tonight at the Libation Nation Celebration best-drink contest in Park City?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“In that case and henceforth, you herewith will be referred to as ‘a nobody.”

My brother, in an attempt to masculineize the minivan he drives, stuck an X96 Radio From Hell (RFH) bumper sticker on his “ride.” And that morning, as he was cruising into work, one of the RFH guys, Kerry Jackson, said he would be a judge for the same contest as I and that he was “the big name.” Then the other RFH hosts, Gina and Bill, read the names of the other judges and, in summation, concluded the rest of us were the equivalent of day-labor judges.

Well, if I was a nobody, then I sure seemed like a somebody when a limo driver called and said he’d be to my house in Salt Lake City to pick me up for a luxurious ride to Park City. Knowing I was going to step out of my front door and into the spotlight and envy of all my neighbors when a limo came rolling down Downington Avenue, I put on my funeral outfit. These are the clothes I keep in the back of my closet in case someone dies. Turns out it was appropriate, because I died a little inside when I saw my “limo” was actually a minivan.

When we arrived at Park City’s Kristauf’s Martini Bar, the judges were given 13 specialty drinks from different bars around town to sample and rate. Bartenders from each establishment made four drinks and then, three or four judges shared one beverage out of the same glass. Boy, was I glad my cold sores had cleared up.

Just before we took our judging seats, and just after the photographers and autograph-seekers quit swarming around Kerry Jackson, I said, “We all may be nobody in your eyes, but we’re not deaf.” Jackson said I had it wrong and reminded me that I wasn?t even supposed to be there. John Saltas was supposed to represent City Weekly at this event but, since he couldn’t show up, I was the stand-in.

“Besides,” he said, “aren’t you just the guy who talks about cheap places to buy Pabst Blue Ribbon? What are you doing here?”

It doesn’t get any cheaper than free. And, with that, the slippery slope to drunken oblivion began. I sat next to Olympic bobsledder Ivan Radcliff. Talk about the right man for this job. If you want to go downhill fast, either hop into a bobsled or drink 13 cocktails of varying alcohols in a two-hour period.

By the end of the night, we had vodka, peach schnapps, rum, melon liquor, Godiva dark-chocolate liqueur, Absolut pear, Grand Monarch, Jager, tequila and one judge throwing up in the bathroom (not me).

My favorite drink was the Cat Mint or Turtle Martini (depending on which set of drunken notes I refer to), cooked up by Drew Johnson from the Spur Bar & Grill (350 1/2 Main St.). It tasted like an iced-tea mojito with Malibu rum, mint leaves, Bacardi 151 and a splash of Coke. But, like my new bobsledding friend, that drink took the silver medal.

The winner of the third annual cocktail contest was the Crisp Pear, a creation of Lial Gingell of Kristauf’s. After his drink was chosen the winner, Gingell combined Grey Goose La Poire with peach schnapps, 360 Vodka, a splash of pineapple juice and a float of brut Champagne 14 times, one for each of the judges.

If you want to be a somebody in Park City, go to Kristauf’s (825 S. Main) on Nov. 17 where judged drinks will be served for $5 a piece. If you can drink all 13 cocktails, then you, too, can be a persona non grata. As in, you won’t remember nothing or nobody.

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Crowned: the spirit of Park City

Friday, November 9th, 2007

Park Record
Anna Bloom

Kristauf’s Martini Bar served as the stage and Park City Television cameras provided the spotlights. The excited murmur of an increasingly gregarious crowd, a few broken glasses and sporadic cheers for favorite bartending contestants supplied the soundtrack.

Kristauf’s Martini Bar’s own “martini slayer and master mixologist of adult libations,” Lial Gingell, emerged as the star of Wednesday’s third annual Park City Cocktail Contest, the occasion of the rowdy gathering. For his award-winning act, Gingell presented “Pear Crisp,” a fresh pear-and-peach liqueur concoction doused with a generous topping of Champagne. The bubbly preparation featured Gingell’s behind-the-bar dexterity: he stacked four shakers on top of one another to fill four martini glasses at once.

Gripping his significant other at his side he raised his golden martini glass, the honorary plaque awarded to the maker of the best drink.

“You can’t not have fun with this job that’s the No. 1 important thing to remember,” he said.

Gingell confesses his “Pear Crisp” has previously won accolades — first, during a private drink competition during this year’s Sundance Film Festival and later this June in “In” magazine for “Drink of the Week.” It is also the best-selling cocktail at Kristauf’s, he says.

But the competition was, as they say in the business, stiff. Gingell surpassed the runners-up by a few points out of a possible 100.

Second runner-up Steven “Max” Maxwell, representing The Sidecar for the evening, stirred up an inspired mountainscape drink, with nut brown Kahlua as the Wasatch mountains, Bailey’s Cream as snow and Blue Curacao as Utah’s blue cerulean skies. Maxwell called it “The Snowscape” and the panel of 12 judges marveled at its likeness to the contest’s poster that features a photo of a mountain contained in a martini glass.

First runner-up Drew Johnson, from The Spur Bar and Grill, whipped up a drink he named “The Kat Mint Martini.” The drink was a fresh, yet economical, judge-pleaser, combining basic behind-the-bar ingredients Bacardi 151, Malibu Rum, and a splash of Coca-Cola over muddled mint leaves. During the competition, half way in, Johnson seemed to have the lead amongst the panel members. Judge Mike Wong, owner of The Sidecar remarked, “A lot of these drinks have had too much sugar and that’s like too much mayo in a tuna fish sandwich. Drew’s kept the sweetness to a minimum.”

“It’s refreshing and easy to drink it’s got my vote so far,” judge Carin DeMilo, Sundance Film Festival Party Planner, said at the mid-way point. DeMilo was looking for the drink that could “add a curl to her coif” and “luster to her locks,” and, owing to the next-to-lethal Bacardi 151, Johnson’s brew did the trick.

Rivalries aside, the night remained light-hearted. Drink by drink, a marked change occurred as the harrowing competition unfolded, revealing a much more relaxed panel, some of whom excused themselves more than once from the table to take a time out.

“At first I was nervous,” admitted first-time judge Kris Severson, executive director of the Park City Jazz Foundation as cocktail number 11 of 12 was called. “Now I’m not so nervous anymore.”

Severson extolled the event with a thumbs up. “It celebrates the Park City spirit,” he said.

His comment was seconded by other judges as well, including Christian Gennerman, recently retired from his position as hard goods manager for Backcountry.com. “It’s really a fantastic opportunity for bartenders to show their style,” he said. “The fact is the bottom line you can get a cocktail in Utah.”

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The Park Record Clips for Nov. 7-9

Tuesday, November 6th, 2007

Park Record

Shake it up at third annual cocktail contest

Tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 7, it will be time to crown the next queen (or king) of Park City cocktails. The best bartenders will convene at Kristauf’s Martini Bar to compete for the title between 6 and 8 p.m. The winning concoction will be the official Park City cocktail for the 2008 and will be available at participating alcohol-serving member restaurants of the Park City Restaurant Association. The event will feature live music, a live broadcast by Park City Television and appetizers. The cover is $5. Money raised will be donated to the People’s Health Clinic.

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Utah Liquor Laws

Friday, November 2nd, 2007

Park City Chamber
Park City Chamber

Getting a drink in Utah isn’t as difficult as what you might have heard. Park City makes it even easier with more alcoholic beverage businesses per capita than any other place in the state. So whether you’re looking for a local brew or just a glass of wine, you won’t be left high and dry.

Below is some specific information about getting a drink during your vacation.
Beer
You can purchase 3.2% beer at the grocery and convenience stores. 3.2% beer is also served in restaurants that only have beer licenses. Full-strength beer is for sale at state liquor stores (see addresses below) and is sold in private clubs and restaurants with liquor licenses.

Wine
Wine is served in restaurants and private clubs and can be purchased at the state liquor stores.

Liquor
You can buy liquor at state liquor stores and purchase it by the drink in most restaurants (if you order food) and all private clubs (without ordering food).

State Liquor Store Locations In Park City
Remember: Liquor stores are closed on Sundays, state & federal holidays.
1550 Mill Creek Drive
Snow Creek Plaza
This is the largest liquor store in Park City with one of the best wine selections in Utah.
Hours are 10am-10pm Mon – Sat.
435-649-7254

524 Main Street
Hours are 11am-10pm. Mon. – Sat.
435-649-3293

Kimball Plaza at Kimball Junction
Hours are 11am-7pm. Mon. – Sat.
435-658-0860


Private Club Membership
Visitors (21 and over) may purchase a temporary membership to any private club for $4, enabling them to enter and consume alcoholic beverages. The visitors’ card is valid for three weeks from the date of purchase, and allows the visitor and up to 7 guests to use the club. Memberships must be purchased from each private club you visit. Alternatively, a member can sponsor a guest provided that there is a pre-existing relationship between guest and sponsor. The sponsor is required to remain in the club while the sponsored guest is present.


Brown Bagging/Unfinished Wine
Subject to the discretion of the establishment, patrons may pay a corkage fee allowing them to bring in their own bottled wine to licensed restaurants and private clubs for on premise consumption. Patrons may carry out unfinished wine from a restaurant or private club provided that the bottle has been re-corked.

Basic Utah Liquor Licenses
Full liquor service is available in licensed restaurants, banquet and catering facilities, airport lounges, and private clubs. Patrons may order liquor by the drink, wine by the glass or bottle, and beer in bottles, cans and on draft. Packaged liquor, wine, and heavy beer (over 3.2%) are available in State Liquor Stores.

In restaurants with full service liquor licenses, liquor, wine and heavy beer (over 3.2%) may be served from noon to midnight. Beer (3.2%) is available from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Patrons must be dining in the restaurant in order to be served an alcoholic beverage. Patrons may be served at their table or in a waiting area.

In restaurants with limited service liquor licenses, wine, and heavy beer (over 3.2%) may be served from noon to midnight. Beer (3.2%) is available from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Limited restaurant licenses may not sell distilled spirits.

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Who will be crowned the next sheik of shakers?

Friday, November 2nd, 2007

Park Record
Anna Bloom

“It was great to beat the boys on Main Street – and I didn’t even have to dance on the table,” says Bonnie Ulmer.

Last year, Ulmer, a Park City bartender since 1979, emerged as Park City’s Second Annual Cocktail Contest Champion in a field of men with her fresh Blueberry Mojito – a drink that was later promoted by the Park City Chamber/Bureau and Park City Restaurant Association at local restaurants and in national media outlets. It was also a drink that, in one day, was made 90 times for customers at Deer Valley Resort restaurants and at The Royal Street Cafe, where Ulmer currently tends bar.

Ulmer says she shares her golden martini glass trophy with friends and coworkers who helped by testing the mint-berry rum drink. “As Greg Schirf [owner of Wasatch Brew Pub] says, ‘We drink our share, then share the rest,” she jokes.

And now, the barstool lab is back at it once again. Ulmer plans to face her male challengers once more this Wednesday at Kristauf’s Martini Bar with “something simple, but fun.”

The contest will feature 15 bartenders and 12 judges including Julie Wilson, Deer Valley Resort’s food and beverage manager, John Saltas, founder of Salt Lake City Weekly, Craig Sanchez, Park City Golf Director and Nathan Rafferty, Ski Utah’s president. The winning prize features a $100 check and two plaques – one for home, and one for the bar.

Eileen Dunn, president of the Restaurant Association says the contest is, in part, an effort to reverse the stigma attached to Utah’s strict liquor laws.

“I think events like these make a huge difference,” she says. “It’s we’re all in support of it — we want to help reverse that stigma. We want to do anything market-wise to let people know that they can get a great cocktail in Park City and in Utah.”

Jeff Ferguson, Shabu’s beverage director, says that the winning drink from the first annual cocktail contest, pomegranate-tinged Jupiter Cocktail, continues to be a hit with customers looking to match a drink with the restaurant’s “freestyle Asian cuisine.” The drink was concocted by 350 Main Brasserie’s bartender, Larry Masterson, who claims to have perfected his bartending skills whil in high school in Central America.

Ferguson, who will be competing at Kristauf’s alongside Ulmer and Masterson, explains that when he tends bar at Shabu often people think they will automatically be served a weak drink.

“I think the contest is good – any type of commotion or awareness that sheds light on the weak Utah drink misconception is good for bars and restaurants, for sure,” he argues.

The contest is also helping to hasten the evolution of Old Town’s bar scene, according to Steven “Max” Maxwell, also competing in Wednesday night’s mix-off.

“We’re seeing a lot more bars like The Side Car, Kristauf’s and The Spur Bar and Grill on Main Street, higher-end, sophisticated places, urban lounges,” he observes. “Town is changing, attracting more educated people who like to order higher-end drinks It’s nice to see.”

Maxwell traces the cocktail’s popularity to America’s prohibition era, when underground speakeasies strove to mask hard-to-swallow, bootlegged moonshine. He says the philosophy from the 1930s still stands: the best cocktails are the ones that disguise the taste of alcohol.

The Third Annual Park City Cocktail Contest

*When: Wednesday, Nov. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m.

*Where: Kristauf’s Martini Bar beneath Town Lift Plaza on Main Street

*What: The contest, billed as a “Libation Celebration” by the Park City Restaurant Association, will determine what drink will be promoted for the next year at local restaurants and in the media, nationwide.

*Why: to benefit the People’s Health Clinic. The Park City Restaurant Association plans to match the first $500 collected at the door. And to see what drink, and what bartender, will win the $100 prize. There will also be chances to take a sip of the cocktails in competition.

*Who: all those 21 and older are welcome to attend.


Contenders and judges of the Third Annual Park City Cocktail Contest


The mad mixologists
Larry Masterson, 350 Main Brasserie, winner of the first annual cocktail contest
Lial Gingell, Kristauf’s Martini Bar
Jeff Ferguson, Shabu
Drew Johnson, The Spur Bar and Grill
Spencer Cannon, Hapa Grill
Ron “Captain Ron” Lewis, Stein Erikson Lodge
Steven “Max” Maxwell, The Sidecar
Ron Lewis, Stein Erikson Lodge
Timmy Eggers, Done To Your Taste Catering
Bonnie Ulmer, Deer Valley’s Royal Street Cafe, winner of the second annual cocktail contest


The discerning drinkers
Kris Severson, executive director of the Park City Jazz Foundation
Tyler Richardson, president of the Park City Board of Realtors
Cathy Miller, marketing and sales director for the Park City Chamber/Bureau
Kerry Jackson, X 96 Radio From Hell host
Julie Wilson, Deer Valley Resort’s director of food and beverage
John Saltas, columnist and founder of Salt Lake City Weekly
Ivan Radcliff, Olympic bobsledder
Carin DeMilo, the Sundance Institute
Craig Sanchez, Park City Golf director
Nathan Rafferty, president of Ski Utah


Deer Valley’s Royal Street Cafe’s Blueberry Mojito 2007-2008 Signature Cocktail

To make your own Blueberry Mojito, mix up the following:

1 handful mint leaves

1 Tsp. granulated sugar Quarter wedge of lime

1/2 to 3/4 cup lemonade

1 oz. light rum

2 Tbsp. fresh or frozen blueberries(1 Tbsp. smashed to create some juice)

Splash of soda

1/2 oz. dark rum

Sprig of mint for garnish

Slice of lime for garnish

*To ice in a tall 16-ounce glass, add mint leaves and sugar. Squeeze juice from the lime wedge into the glass. Mash the ingredients with the back of a spoon or a special wooden “muddler” until the mixture is fragrant. Fill glass with ice. Add lemonade until the glass is two-thirds full. Add splash of soda, then add light rum and blueberries and stir. Slowly pour dark rum into the drink so it floats on top. Garnish with a sprig of mint and lime then serve.

350 Main’s Jupiter Cosmopolitan 2006-2007 Signature Cocktail

To make your own Jupiter Cosmopolitan, mix up the following:

1 oz. orange vodka

1/2 oz. Chambord

1/2 oz. pomegranate juice

1/2 oz. orange juice

1/2 oz. straight vodka

Mix and serve in a martini glass.

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The Park Record Clips for Nov. 3-6

Friday, November 2nd, 2007

Park Record

Park City Green Drinks is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 7. The event aims to be a fun, informal opportunity for anyone working in, studying, or just interested in sustainability to get together, have drinks and talk “green.” Green Drinks is self-organizing and evolves with each gathering as everyone brings new people. Everyone is welcome and cash drinks and food are available. Please pass the invitation along freely and bring friends, family and colleagues.

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