"Bartenders, Start Your Mixers!" … But Please Leave Out the Alcohol
Local law enforcement handed out citations – of merit – to area bartenders today for concocting alcohol-free drinks honoring designated drivers.
Los Angeles-based mixologists squared off in the Battle of the Bartenders® to decide who could create the very best "mocktails" and promote responsible holiday hospitality. Their creations were judged by local food critics and officers from the Los Angeles Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. The beverages were judged for taste, presentation, creativity and simplicity.
Sponsored by the Insurance Information Network of California® and co-hosted by L.A. LIVE™, the friendly competition demonstrated how party hosts can serve quality non-alcoholic drinks to help keep their guests safe on the ride home. The program was also supported by the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles Police Department.
The ESPN Zone won top honors for the Pomegranate Christmas Kiss, a sweet concoction combining the winter fruit with chocolate and peppermint candy canes.
The winner for creativity was Trader Vic's Key Lime, non-alcoholic rum-flavored ice cream drink. The award for best flavor went to Rose Mexicano's Nieve del Cielo, an apple and pumpkin spice libation. Rock'N Fish took home honors for presentation for its Jack Frosted Cooler, which muddled strawberries and lychee with a brulee top; and the ESPN Zone also won for simplicity for the Pomegranate Christmas Kiss.
Recipes from the event are available on IINC's Web site at www.iinc.org.
Judges included Los Angeles Times Assistant Food Editor Betty Hallock, La Opinion Food Editor Antonio Mejias-Rentas, ESPN Radio personality Brian Long, Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Terri Brinkmeyer and California Highway Patrol Officer John Harris. Rolando Nichols of ESPN Desportes Radio served as master of public ceremonies.
"IINC has hosted alcohol-free holiday bartender "battles" across the state since 1996. They provide an important reminder that designated drivers can have fun and enjoy great tasting, creative drinks without alcohol," said IINC Executive Director Candysse Miller.
Alcohol-related crashes resulted in 1,347 deaths and 20,877 injuries in California in 2007, according to the CHP. In Los Angeles County alone, 268 lives were claimed and 5,169 injured in alcohol-related collisions.
IINC is a non-profit and non-lobbying trade association dedicated to helping the public understand insurance and manage risk. For more information, please visit the IINC Web site. You can also follow IINC on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/iinc and on Facebook at http://companies.to/iinc.
Battle of the Bartenders® is a registered trademark of the Insurance Information Network of California.
L.A. LIVE™, considered to be the nation's most active 'live content and event campus,' is rapidly becoming the most in-demand and busiest hospitality location in the region featuring 260,480 square feet of conference center and ballroom facilities, world-class restaurants including the ESPN Zone, Farm of Beverly Hills, Flemings Steak House and Wine Bar, Katsuya, Lawry's Carvery, New Zealand Natural Ice Cream, Rock 'N Fish, Rosa Mexicano, Starbucks, Trader Vic's, Yard House, Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill and others, a 100,000 square foot special events deck, the famous Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge, the celebrity-owned Conga Room, a one-of-a-kind GRAMMY Museum, saluting the history of music and the genre's best know awards show all centered around Nokia Plaza L.A. LIVE, a 40,000-square foot outdoor event space.
Contacts:
IINC Media Relations, 800-397-1679
L.A. LIVE, 213-765-6813