Best Martini in the East Bay Contest

Top martini honors were awarded at this popular fundraiser held at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa.

On Monday, June 22, mixologists from area restaurants took their best shot at creating the East Bay's most masterful martini. This popular mix-off occurs annually at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa, with all proceeds going to Project Second Chance in support of adult literacy programs in Contra Costa County. The winners (with ingredients when available):

First Place: Metro Lafayette's "Metropol": Vox Vodka, aperol, pineapple gomme syrup, Ruby Red grapefruit juice, and grapefruit rind.
Second Place: Bing Crosby's "Mantis Blossom" with basil & jalapeno
Third Place: FIVE restaurant at Hotel Shattuck's "5 Spot"
Honorable Mention: Havana restaurant's "Blackberry Limoncello": in-house Limoncello, Vox vodka, and blackberry pureé.
People's Choice: Moresi's Chophouse's "Royal Ice Drop"

To see full size images and view as a slideshow, click any of the images below. To purchase a high resolution photo, call (925) 943-1111.

http://www.diablomag.com/faces

This article appears in the Faces 2009 issue of Faces

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Reader Comments:

Jun 27, 2009 10:08 am

Posted by Anonymous

Question ? How are the contestant's chosen for the contest ? The answer ! By the liquor distributor who helps sponsor's the event every year, so if your not a customer and/or a good customer that spend's alot of money with them, your not invited to the contest !

This is wrong and unfair ! No if's, and's, or but's about it, and you Diablo Magazine, Project Second Chance, and questionable (because I'm sure they are a very good customer, the event is held almost if not every year at the hotel) Lafayette Park Hotel.

The whole event need's to be totally reorganized, before this blows up in everybody's face in the news.

So what are you going to do ?