We went to the Capital Cocktail Competition at Black Jack on 14th Street. The contest challenged eight DC bars to create a unique and delectable cocktail based on a secret ingredient to be judged and auctioned off benefiting the Black’s Family Foundation and DC Central Kitchen. We snapped Black Jack owner Jeff Black and DC Central Kitchen CEO Mike Curtin.
We dined on New Orleans cuisine of Black Jack's pork rolls, crawfish hush puppies, shrimp salsa and Barren Island oysters while sampling the competition's cocktails. Cocktails were judged on appearance, creativity, technique and flavor. The judges: BYT founder Svetlana Legetic, Bourbon Steak head bartender Duane Sylvestre and The Source Executive Chef Scott Drewno.
Competitors included Black Jack/Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, Saint Ex/Bar Pilar, Founding Farmers/Farmers Fishers & Bakers, Hank's on the Hill, Gypsy Soul, Jack Rose, Kapnos and TICO. We loved the Founding Farmers creation (maraschino liqueur, tanteo tequila, dried ginlemon juice, simple syrup and wasabi peas); here, bar manager Torrence Swain and colleague Rachel Vistica bookend Jack Rose bar manager Trevor Frye.
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