Spirit of Poe!

Last night we also went to the DC Les Dames d'Escoffier 3rd annual Craft Spirit of Poe Cocktail Competition at The Loft at 600 F. We snapped Les Dames d'Escoffier members: Brasserie Beck’s Polly Wiedmaier, Stonyman Gourmet Farmer’s Susan James, Chef Drew Faulkner, and Black Restaurant Group’s Barbara Black.

The fundraiser benefited Les Dames d’Escoffier scholarships for local food, beverage and hospitality talent. The cocktail competition featured 12 DC avant-garde bartenders authoring bespoke cocktails inspired by Edgar Allen Poe. Here, visual information graphic designer Michael Gill, who donated the design, National Osteoporosis Foundation’s Claire Gill, Young Winos of DC’s Jess Hagadorn, and Destination DC’s Allison Ricketts.

Literary experts from American University held "classes," played JePOEdy to interpret the drinks and Poe, while Poe movies played, and guests wrote their own Haiku POE-m with the help of Haiku masters. Here, The Loft's Wyatt Hull, who donated the space, The Green Zone’s Chris Hassan Francke, and Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s Brent Kroll.

The People’s Choice Poe-letariate Award (the bartender with the most cash tips), went to Buffalo and Bergen’s Gina Chersevani (right), who won for her drink The Return of Ligeria (inspired by Poe's Ligeria) made with gin, absinthe, fig, bitters, and lemon peel. She's with Ludden LLC's Jackie Ludden, MESH Intl’s Claire Etches, Ritz-Carlton Hotel’s Annie Boutin-King and Boutique Vineyards' Theresa Morrison.

Richelle Castillo & Alfredo Flores contributed to this issue.