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Connect that cocktail
SOME SKILL THIS Vikas Gupta of TGIF won the Carlson Spirited Bartender Challenge this year
Do you expect a bartender to flip and spin bottles, prepare cocktails with loads of histrionics and employ flashy manoeuvres while mixing drinks? Well, this was exactly what the Carlson Spirited Bartender Challenge expected them to do. The Grand Finale of the challenge held at Radisson Hotel this past week saw some thrilling performances by the eight finalists short-listed over a span of three days from among 40 participants from all over India. The competition focussed on different aspects of bartending such as speed, accuracy, flair bartending and creating original cocktails.
Great flair
The audience roared in applause as the participants entered to the tune of "We will rock you", and displayed their expertise one by one. They witnessed many innovative recipes of mocktails and cocktails being presented with astonishing flair techniques by the competing bartenders. Vikas Gupta of TGIF, Vasant Vihar, won the contest while Neeraj Kumar, TGIF, Gurgaon and Lokesh Negi of Radisson New Delhi were the first and second runners-up respectively. "It was sheer confidence that went in my favour", said Vikas. He also added that the feeling of having won the first Carlson Bartender Challenge was yet to sink in.
With bartender competitions, the sponsors have an exciting vehicle to promote their products and services to the right target market. However implicit in the concept of the event was also the idea that a bartender's profession is slowly coming out of the shadows of the not-so dignified job it once was. "This is a white collar job abroad, however in India it is looked upon as a blue collar one. But anyone having skills, showmanship and loyalty to the organisation can definitely rise higher in this job," maintained Vikas.
"The competition, besides being an HR initiative to enhance employee interaction, also showcased the immense talent of our bartenders," said Mr K. B Kachru, Executive Vice President Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific. The event brought together participants from various brands under one umbrella like Park Plaza, Park-Inn, Radisson to name a few. Among those present on the occasion were technical jury members Amanpreet Wahi and Samantha Kochhar, model and ex-glad rags runner-up Simran Sachdev and Femina Miss India finalist Himani Thapal.
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