Patti Frank from Roots Handmade Pizza in Chicago is the winner of the National Restaurant Association’s third annual Star of the Bar competition, held in conjunction with the 2012 International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event’s (IWSB) Restaurants Rock event last night.
Patti Frank competed against two other finalists, and her Drunken Flower was selected as the winning cocktail by judges Tony Abou-Ganim, "The Master Mixologist;" Dale DeGroff, "King Cocktail;" and Bravo TV’s Top Chef contestant Fabio Viviani.
As Star of the Bar winner, Frank was awarded $5,000 cash and the coveted title.
Star of the Bar competitors submitted videos of themselves perfecting a signature cocktail recipe that prominently featured at least one product from an IWSB exhibitor. Semi-finalists were selected by visitors to the IWSB website who voted on their favorites.
Six semi-finalists then competed live at the 2012 International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event at Chicago’s McCormick Place, with event attendees selecting the three finalists who competed at Restaurants Rock.
Restaurants Rock is the official NRA Show and IWSB industry evening celebration. All proceeds from Restaurants Rock benefit the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s ProStart program.
Now celebrating its 5th year, the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event—co-located with NRA Show 2012—is the only forum in the world focused exclusively on the role of beverage alcohol in the restaurant and hospitality industry.
IWSB features domestic and international brewers, distillers and vintners showcasing hundreds of established and emerging labels, beverage alcohol-focused, industry expert-led education sessions, hands-on demonstrations, dynamic mixology competition and access to professionally paired menu items from local Chicago restaurants.
