Wednesday, March 10, 2010

USBG Cocktail World Cup with 42 Below, U.S.A. National competition

 

March 7


1000 bartenders nation-wide competed in regional competitions. From those competitions, two bartenders were picked to represent each of the cities, and on Sunday night 26 bartenders competed in Liberty Hall at the Ace Hotel to determine the final three bartenders who would go on to represent Team USA at the USBG Cocktail World Cup 2010 in New Zealand later this month.

Since the competition is sponsored by the New Zealand-based vodka brand 42 Below, the contestants all made a signature drink using one of 42 Below's vodka for the judges. Founder of the Bartender's Academy of New York, Charles Ohlbaum, King Cocktail himself, Dale DeGroff, and chef Sam Talbot.

Just finished class, you guys are great!!!

Dino's Joint

WOW A MUST

http://www.dinosjoint.com/Dinos_Joint/Home.html

The West Palm Beach Saloon of 61 Larkfield Rd. Northport, NY 11768 Is hosting a flair competition for competitors of all divisions on June 2^nd at 9pm, competitors should arrive no later then 7:30pm for check in.  This is meant purely as a fun event for all involved.  Flair rounds will consist of opening a beer and making two drinks one V2 Long Island Ice Tea and  a Sponsors Special cocktail. There are no working flair requirements, competitors are encouraged to perform an exciting yet clean routine however they see fit. 

For rules e-mail Sean@ BartendersAcademyNY.com 

Rules will be e-mailed to competitors -

Bartenders Academy® Vice President Chris Cardone recently reached a new milestone when it comes to training students by certifying his 1,000 student in the responsible alcohol service program known as Training for Intervention ProcedureS (TIPS).  Chris has been training bartenders from Montauk to Manhattan in responsible alcohol service since 2005 and has reached the 1,000 trained mark in almost exactly 3 years.  Chris teaches the TIPS program at both the Bartenders Academy of New York facitlies as well as on-premise at restaurants, nightclubs, bars, catering halls and gentlemen clubs.

Forced to retire from Long Island's Most Valuable Bartender Competition, Chris Cardone got to watch as three of his former flair bartending students (and two of his co-workers) make the Top 5. 

On March 31, 2008, the 26th Annual Long Island Bartenders and Chef's Ball was held, where the winner of this year's Most Valuable Bartender was announced.  Jesse Roenbeck was announced as this year's Most Valuable Bartender on Long Island.  Also appearing in the top 5 were Bartenders Academy's own Sean  Friedmann and Bob Grotticelli.  

After winning back-to-back awards, Chris Cardone was asked not to compete this year in order to allow new competitors the chance to taste victory.  Chris was thrilled to see that 3 of the Top 5 finalists were students of his Flair Bartending Course.  "Jesse, Sean and Bob all worked really hard at this competition and really made names for themselves.  All three really impressed me," Chris said about the three competitors.  "They all brought different styles, ideas and drinks to the compeition which shows their maturity and intelligence as competitive bartenders."

Bartenders Academy of New York Vice President Chris Cardone appeared on the Today Show in a Flair Bartending/Mixology Competition on Februrary 28th.  Chris was selected to represent the East Coast United States against a flair bartender (Robyn Closson, of Harrah's Carnival Court, Las Vegas) from the West Coast.  The two flair bartenders had 1:15 seconds to dazzle the three female Today Show hosts (Hota Kotb, Natalie Morales and Tamarin Hall) who judged them on both flair and mixology skills.  Although Chris did end up losing to his long-time friend Robyn he said it was an unforgettable experience and a ton of fun.  "Losing to Robyn is not losing at all.  She is a phenomal flair bartender working in Las Vegas at Harrah's Carnival Court, the flair capital of the world, she is one of the best.".

Chris' drink, The Berry Lemon Bomb, was an exquisite blend of Skyy Berry, Lemoncello, Lemon Curd, Raspberry Jam, Lime and Sugar, muddled and fined strained into a cocktail glass garnished with a raspberry & lemon flag and a mint sprig.  Overall, the competition was another great example of flair bartenders exposing the myths that flair bartenders can't make great tasting drinks and spill liquor or drop bottles.  After the competition, Chris joked, "Okay, now give me three male judges and let's try it again!".

Chris Cardone did a 1-hour demonstration and lesson on flair bartending at the Cook.Eat.Drink.Live event held at Pier 94 in NYC on Oct. 25,26,27.  The event was one of the biggest food and beverage events of the year, where famous mixologist and chefs were brought in to demonstrate their skills.  Chris Cardone was hired as the one-and-only flair bartending/mixology expert and provided a packed house with an awesome demonstration on the facts and myths about flair bartending, inlcluding how flair does not slow down a bartender's service, that flair can be spill and drop free and that flair doesn't have to sacrfice the taste of the drink.  He also unveiled his newest signature cocktail; the Black Cherry Pomegranate Delight.

Bartenders Academy Vice President Chris Cardone recently appeared in Grey Goose's new television and internet advertisements known as "Hidden Gem" and "Golf".  The advertisements are part of Grey Goose's new ad campaign that has been released during the coverage of the 2007 U.S. Open Tennis Tournament.  The commercials can be seen on the USA Network during certain commecial breaks during US Open coverage or on the offical Grey Goose website http://www.greygoose.com/.  Enjoy.

Bartenders Academy® Vice President Chris Cardone was hired to flair bartend as well as provide a flair bartending demo during Meow Mix's Acatemy in Union Square, New York City on August 20th 2007.  Chris took the stage immediately after Kat Deluna perfomed her summer smash (whine up).  Others celebs seen at the event included International Supermodel Rachel Hunter, Actor Vincent Pastore (Big Pussy on the Sopranos) and America's Top Model contestant CariDee English.

Bartenders Academy® Vice President Chris Cardone was hired to train both Grey's Anatomy's Bartender "Joe" played by Steven W. Bailey and the Love Boat's Bartender "Isaac" played by Teddy Wilson how to flair bartend for a lauch party in NYC on July 17th 2007 at Lotus Space.  The launch was for a new product called Promise Activ "Supershots", a yogurt to be consumed with or without alcohol which will lower bad cholestrol.  Chris was also involved in creating a spiked lemonade tonic and the ever-so-popular Mojitos and also gave a 5 minute flair bartending exhibition.  Other guests of the event included Debbie Gibson, Ally Sheedy and Kristin Chenoweth. 

Bartenders Academy® instructor Sean Friedmann recently took 2nd place in the Semi-Pro division at the Big Apple Showdown, a world competition located at the Jacob Javits Center annual Bar Show in New York City.  Sean came on stage with a strong presence, a clean routine and some hard and original moves, impressing the judges and crowd.  This was Sean's best performance to date.  Since being trained by flair instructor Chris Cardone in 2003, this was the first time Sean has placed in the top 3 at a world competition.  Congrats Sean and keep up the good work.

The Bartenders Academy® of New York held a charity Flair Bartending / Mixology Competition on May 2nd at Patty Buchanan's Bar and Grille in Stony Brook, Long Island.  The charity event was to benefit the Sunrise Fund at Stony Brook which was established to raise awareness about childhood cancer and the special needs of such children throughout the communities.  The event featured bartenders from Long Island, White Plains, Boston and Baltimore.  The event raised just over $2,500 for the Sunrise Fund.  Other sponsors included Appleton Rum, Bombay Sapphire, BarProducts.com, Miller Lite, TheOfficialInkSlut.com and Patty Buchanans at Stony Brook.

Bartenders Academy® of New York's owner and instructor Chris Cardone recently was named Most Valuable Bartender on Long Island at the Long Island Bartender's Ball for the second straight year.  The competition was held on January 22, 2007 at the Babylon Carriage House.  Chris competed against some of Long Island's best bartenders in a competition that required each competitor to create their own signature cocktail using the sponsor product Appleton Rum.  Chris made his signature drink named the Polynesian Sunset and combined that with some crowd-stunning flair bartending and was officially named the winner of the competition at the Bartenders Ball held on March 26, 2007.  The competition for the title of Long Island's Most Valuable Bartender began last year and Chris has won both times.  He will become the head judge for the competition next year.

Health Communications recently honored Bartenders Academy® of New York owner and instructor Chris Cardone for excellent service to the bartending community for teaching his 500th student in  Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS).  Chris Cardone has been teaching TIPS to bartenders all across New York since 2005 in order to show bartenders the correct way to handle extreme situations that they may encounter behind the bar.  TIPS is a program sponsored by Anheuser Busch and the New York State Restaurant Association and is recognized in all fifty states as a legal defense in court.

Bartenders Academy® of New York owner and instructor Chris Cardone was interviewed by Newsday on December 19th about co-organizing and judging a flair bartending competition at the Big Kahuna Bar and Grille in Huntington, Long Island.  The competition was a showdown between 20 competitors from the Northeast United States and each battled it out by showing off their best moves.  See the compressed article below.

A flair for mixing drinks, BY STEVEN SNYDER Newsday Staff Writer
Chris Cardone serves drinks, but don't dare call him just a bartender.  He's a supporter - and practitioner - of an increasingly popular style of bartending called "flair bartending," and Wednesday night the Long Islander is helping to host and judge a special flair competition on his home turf.  It's the Big Kahuna Flair Bartending Competition, and Cardone says the 8 p.m. exhibition is a smaller, more regional precursor to the national flair competition held every summer in Manhattan . Approximately 20 competitors from throughout the Northeast are scheduled to battle at the Big Kahuna, 1730 E. Jericho Tpke., Huntington.  And first-time flair observers - who may recall the tossing and tumbling made famous by Tom Cruise in the 1988 film "Cocktail" - are in for quite a treat.  "You can call it a sport or an art form, but flair is really both," Cardone says. "The point of flair is that you're flipping bottles, glassware and even garnishes - you're not just the standard bartender, you're a performer."  The contest is open to the public, and past competitions have drawn packed, enthusiastic crowds.

The Bartenders Academy® of New York relocated its old location in Centereach school to a new state-of-the-industry facility at 70 Horseblock Rd in Yaphank.  The new location opened in September 2006.  Stop by and check out Bartenders Academy's®  newest location.  Different location, same great staff.

Bartenders Academy® of New York instructor and Flair Bartenders Association (FBA) representative Chris Cardone teamed up with Flairco Inc. for the third annual Big Apple Showdown.  The international flair bartending competition is the largest competition in the Northeast United States and was held at the Jacob Javits Center during Bartender Magazine's International Bar Show.  The competition gave competitors from as far as Hawaii, England, Argentina and Las Vegas the opportunity to battle it out for first place.

Bartenders Academy® Instructor Chris Cardone (middle) along with second runner-up Shira Bentivegna (left) and first runner-up Brian Vanek(right), left the 24th Long Island Bartender's Ball with the title of Long Island's Most Valuable Bartender.  The Long Island Bartender's Ball kickoff party was held on January 23rd 2006, which showcased 10 bartenders from Long Island in a competition where the bartender created his/her own signature cocktail.  The winner was announced at the Bartender's Ball on March 27th 2006.

Bartenders Academy® Instructor Chris Cardone was chosen as one of six bartenders (BarMagic's Toby Ellis, top female flair bartender Erin Connelly, High Spirits' Ken Hall, Levi Donaldson and Robyn Closson) from the United States to compete at the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Connecticut.   Later in the evening, all six bartenders then bartended at a specialty Martini Bar set-up by Skyy Vodka during a special dinner event. 

Bartenders Academy® Instructor Chris Cardone appeared in a two-page article about creating signature cocktails and flair bartending in FHM magazine in December 2005.  FHM magazine is a national magazine who competes with Maxim magazine and Stuff.  The article is located on page 70 and 71.

Bartenders Academy® Instructor Chris Cardone recently had a chance to witness two of his former students get married!   Former students Bobby and Linda Burgess were wed at Georgio's on September 30th 2005.  Chris said, "It's great to see that we are not just making great bartenders, but also creating friendships and relationships that will last a lifetime as well.

Bartenders Academy® of New York instructor and Flair Bartenders Association (FBA) representative Chris Cardone teamed up with Flairco Inc. for the second annual Big Apple Showdown.  The international flair bartending competition is the largest competition in the Northeast United States and was held at the Jacob Javits Center during Bartender Magazine's International Bar Show.  The competition gave competitors from as far as Hawaii, England, Argentina and Las Vegas the opportunity to battle it out for first place.

Bartenders Academy® of New York and Bacardi Rum team up and invite Bacardi Master Blender Willie Ramos to give an extensive rum training session on how Bacardi is distilled, bottled and sold to the United States.  Everyone walked out of the room with a superior knowledge of the ins and outs of Rum, or Rhum as it was originally spelled.

Bartenders Academy® of New York hosts a flair bartending competition/charity event to help those whose lives were devestated by the Tsunami.  The competition was a huge success showcasing the talent of some of the best flair bartenders in the Eastern United States as well as raised a large amount of money which was donated to Oxfam.

Bartenders Academy® of New York owner Charles Ohlbaum was honored by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for his contributions through TIPS alcohol awareness training.  TIPS training helps prevent intoxication and related injuries and helps decrease the risk of tragedies related to drunk driving and underage drinking in New York State.  "The efforts of citizens like Charles Ohlbaum underscores the grassroots value of community service." - Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Bartenders Academy® of New York was recently chosen as the only bartending school to be visited by internationally renown mixologist Jaime Walker.  Walker, on his American Tour for Bombay Sapphire, gave a demonstration on the difference between bartending and mixology, explained how Bombay Sapphire is created, and showed off some of his best cocktails.  Students had the opportunity to watch and participate in a demonstration by one of the most well known mixologist in the world.  Afterwards, Walker signed his new book (Sapphire and Ice), held a question and answer period and even had the time to pose for a few pictures with the students.

Bartenders Academy® of New York's owner Charles Ohlbaum was recently honored  by the National  Congressional Committee Executive Director Sally Vastola in recognition of outstanding service and commitment to pro-business ideals, in particular, for assistance and leadership in promoting a pro-business agenda including tax reform and fiscal responsibility.

June 26, 2004 - Bartenders Academy® of New York instructor Chris Cardone took 1st place in the 5th Annual Bar Flair Competition held at the Geronimo Bar in Teaneck, New Jersey.  The competition features 7 other competitors from the Northeast United States.

The Bartenders Academy® of New York along with Flairco Inc. held its first International Flair Competition at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.  Competitors flew from as far as Hawaii, Las Vegas, Canada, Minnesota, Tampa and Japan to compete in The Big Apple Showdown for over $2,500.  Winning first place was Argentinian competitor Adrianno Marcellino who currently works in Tampa, Florida at the Hard Rock cafe and casino.

Health Communications recently honored Bartenders Academy® of New York President Charles Ohlbaum for excellent service to the bartending community for teaching his 1000th student in  training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS).  Charles Ohlbaum has been teaching TIPS to bartenders all across New York since 2000 in order to show bartenders the correct way to handle extreme situations that they may encounter behind the bar.  TIPS is a program sponsored by Anheuser Busch and the New York State Restaurant Association and is recognized in all fifty states as a legal defense in court.

Bartenders Academy® of New York instructor Chris Cardone took seventh place in the Working Flair competition of the F.B.A Triple Challenge held at Panama City, Florida.  He has taken New York flair bartending to the next level by being appointed the northeast United States' representative of the Flair Bartenders' Association.

Bartenders Academy® of New York instructor Chris Cardone had his best performance yet at the World Flair Bartending Competition, taking 8th place, in Orlando, Florida.  Chris showed off his best moves against the best flair bartenders in the world and took home two trophies.

The Bartenders Academy® of New York, despite the largest blackout of all U.S. history, held a flair bartending competition at the Bay Village Inn where competitors battled it out outside of the bar in the back parking lot.  Lit only by the moonlight and a headlights from cars, the competitors put on a great show.  The after party from the show involved the competitors drinking heavily and firing their best jokes back and forth.  Quite an experience.  Click on the picture for highlights.

They met at the Bartenders Academy® of New York, they bartended together at the Harbor Grill and then they were married.  Another huge blow to the bachelors of the world, Bartenders Academy® of New York Owner Charles Ohlbaum recently married former students Nick DiPrima and Linda Groos.  They met in class in the summer of 2001 and were married almost 2 years later.  Congrats Nick and Linda Diprima

Bartenders Academy® of New York Instructor showed everyone what Flair Bartending is all about by taking first place at the Long Island's Best Flair Bartender 2003 held at the Bay Village Inn.  This competition was the first of four competitions that will take place this summer.  Chris also retired after competing, in order to judge and hold all the contests in New York to provide fair judging and competiton. 

The Bartenders Academy® of New York was awarded Most Valuable Bar Establishment in New York for the Third Year In a Row at the 21st Annual Bartenders Ball held in Wading River, Long Island.

Bartenders Academy® of New York made its first appearance on National Television.  Bartenders Academy® President Charles Ohlbaum, along with instructors and Chris Cardone, showed Dave Attell and the rest of the Insomniac crew how bartending is really done.  The showed aired on Thursday, February 6th at 10:00p.m. on Comedy Central.  Look for more television appearances from the BANY team.