Toro Sushi Bar Lounge Cucumber Skini-Tini Named Pasadena’s Favorite Cocktail 2013

400 in attendance at Taste of Pasadena and SIP-tember Finale sample four finalist drinks, food and more at Rose Bowl on September 26th

Results are in and voters at the Taste of Pasadena and SIP-tember Finale have made their decision. With 34% of the vote, the Cucumber Skini-Tini from Toro Sushi Bar Lounge was chosen the Pasadena Cocktail of the Year 2013 at last night’s event. Toro Sushi owner Alan Lau was presented with the second Cocktail of the Year trophy by Pasadena Chamber Board Chair CL Keedy and Board Member Joan De Souza.

Chamber Board Chair CL Keedy presents the Cocktail of the Year 2013 award to Alan Lau of Toro Sushi.
The Pasadena Chamber was very pleased with the quality and variety of the finalist cocktails in this year’s SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge. Congratulations to the four finalist cocktails, the CC Crush from the Taproom at the Langham Pasadena, the Bourbon Blackberry Collins from Green Street Restaurant, the Arugula Rocket from Kal’s Mediterranean Bistro as well as Toro Sushi Bar Lounge’s Cucumber Skini-Tini. We are also very happy with the excellence and diversity of the food and drink offered by Taste of Pasadena participating restaurants and caterers.

Four hundred people were on hand for the finale of the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge. In addition to the four featured cocktail finalists, guests Attendees at the SIP-tember Bracket Challenge Finale tasted culinary treats from The Raymond Restaurant, Haven Gastropub+Brewery, California Pizza Kitchen, King’s Row Gastropub, Trattoria Neaopolis, Panda Catering, Slater’s 50/50, CitrusX Catering, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, POP Champagne and Dessert Bar, the Westin Pasadena, Osawa Shabu Shabu Sushi and many more.

Music for the Cocktail Bracket Challenge Finale was provided by Dance Syndicate. The Rose Bowl very generously volunteered the Court of Champions in front of the stadium for the event.

The Sip-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge Grand Finale was presented by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce as a Pasadena Restaurant Week event sponsored by The City of Pasadena, Southern California Gas Company’s Advanced Meter and Trusted Choice Agents of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena. Pasadena Magazine was the media sponsor of the Taste of Pasadena and SIP-tember Finale.

The SIP-tember cocktail bracket challenge is an annual six week long competition among Pasadena Chamber of Commerce member restaurants and lounges. Competitors served drinks that were paired against each other in a competition.

Over the past six weeks, online voters have whittled the list down from 64 cocktails offered by 32 venues. In total more than 8000 votes were cast during the five and a half weeks of online voting.

400 people enjoyed the 2nd Taste of Pasadena & SIP-tember Finale.
The following restaurants and caterers provide food and drink at the Taste of Pasadena and SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge:
  • Bar 1886 at The Raymond
  • Brookside Golf Club
  • California Pizza Kitchen
  • Celestino Ristorante and Bar
  • Citrus X Catering
  • Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
  • Green Street Restaurant
  • Haven Gastropub+ Brewery
  • Japon Bistro
  • Kal’s Mediterranean Bisto
  • Kings Row Gastropub
  • The Luggage Room at La Grande Orange
  • Maria’s Italian Kitchen
  • Osawa Shabu Shabu & Sushi
  • Panda Catering
  • Pita Jungle
  • POP Champagne and Dessert Bar
  • The Raymond Restaurant
  • Simply Cupcakes Pasadena
  • Slater’s 50/50
  • Toro Sushi Bar Lounge
  • Trattoria Neapolis
  • The Westin Pasadena