More than 200 voted in the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge choosing among the Purple Rain from Mi Piace, Pasadena Sour from Roy’s Hawaiian and the Golden State Wildfire from White Horse Lounge
400 people attended the Taste of Pasadena at the Rose Bowl on Thursday evening, October 10, 2019. Of those, more than 200 tasted the four finalist cocktails in the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge. Voters determined that the Cucumber Press created by Ruth’s Chris Steak House would be the 2019 Cocktail of the Year.
This was a very competitive year for the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge. The four finalist drinks were very diverse.
The Golden State Wildfire from White Horse Lounge was an all-liquor cocktail made with spirits from California, including 151 Rum from our local distiller Stark Spirits. Mi Piace’s Purple Rain was a creative take on the traditional gin and tonic and the Pasadena Sour from Roy’s was a very creative take on the whiskey sour that included a dash of cabernet sauvignon. Ultimately, in a very close vote, the guests at the Taste of Pasadena chose the Cucumber Press that was created by Ruth’s Chris as the 2019 Cocktail of the Year. White Horse owner Yan Agaev is dedicating a portion of Golden State Wildfire drink sales to victims of wildfires in our state.
Voting was very brisk online leading up to the naming of the four finalist cocktails. 5542 votes were cast in the three preliminary online rounds. As a result of the online voting, which is tabulated automatically, White Horse Lounge, Roy’s Hawaiian, Ruth’s Chris and Mi Piace were voted into the final round. In addition to the finalists, participants in the SIP-tember Cocktail bracket Challenge included Trejo’s Cantina Pasadena, the Tap Room and the Langham Huntington Pasadena, Lucky Baldwin’s Trappiste Pub, Celestino Ristorante, El Cholo, SHIRO, Brookside Grill at the Rose Bowl, La Grande Orange, Dog Haus Biergarten and The Great Maple.
The Taste of Pasadena included food and drink samples from 18 Pasadena area, and Pasadena Chamber member restaurants. Lucky Baldwin’s Trappiste Pub offered English bangers and a Belgian ale sample. Shiro had crispy salmon tartare tacos, while Pasadena Sandwich Company offered tastes of six different sandwiches with dill pickles and a small side dish. Dave and Buster’s and Granville offered different interpretations of classic macaroni and cheese. Paradis offered gourmet ice cream and Nothing Bundt Cakes offered samples of their signature dessert. Calogero Drago of Celestino’s offered his risotto dish with a taste of a limoncello cocktail. Stonefire Grill and Clearman’s Northwoods Inn treated guests to their specialty dishes while El Cholo offered tamales. Maria’s Italian Kitchen delighted guests with delicious Italian samples and Chef Big Josh of White Horse Lounge had Buffalo Wings and fried risotto balls. Genesis Dental Esthetics was on hand to talk about their services. Stark Spirits offered sample tastings of their beverages and a specially made cocktail for the evening.
For information regarding Pasadena Restaurant Week events, please visit www.pa
The Taste of Pasadena and the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge are Pasadena Restaurant Week events hosted by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. Other annual restaurant events include Cheeseburger Week and Pasadena Restaurant Week. Pasadena Restaurant Week events are generously sponsored by Wells Fargo. The Rose Bowl Stadium also sponsors the Taste of Pasadena.