Previous Story
‘Champ’ exhibits bartending skills tonight at Taste
|
Posted on May 22 2009
World-class bartender Hwang Kyung Rok of Korea will exhibit his skills anew in tonight’s bartenders competition at the 2009 Taste of the Marianas Food Festival and Beer Garden at the American Memorial Park.
Rok, aka Champ of the Bar Flair, is best remembered for his third place finish in the 2004 Go Shake Cup, considered the Bartenders Olympics.
This year’s event will showcase the best bartenders in the CNMI representing some of the hotels and restaurants, mostly from Saipan.
The event will start at 8pm.
The participating bartenders are Ramil Eustaquio (Wonderful Bar), Jojo Solmarin (Moby Dick Restaurant), Emil Gammad and Jovel San Juan (Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino), Glen Aquino (Aqua Resort Club), Bernardine Aquino and Amapola Castro (Hyatt Regency Saipan), Rommel Usi and Willie Garon (Fiesta Resort & Spa), Rio Therese and Ji-hyun Kang (Pacific Island Club), Kenneth Cruzat (Country House Restaurant), Marlon Pineda (Saipan World Resort) and Michael Lim (Country Bar).
The two contestants in the Battle of Champions are Jay Torres of Aqua Resort Club and Jay Santos of The Flair.
This year’s sponsors include Marianas Visitors Authority, MARPAC Burnett’s Vodka, Duty Free Shop, IT&E, CocaCola, Tinian Dynasty and Casino, and Jam-V Fashion Design.
Aside from the $75 cash, trophy and other gift items from DFS, the first prize winner will also get a one night stay at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino.
Lito Espino, president of the Marianas Bartenders Association, said this annual competition aims to build self-confidence, pride and professionalism among the islands’ bartenders.
“This is also intended to develop a more competitive attraction for tourists. The NMBA is not only another association but a helpful and productive one,” he said.
Espino said their group participates in most of the islands’ tourist-related affairs as part of their goal to attract more foreign visitors.
“We want to strengthen the bond between fellow bartenders, enhance their skill and knowledge through seminars, workshop, and competition like this,” Espino said.
