PIC bartender wins ‘Taste’ competition

For the first time, a female bartender broke the stranglehold of men in the bartending competition at the 2009 Taste of the Marianas.

When Therese Rio was declared champion with her “Burnett’s Queen Freshness” creation, it did not only surprise the huge crowd but also the 34-year-old mother of two.

“I didn’t expect this,” Rio said after besting 11 of her rivals that included nine men.

Rio was the first ever woman to win the event since the inception of the bartenders’ competition in 2001.

Rio said she was really nervous at the start because it was the first time she competed in the Taste of Marianas event.

She, however, is a three-time champion of wine mixing contests when she was still working at Hotel Nikko Saipan.

The three-year staff of PIC said she practiced juggling for over two months to prepare for the competition.

She also admitted that she did not watch the men perform to ease the pressure, which she said somehow clicked.

“I told myself that I could do it. I just tried my best,” said Rio, who dedicated her win to her friends, husband, and their two kids.

Asked what she thinks earned her the nod of the judges, Rio said it was her captivating smile.

The judges for the competition were Bien Seiko Inc. manager Gani Benoza, IT&E business sales manager John Mantanona, and IT&E marketing associate Brad Ruszala.

Rio, who garnered 232.5 points from the judges, took home the top purse of $75, a night stay at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino, plus a brand new cellular phone from IT&E.

Rio’s co-employee at PIC, Ji Hyun Kang, earned 230 points to place first runner-up with her “Island Mist” concoction.

Rio and Ji finished in a triple tie with Willie Garon of Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan in the best in showmanship award. They earned 81 points.

Michael Lim of Country Club was second runner-up with his “The Green Burnetts” after totaling 227.5 points, while Marlon Pineda of Saipan World Resort was third runner-up with 227 points.

Two contestants were given the Best in Taste award—Emil Gammad of Tinian Dynasty and Jojo Solmarin of Moby Dick.

Hyatt Regency Saipan’s Amapola Castro won this year’s award for Best in Props & Costume. The other contestants were Jovel San Juan of Tinian Dynasty with 222 points, Bernard Aquino of Hyatt Regency Saipan with 206.5 points, Rommel Usi of Fiesta Resort with 205 points, and Ramil Eustaquio of Wonderful Bar with 163 points.

In the battle of champions, Jaymar Torres of Aqua Resort Club won both the overall championship and the Best in Showmanship awards after beating Jay Santos of The Flair.

This year’s recipes included Burnett’s Vodka and Coca-Cola products.

The event was organized by the Northern Marianas Bartenders Association headed by its president Lito Espino and the Marianas Visitors Authority.

MVA’s Judy Torres gave out the awards and prizes to the winners.