The drink of champions

Strip joints aren’t the only places to find bartenders in costume serving drinks. TGI Friday’s recently held its "Shake, Rattle and Pour" bartender championship 2005, an annual event that brings in bartenders from its branches all over Metro Manila to swing and shake their drinks like they’ve never done before.

Held at Alabang Town Center this year, the bartending championship featured a huge stage, complete with pulsating lights, loud thematic music for each bartender, and a bar for the judges to view the performances. The judges included writer Tim Yap, models Rissa Samson and Robby Mananquil, Premiere Wines and Spirits Inc. brand manager Emil Liwanag, Perpetual Help College of Laguna bar department head Nanet Daquiz, and 1998 Philippine bartender champion Jules Baluyot.

The contest began with one bartender, Arnold Santos from TGI Friday’s Malate, who came out dressed as a fireman. Santos, who was burned in a tragic freak accident, which caused burns on his legs, quickly earned the title "Fireman" afterward. His opening moves consisted of a slow stripping of his heavy fireman’s coat, which much resembled a dance routine found at more dubious establishments. With the loud screams of supporters encouraging him – each participating branch brought a truckload of colleagues and family members, sometimes dressed to match the theme of their star bartender – it quickly became obvious what TGI Friday’s main objectives were: to foster camaraderie between the fun-loving staff and get everyone else liquored up.

Swig Like You Mean It

Once considered the meeting place for young singletons, when the restaurant broke ground in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, New York in 1965, with both Newsweek and the Saturday Evening Post heralding its opening as the arrival of the singles era, the restaurant-bar has garnered a worldwide following in their 600-plus branches all over the world. TGI Friday’s Americana-style, robust servings of western cuisine and casual ambience have created a brand known all over the world for its fun, low-key space.

The world bar-tending champion-ship began in the mid ’80s when TGI Friday’s chose to promote the skills of Friday’s bartenders around the globe. The entrants were judged on: knowledge and accuracy in basic and advanced flair; control of drinks; sensitivity; drink recipe; food test; and uniform check. In the freestyle phase, contenders treated guests to exciting bar routines, which included bottle-flipping and drink-tossing, designed to exhibit their style, performance and working flair.

Local contenders included Ed "Shadow" Yonzon of Quezon City, G-Boy "Slush" Peralta of Sta. Lucia, who won first runner up, Arnold "Fireman" Santos of Malate, who won both drink test and pour-off categories, Ruel "Twister" Cuadra of Alabang, who won best in sensitivities and wine, and two-time champion Jojo "Vanilla Ice" Almanza of Glorietta, who also won the speed round, working flair and store n’ pour and pour test categories and tied with twister as best in sensitivities and wine.

Almanza, the champion, will represent the country in the regional division, which will be held in Taiwan this October. And if he wins, he will move on to Las Vegas for the World Bartender Championship. Who knew pouring drinks could get you so far?