The London & South East area
LONDON'S NEWEST BAR OPENS THIS MONTH
Some of the world's finest mixologists have joined forces
to launch The Stoned Pony; a split-level, 400-capacity bar and
restaurant which will officially open in May 2008.
Gerardo Calabrese (who ran the celebrated Meet venue in Farringdon) has
put together an impressive bar team, headed by one of his oldest
friends Andy Pearson who happens to be the current UK Bartenders
Guild Nation Champion.
The pair aim to use organic, British produce in the 30 strong, original
cocktail menu. Flavour profile is given prominence, with every one of
the 200+ spirits hand selected. A seasonal emphasis allows a
regularly changing menu, and all syrups, compotes and purees are
freshly made on-site.
They have also taken a variety of antiquated British themes and
modernised them. The Stoned Pony Tea Party will feature cocktails
served from self-cooling infusion jars that are then poured into
platinum-coated tea cups with matching sweet and savoury food
served on an afternoon tea stands.
The head chef is Renaud Marin, who has worked at some of London’s leading restaurants and joins The Stoned Pony from Angelus.
The Stoned Pony will regularly feature live acts and DJs, alongside a carefully constructed playlist featuring programmed tracks to suit the time of day. A varied range of musical genres are championed, with electro prominent alongside alternative, ska, classic soul and vintage film
soundtracks.
The venue has been designed by architect Yanik Allard, who studied at École Camondin Paris. Before setting up his own practice, he was also creative manager for Polo Ralph Lauren UK. His design for The Stoned Pony balances a sleek, minimalist feel with an unpretentious warmth and
homeliness, allied to eccentric touches; smoked mirrors sit alongside stainless steel and high-gloss lacquer surfaces, while the seating comprises a mix of banquettes and high tables.
The Stoned Pony
104-108 Curtain Road
London
EC2A 3AH
www.thestonedpony.com
.
A Remarkable Find by Jim Slavin
Jim was asked if there was a record of a Cocktail of the Month for November 1955 which was invented to mark the occasion of the start of the Oxford and Cambridge Far East Expedition. Its inventor was President George Baker. And, Jim found the recipe, which is below! The ingredients are in parts of the cocktail, not in cl.
The Gay Explorer
3/6 vodka
2/6 yellow Chartreuse
1/6 fresh lemon juice
Shake ingredients with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass. Serve gaily!
Not often you see Brian Page on his knees but here is is (above, to the right) kneeling with a graduation class of 2008. Congratulations!
Brian Page Wins Area Achievement Award
On February 8 2008 Theme Magazine presented the erstwhile training lecturer Brian Page an award for his Outstanding Contribution to cocktail education in the London area. The event took place at Revolution Bar and Restaurant in Leadenhall Street.
Mr Page, the creator of the UKBG's training courses, will have to wait until the London Bar Show in June to see of he wins the National award.
Theme editor Tom Innes described the UKBG Bartender Training Courses as the course that stays for ever and the one that everybody wants to get on. "Bar trainers come and go," remarked Mr Innes, "but Brian and his courses have been around for ever."
Good luck for the National final, Brian.
GOLF NEWS
TOURNAMANT win at the 29TH International Golf Trophy (Algarve, Portugal) between the ABP Algarve and the UKBG Golf Society
For the second time in a row, the UKBG golf club has trounced their rivals Portugal at a tournament held on Friday January 11th on the Algarve.
“We won again,” said an excited Peter Dorelli, speaking from the hotel room in the Algarve.
How did the Portuguese team feel?
“They took it very well,” he replied. “They are arriving in the UK in April for a rematch.”
After a week of damp overcast conditions, during which the UKBG’s 25 pre-qualifying competitors were whittled down to the final team of 12, the players could relax in the knowledge they had played their best, with Jean Claude DeLizia scoring 44 points. One Portuguese was nicknamed The Swiss Watch by the teambecause he never missed. His shots were like clockwork…
Never mind the weather -- as long as you can tee off in time! Below is the winning team, looking pleased with themselves!
ANDY PEARSON COMES 5TH AT IBA WORLD COCKTAIL COMPETITION
The winner of the 56th IBA WORLD COCKTAIL COMPETITION 2007, held in Taiwan earlier this week, was Krista Meri from Estonia. The UKBG’s representative, Andy Pearson, came a very respectable 5th in the world’s ultimate professional cocktail competition. Congratulations, Andy.
A report hot from the pen of John Farrell, UKBG North Area Chairman, Our Man in the Orient on the Yong Fu No. 3 Road in Taiwan.
It was a hot and humid day. It felt like the Orient was about to explode when Derrick Lee, President of the IBA, let loose a sleeping dragon and the World Cocktail Competition began. In what was a fast and furious flash of shakers, mixing glasses, and metal on metal, the battle for the prestigious world title was on for one and all. Nobody could separate the contestants as they showed off their talent and technical expertise in the intense heat of the moment. In the tempestuous, volcanic atmosphere the competitors were possessed, surrounded by spirits, mixers, juices, and garnishes. From the maddening melée came the words we wanted to hear: Andy Pearson, the fanqui from Hull, had emerged as a worthy finalist.
Top left: Searching the market for fruits for the garnish are Salvatore and Andy Pearson. Top right: Peter Dorelli and more fruit.
Exhilaration showed on Andy's face and those of his supporters, fellow strategists in the war arena. But if he thought that first round had been hot, the next two hours would prove to be like the trials of grasshopper in a shao lin monastery, and no amount of kung fu knowledge could prepare him for what was coming. He was entering the Dragon’s province.
Just at that moment Mickael Perron appeared with the Union Jack on a length of bamboo hacked out of the jungle. A cry went up from President Salvatore Calabrese for the supporting troops to rally.
Top: The Maestro prepares to rally the troops in his pink hard hat. Top right: Andy Pearson preparing for battle. Above: The UKBG group in formal attire. (Jim Lad, you look gorgeous.)
Peter Dorelli and Jim Slavin, two of his Generals, were locked away in the bureaucracy of the Taiwan event, while the rest of us—Luca Cordiglieri, Daniel Crebesse, myself and Charlie Pearson (Andy's father and Number 1 fan to Number 1 son) remained at the front line, like ancient warriors from past dynasties.
Then, it was time for the final competitors to stride up to the line again. Andy Pearson was cool and focused; the other competitors could only try to follow the lead of the pride of Great Britain.
The room went quiet. The gods were deliberating who would get the cut (or should I say chop). The Spirit of Adventure (Andy's Drink) had taken Andrew Pearson to Taiwan; he and the UKBG had made their mark but had they ensured the Dragon slumbered on? Andy made the cut to the last 12; then to the last 6. His final round saw him end up in a very honorable 5th position out of 52 countries. Streetwise Andy will get back into the British scene with pride—just don't ask him for a number 49 ( it might come with rice.)
THE FLAIR SHOW
Speed saw “No-Slow-Flo” take the Flair Competition to the limits with a rapid response to all challenges. Florian had to compete against the likes
of Spiderman and Superman (superheroes in their own right) bagging 2nd
and 3rd in a passionate final. He must have eaten the wrong fortune cookie because the jury didn’t see my point of view.
I interviewed his mentor, Mickael Perron, and London Chairman Luca Cordiglieri, who were also ecstatic about Florian's performance, but
disclosed he had an injury to his arm sustained during practice 2 days
before the competition!
With a partisan crowd being whipped up by the in-house screens, it was always going to be a tough call but we really did think Florian would be in the mix when the prizes were given out.
So, overall, our guys did very well in the land of Fu Man Chu where the coolie isn't a drink and a typhoon wasn’t the only thing flying about.
FINAL RESULTS 56th IBA WORLD COCKTAIL COMPETITION 2007
1st: Krista Meri from Estonia
2nd: Fabio Bacchi from Italy
3rd: Andris Noreikis from Latvia
8th IBA WORLD FLAIR-TENDER COCKTAIL COMPETITION 2007
1st: Danilo Oribe from Uruguay
2nd: Stefan Haneder from Austria
3rd: Hsu Po-Sheng from Taiwan
Grey Goose Character & Cocktails Event Trade Night
It rained but nothing got in the way of the glamorous evening in aid of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and held at 1 Covent Garden Piazza on November 18. A doorman, dressed in green greatcoat complete with top hat, showed me the way to the iron gates. Once inside, a line of waiters to the left, and a line to the right introduced their wares: the drinks made by each of the celebrity bartenders. Ooh aah, cha, cha, cha...
The celebrity party had been held a few days ago and that's when all the stars had come out to play. For an event to raise money for AIDS and raise the profile of Grey Goose vodka further into the stratosphere, it was a marriage made in vodka heaven.
David Furnish teamed up with Salvatore Calabrese to create a Dream Bar with a Signature Cocktail inspired by the magical modernity of Las Vegas; a city that is a celebration of life and where absolutely everything is possible. The Aqua Bar was certainly that. Salvatore's bar featured a mermaid swimming in a glass-fronted display case; supreme performance art! And, two scanitly clad pole dancers with thighs like steel that occasionally clamped themselves to the steel pole. Balletic, sensual, purely brilliant exercise. The drink was aptly named Hot Flush.
Sam Taylor-Wood was teamed with Ben Reed to create The Mess Bar, an oasis in the desert from which no visitor would ever want to go awol. The cocktail was Filthy Marine. The Stud Bar teamed Christopher Bailey with Peter Dorelli, whose drink, The Flaming Back Stud, was divinely drinkable. His bar was purchased by Grey Goose management to become their reception in the new building.
Dinos Chapman commandeered an ice cream van fromwhich he cold a creation by Alex Kammerling, which was as witty and theatrical as the ice cream man himself. Elizabeth Hurley and Patrick Cox teamed with Colin Field of The Hemingway Bar at The Ritz in Paris. The perfect cocktail can only be made by bringing together the very best ingredients. It was a fashional color and a knockout. I had two. Or was that three?
The auction on the charity night had raised a lot of money for the AIDS Foundation. The trade night confirmed Grey Goose as a vodka to be
reckoned with. Such brilliance from a class act.
Plan for the Thames Valley Area Scotland Trip, set for March, 2008
March 25
Gatwick at 10 a.m. for flight at 12.00 noon to Aberdeen.
Visit to Balvenie and Glenfiddich distilleries.
stay in Craigellachie for one night.
March 26
10.00 a.m. Leave Craigellachie for a visit to Macallan Distillery.
Lunch at Macallen.
Afternoon visit to Benromach Distillery.
Stay in Inverness for two nights.
March 27
10.00 a.m. Leave for Glenmorangie of Distillery tour and lunch.
Back to Inverness. Free time for rest of the day
March 28
10.00 a.m. Leave for Inverness to Dalamore Distillery tour and lunch.
Cocktail competition; the winner will receive a fantastic prize to be announced.
Fly from Inverness to Gatwick, arriving back early evening.
COST
£225 FOR MEMBERS
£250 FOR NON-MEMBERS
Price includes flights, travel, accommodation, breakfast and lunch. Dinners to be paid for out of own pocket.
Prices will rise if booked after February 1, 2008
For those who book by 5th Jan there will be a mystery surprise.
To book contact Chris Underwood on 07886252192 or email on fandb@southlodgehotel.co.uk
This is the current plan. Changes to distillery visits will be out of my control!
Salvatore Calabrese has been made a Keeper of the Quaich
Calabrese was among 30 industry executives from countries throughout the world honoured by this ancient Perthshire organisation.
A clan shrouded in mystery, it is a non-profit organisation with membership by invitation only. Founded in 1988, its mission statement is simple: To advance the standing and prosperity of one of Britain’s premier export industries, and to make more widely known its uniqueness, traditions, quality, service and benefits to the community it serves at home and in the markets of the world. Keepers of the Quaich have served the industry well for a minimum of five years and Masters of the Quaich are leading figures in the industry who have been exceptionally supportive in the the years since being inducted as Keeper.
Previously annointed Keepers include actor Sean Connery, Prince Charles and former USA President, Ronald Reagan.
The quaich is the classic small drinking bowl of Scotland, taking its name from the Gaelic cuach meaning ‘cup’. Although the name is Gaelic, this type of cup was known and used both in the Highlands and in the Lowlands of Scotland certainly since the seventeenth century and probably before. Its ancestor was the scallop shell in which drams of whisky were taken in the Highlands and Islands.
SELLING FAST ONLINE AND IN STORES! BUY NOW WHILE STOCKS LAST!
The International Guide to Drinks (Hardcover)
by United Kingdom Bartenders' Guild (with Lynn Bryan as General Editor)
Many other cocktail books have been and gone, but "The International Guide to Drinks" remains the book used by bartenders the world over, with a comprehensive guide to the preparation of every kind of drink, from exotic cocktails to wines, liqueurs, spirits and beers. Fully revised and updated with colour photography, the book features winning recipes from the World Cocktail Championships, and includes sections on classic and contemporary cocktails, countries and their drinks, wines of the world, spirits and beers, aperitifs and digestifs, plus a detailed glossary and table of measurement.
All the meetings of the Golf group are held within the M25. Anyone interested is welcome to contact Jeanclaude Dilizia, the UKBG Golf Society Secretary, at jeanclauded2003@yahoo.co.u
28th International Golf Trophy (Algarve, Portugal) between the ABP Algarve and the UKBG Golf Society
It was the day they will all remember. After 27 years the British beat the Portuguese at golf with a winning stroke from Francis Doherty!
This 28th Tournament Cup was theirs for the first time.
** Bartenders wishing to join the team can contact Jean Claude DeLizia at 07903157405.