Whoa, what a fun event! Saturday night in downtown LA, The Reef on Broadway to be exact, surrounded by foodies and cocktail aficionados all getting the best of the best offered in LA.
I can’t say which was my favorite cocktail or sweet treat – see this under 2-minute slideshow to see it all – but of the lists below I’d have to say that the mixologists using the most unique ingredients made the biggest impressions, perhaps just to be competitive.
We had cocktails with persimmons, Mexican chocolate, cinnamon, clove, chocolate bitters, cucumber water, almonds, coffee, Ceylon black tea, peppermint sticks, mint, ginger, jelly, English Breakfast tea, orchids, raspberry, coconut, non-dairy eggnog, egg whites – there were even cocktail pops made with ginger, Campari, lemon, grapefruit and more!
The sweet-makers used equally intriguing ingredients, including Mexican chocolate again, white truffle gummy bears, whiskey and pecan pralines, granola, vanilla, buttermilk, bacon, ginger, strawberry, hazelnut, cookie dough, Lebanese yogurt, avocado, almond milk, soy, plus several organic and gluten-free offerings.
Then, if that wasn’t enough there were dozens of lifestyle vendors to tempt you with gifts for others – and yourself!
Info
In its second year (this) annual holiday party…featured over 20 of the city’s top bakers, over 15 of LA’s most respected mixologists and more than 25 artisanal craftspeople…sample delicious confections, sip on handcrafted cocktails and shop for amazing holiday gifts and trinkets. Curated by the LA Weekly’s own food critic Besha Rodell and Roxana Jullapat, this eating, drinking and shopping extravaganza is one not to be missed. (So don’t miss it in 2016 either!)
Participants
bld, Craft Los Angeles, Gourmandise School, Lucques, A.O.C., Sassafras, Corazon y Miel, Sonny’s Hideaway, Faith and Flower, Nickel Diner, 1886 at the Raymond, Ledlow, Broken Spanish, Belcampo Meat Co., McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, The Varnish, Terrine, Cliff’s Edge, Alexander’s Steakhouse Pasadena, Butchers & Barbers, Soigné Group, Birch, E.P. + L.P., Hatchet Hall, Cake Monkey Bakery, WP24, The Pikey, Hinoki & The Bird, Superba Food + Bread, The Roger Room, Coco Bakes LA, Salt & Straw, Bakeology, Pitchoun Bakery & Café, Choctál, Edoughble, Jim Osorno of Broadway Baker, The Shugah Mama, Lemon Poppy Kitchen.
Full Line Up Lists (From Examiner.com)
Mixologists presenting sips of their signature holiday drinks:
- Mikki Kristola of The Varnish
- Robin Chopra of Corazon Y Miel
- Karen Grill of Sassafras Saloon
- Ryan Wainwright of Terrine
- Darwin Manahan of Osso and Cliff’s Edge
- Ben Scott of Alexander’s Steakhouse
- Avery Underhill of Butchers and Barbers
- Christiaan Rollich of the Lucques Group
- Michael Lay of Broken Spanish and B.S. Taqueria
- Addam Reagan of Sonny’s Hideaway
- Gabriella Mlynarczyk of Birch and The Loving Cup
- Jesus Gomez of 1886 Bar
- Edwin Osegueda of Faith & Flower
- Adam Nystrom of EP + LP
- Eric Shani of The Pikey
- Matt Wise of The Roger Room
- Cappy Sorentino of Hatchet Hall
- Feisser Stone of Hinoki & the Bird
- Ivan Pacheco of Ledlow
- And more…
Sponsor lineup:
- Stella Artois
- Beam Suntory
- Califia Farms
- Courvoisier
- Cruzan Rum
- Deep Eddy Vodka
- Diabolo
- Dry Sparkling
- Effen Vodka
- Hornitos
- Hustler Hollywood
- Jim Beam
- Knob Creek
- Ludlow Cocktail Co.
- Prime
- Rita’s
- SoCal Etsy Guild
- Spearmint Rhino
- And more…
Vendor Village lineup:
- Bad Pickle Tees
- Bertha Mae’s Brownie Co.
- Contempo Aesthetics
- Sunset & D’Vine
- Farm Fresh to You
- Front Porch Pops
- JDN73
- LeeLee Jewels
- London Manori
- Marco Paolo Chocolates
- Millie’s Boutique Vegan Gelato
- Ococoa
- Panache Jewelry
- Senoritas Tamales
- Unique Inspirations
- And more…
Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com