I hear people say there isn’t anything to do on the coast this time of year. I don’t agree. There is always something going on somewhere. All you have to do is look.
This past weekend, our neighbors to the east on Perdido Key had a martini festival. This was the third annual, I somehow missed the first two and I am sorry I did. It was actually a lot of fun. More than 20 booths from liquor distributors were set up in the shopping center around The Jellyfish Bar in Perdido Key. Each booth had at least two different versions of a martini to sample, most had three. For the price of a ticket, you could sample any of the tiny martinis as often as you wanted. What a great festival.
Alcohol wasn’t the only thing available. There were also barbeque plates, fine art, water, soft drinks, extreme bartending demonstrations and entertainment. A live band played most of the afternoon and then came the fun part, The Gulf Coast Bartender Competition. Bartenders from across the Gulf Coast set out to prove they were the best on the coast. It was a big deal. The winner received $500 and the proceeds from the sale of the martinis created for the competition. These martinis were auctioned when they were made and some went for more than $50.
It was a great way to spend a warm, beautiful November afternoon. I left just before the winner of the competition was announced, so I can’t tell you where to buy the best martini made on the coast. All I can say is that all of the bartenders were very creative and some of the presentations were very entertaining. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach restaurants were well represented and their concoctions went for a pretty high price.
The proceeds from the festival and golf tournament go to local charities. Here’s to martinis and good causes. Cheers.
post provided by Luanne Burnett
