Show 148, November 28, 2015: DINE LBC Holiday Cocktail Contest

Dan TapiaThe first DINE LBC Long Beach Restaurant Week Holiday Cocktail Contest was held at The Sky Room’s Cielo rooftop lounge on November 15th. Five amateur finalists were selected (out of dozens of qualified entries) to create their concoctions in front of a panel of five thirsty judges, including the Executive Producer of the “SoCal Restaurant Show.” and noted food writer Anne Marie Panoringan (OC Weekly’s “On the Line” columnist.)

Little Drummer Boy Cocktail by Dan TapiaThe cocktails were scored on the basis of Creativity of Ingredients, Taste/Flavor, Presentation and Likely to Order at The Sky Room. After careful deliberation the Judges’ decision for the First Place Winner was unanimous and Dan Tapia, the creator of Little Drummer Boy, joins us. The cocktail is a creative variation of a Hot Toddy. It’s his Thanksgiving Dinner specialty for a crowd.

Dan’s prize was a pair of JetBlue Travel Certificates for anywhere JetBlue flies domestically.

Dine LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week is taking place April 23 – May 1, 2016! Held annually, Dine LBC features value-oriented, three course menus from dozens of Long Beach’s best restaurants in twelve unique neighborhoods throughout the city.

Each participating restaurant offers a three-course menu priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, per guest either with wine pairing options at fine dining locations OR dinner for two priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, where diners share an appetizer, each enjoy their own entree, then share a dessert at more casual establishments.

Dan Tapia, a Navy veteran, is opening 4th & Olive in Long Beach in January. The concept for the restaurant is a Franco-German beer and wine garden serving Alsatian-inspired food. He’ll employ as many veterans as possible.