Martini Fest gears up
By TIFFANY REPECKI
Now it the time to grab tickets to the Best South Cape Martini Competition – before they sell out.
Hosted by the South Cape Hospitality and Entertainment Associations, the ninth annual event will be held Jan. 31 from 7 to 11 p.m. in the downtown area. Tickets are $20 each and include unlimited trolley service and a 1-ounce martini sampler and an appetizer sample at each of the 11 participating venues.
“It is absolutely our most successful event of the year,” David Delli Paoli, a spokesman for the South Cape Hospitality and Entertainment Associations, said. “It is our flagship event. It sells out every year.”
Only 1,000 tickets are sold to the competition.
“Generally, it’s about a week before the event when they’re gone,” he said.
As of Thursday, a handful of the venues had sold out of tickets and were awaiting more.
“I would definitely recommend people get them now,” Delli Paoli said.
He estimated that at least half of the tickets were gone.
This year, the participating venues are:
* BackStreets Sports Bar
* Chicago Pizza
* Cruiser’s Lounge
* Dixie Roadhouse
* Monkey Bar & Steakhouse
* Rack’em Billiards
* Ralph’s Place
* Rockade
* The Dek Bar
* Tiki Hut Bar & Grill
* Tubby’s City Hangout
Tickets can be purchased at any of the venues; cash and checks are accepted.
“We won’t be able to take credit cards,” he said.
Some of the samples this year include the Tiramisutini, by Chicago Pizza; the Sexy Cowgirl, by Dixie Roadhouse; the South Capetini, by Cruiser’s Lounge; and the Lady Gaga, by Tubby’s City Hangout.
Each attendee gets a passport on which they will mark the “Best South Cape Martini.”
“They get to vote on the best, and they can turn those in at any of the locations,” Delli Paoli said.
In the past, the competition was broken down into three martini categories. Now, however, attendees cast a single vote for the best, and the top three vote-getters are awarded first, second and third.
“They all get the same prize,” he said, adding that the winners will earn $500 cash.
“They also get banners that they can put up,” Delli Paoli said.
Attendees must be at least 21 years old to take part.
Drinks will not be allowed on the trolleys.
“It’s a great event, it’s a great night out,” he said. “If you haven’t been to a lot of places that we have down here in the South Cape, it’s a great way to check a lot of them out.”
For more information on the 9th Annual Best South Cape Martini Competition, visit the group’s Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/SouthCapeHospitalityAndEntertainmentAssociations.
The next event by the South Cape Hospitality and Entertainment Associations will be the Mardi Gras Trolley Event. It will take place Feb. 13 from 7 to 11 p.m. in the downtown area. For $5, attendees will get a wristband that entitles them to unlimited trolley rides and $2.50 drink specials at every location.
“And, they get Mardi Gras beads throughout,” Delli Paoli said.