Monday, June 29, 2009

Martini Contest is Anything but Ordinary

Martini Contest is Anything but Ordinary
Contra Costa Times: June 25, 2009
by Jonathan Morales-Lamorinda Sun

Jay Crabb tossed fresh strawberries and some basil into a glass and mashed them together before adding orange and lemon juice, vodka and just a drop of balsamic vinegar.

"Do you have plain martinis?" a woman asked as she approached his table.

Not here, Crabb replied. "Every table features a specialty cocktail."

This may be the only martini event James Bond would leave disappointed.

Crabb, from Bijou Restaurant and Bar in Hayward, was one of 14 East Bay mixmasters serving up unique recipes at the 10th annual Martini Tasting at the Lafayette Park Hotel and Spa on Monday. Proceeds from this year's contest will benefit Project Second Chance, an adult literacy program.

Traditional martinis were nowhere to be found Monday, but martinis made with shaved lemon peels, jalapeƱos or Godiva chocolate? Absolutely.

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Laura Seaholm, program director for Project Second Chance, estimated about 500 people attended the event and about $15,000 was raised for the program.

Project Second Chance is the county library's adult literacy program and was founded in 1984. The program offers free one-on-one literacy instruction to people 16 years or older to help them improve their reading, writing and spelling skills. 925 . 943 . 8048 READ MORE !

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