Bitter bartender a contender in Iron Bar Chef Competition

James Lee, mixologist at the Bitter Bar at Happy (known as Happy Noodle House until very recently), is heading from Boulder to New York this weekend, for the annual Santé Restaurant Symposium -- where he'll be competing against against five other bartenders in the Iron Bar Chef contest. The competitors...

By Patricia Calhoun

October 16, 2009

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James Lee, mixologist at the Bitter Bar at Happy (known as Happy Noodle House until very recently), is heading from Boulder to New York this weekend, for the annual Santé Restaurant Symposium -- where he'll be competing against against five other bartenders in the Iron Bar Chef contest.

The competitors will have 45 minutes to create three drinks (aperitif, tall drink and dessert drink) using a secret ingredient; drinks will be evaluated on appearance, aroma, taste, use of secret ingredients, and overall impression. The winner will get a thousand bucks and immediately qualify to compete in the 2009 Shake It Out competition, with a chance to win $5,000.

Lee was selected for this competition based on the "Scottish Sunset," a cocktail he concocted at the Bitter Bar. The recipe follows.

Scottish Sunset 2 oz. Hendrick's Gin 0.25 oz. Glenfiddich 15 yr 0.5 oz. Briottet creme de framboise 0.5 oz. fresh lemon juice 1 slice English cucumber

Muddle cucumber in a mixing glass, then add all other ingredients with ice and shake for 10 seconds. Double strain into a classic coupe. Garnish with a cucumber twist and a raspberry.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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