We are very excited to announce that The Suttons Bay Sex Party is the winner of our 2011 Craft Cocktail Contest!  This recipe was submitted by Tom Swift, a Berkley, CA resident who spends his summers at his vacation house on the Leelanau Peninsula.

As the winner, Tom  will be featured at The Henry Ford Museum’s November Local Roots dinner, receive 2 tickets to the dinner, a $50 Visa gift card, and will be added to the menu at Cliff Bell’s – one of Detroit’s premiere cocktail bars.

Tom’s drink was in the top 3 of community votes, and was chosen the winner last Thursday by a panel of judges that we assembled.  The members of the judging panel were:

  • Jesse Eisenhuth – Director of Food Service & Catering at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan.  One of the most enjoyable aspects of his position is being able to introduce and expand innovative and sustainable food ways at The Henry Ford, specifically, locally-sourced products and green initiatives. Jesse brings a broad spectrum of industry knowledge and experience to his current role from former positions with Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Levy Restau
  • rants, among others.
  • Tony Muzzi – Bar Manager at Cliff Bell’s in Detroit.  “My story at Cliff Bell’s begins as a rosy cheeked regular often found sitting stage side with a grin ear to ear to General Manager of Detroit’s most infamous club.  My path in the service industry has taken me many places and am proud to say that it landed me here.  Along the way I have developed a keen love for and knowledge of various cocktails and am proud to be apart of a competition featuring liquors from my home state.  Cheers!”
  • Joe Hakim – Founding member of The Hungry Dudes and photographer.  Food has always been a huge part of Joe Hakim’s life–in eating, cooking and entertainment. His father has owned Emily’s Deli in Saint Clair Shores for nearly 40 years. He enjoys beer, especially Michigan beer, and will try anything once. “I love to try new, exotic foods.”  Joe recently worked as a guide for Andrew Zimmern from the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods for his recent visit to Detroit.  Follow Joe on Twitter @joefoodie.
  • Audrey Walker – Co-founder of Drink Michigan, Digital Geek, Michigan State University Alumi, Professional Traveler, Craft Beer Drinker, Foodie, and the Managing Director of Girls in Tech Detroit.
  • Trisha Verma – Co-founder of Drink Michigan, marketing professional and part time teacher with a serious red wine and chocolate obsession.

Congratulations Tom! 

Thank you to all of you who participated by entering your recipes and voting.  We were overwhelmed by the success of this year’s contest, and are already planning the next one!