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Food/Drink Hollywood News

Mixologists Go Head to Head

The Covenant House California hosted the All-Star Mixology Competition last week in Los Angeles.
The Covenant House California hosted the All-Star Mixology Competition last week in Los Angeles. Edwin Cruz of The Spare Room in Hollywood was crowned the winner.

Los Angeles – With the popularity of cooking contests and specialty chefs going head to head in cook-offs on television, it is no surprise that the men behind the bars wanted to compete as well. Last week Covenant House California hosted an All-Star Mixology Contest in Culver City where mixologists competed to make the best drinks. Some contestants were cocktail makes at L.A. bars such as ShoreBar, Eveleigh and The Spare Room, while others were liquor brand ambassadors. Contestants competed in three rounds that increased in difficulty until only the final three contestants were left for the final round. In this round, the three mixologists were given a secret ingredient, pears, and asked to make a drink. Edwin Cruz of The Spare Room in Hollywood blew the judges away and was named the winner.

The judge panel for the event included Georgia Hardstark and Alie Ward, co-hosts of the Cooking Channel’s Tripping Out with Georgia and Alie and co-contributors to the channel’s Unique Sweets. Other judges included A-list stylist and interior designer Estee Stanley, Paramount Pictures vice president Liza Pano, and publisher and executive editor of The Tasting Panel magazineMeridithMay. The event was held in Unici Casa in Culver City.

Covenant House California operates centers in Los Angeles and Oakland, which provide housing, health benefits, education and employment help to homeless youth. Last year, Covenant House California helped over 5,000 children that are homeless due to various circumstances. The benefit event was co-sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter and ABC-7.

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Food/Drink Music/Concerts

Time to Party in the Park

Culver City's Fiesta La Ballona will kick off Friday, August 23 and will conclude Sunday, August 25.
Culver City’s Fiesta La Ballona will kick off Friday, August 23 and will conclude Sunday, August 25.

Culver City’s annual Party in the Park will take place this weekend, August 23 through August 25 at Veterans Park. The weekend will include carnival rides and games, live performances, over 100 booths featuring artisan wares, a petting zoo and pony rides, beer and wine garden, food trucks and other fun contests and events, all open to the community.

This year’s Fiesta La Ballona will start Friday at 4pm until 10pm, on Saturday 11am to 10pm and will conclude on Sunday from 10:30am to 9pm. Entrance to the event is free, but food, carnival rides and attractions are extra. There will be various live entertainment performances ranging from a cover band playing AC/DC to a Mariachi band. Saturday night’s performances will end with a two-hour dance party by “The World’s Grooviest Live Disco Show” The Funky Hippeez with Disco Diva. Stilt walkers will also be gracing Culver City with their presence! This event focuses on being green by promoting recycling awareness during the event and has a specialized valet service if you ride your bike to the event.

More information about the weekend festivities can be found here: http://www.fiestalaballona.org/.