The International Catering Association (ICA) 'Innovative Mixology' award is for creative presentations and recipes for alcohol-based or non-alcoholic-based beverages. The spirit of the Catered Arts Through Innovated Excellence Awards (CATIES) is to recognize the achievement of exemplary food production at an event.
Photos courtesy Lorely Meza
The concept created by 24 Carrots and Seven Days Cocktail Co. proposed custom cocktail hour beverages for every single guest, inspired by omakase dining experiences that are summed up in the translation as “I trust.” An omakase cocktail experience is typically one reserved for the most bespoke of cocktail lounges or elite bar programs. Translating this to the catering and events world was a challenge that required information from each guest on their unique preferences, along with time to build these cocktails. Upon registration check-in, guests were asked to fill out an “icebreaker” without being told what it was for. It asked five simple questions regarding their preferences—only one of them beverage-related, but the rest based on personality and style. To buy us time, we built in the element of surprise. After guests filled out their icebreakers, they dropped them off with us and started their guided tours. The answers to these questions were processed by our bar team, each of the answers giving a clue for each guest. To translate this to catering service, we utilized Seven Days Cocktails, a cocktail base that allows for consistency across the board. This allowed us to have a great foundation for all our curated beverages and gave space for unique additions of bitters, liqueurs, tonics, garnishes, presentation, etc.
We set up the bar station on the tour path, so when each tour group came across it, they were greeted with a curated cocktail based on their answers. Each glass was presented on the icebreaker coaster that each guest filled out with their own name, making it easy to pick up without servers having to find a beverage that matched the guest.
Photos courtesy Lorely Meza
It was a joy to watch the groups have a moment of discovery, surprise, and delight. And even more so, it was rewarding to take a high-level hospitality concept and apply it to the challenging world of catering. It was not only fun and playful but also showed our commitment to creative hospitality, where one size fits one.
Photos courtesy Lorely Meza
Cocktails & Bar Program, @sevendayscocktailco
Photography, @Lorely Meza
Event Planning, Catering, @24carrotscatering