Ladies & Gentlemen

Would you like to be titled the best mixologist in the North East?

Do you want to work with some of the most respected and creative chefs in the region?

Do you think you have what it takes to work under extreme pressure, to create awe inspiring drinks that will amaze up to 180 guests per night?

If the answer is YES, YES, YES, then you are up for the challenge of Fusion 2010.

What is Fusion?

Fusion is a food and drink regional competition, whereby eight of the North East’s finest chef’s and mixologist’s will be teamed up in pairs and giving the task of working together to create a tantalising three course mini menu of food and drink.

Over the course of seven nights (Four quarter finals, two semi finals & Grand Final), two teams will take it in turn to go head to head in front of a live, paying audience; who will decide whose culinary and mixology skills rained supreme and take them through to the next round.

Having proved your worth over three intense rounds, you will be crowned the champion of Fusion 2010 and be handed a money can’t buy prize!

After this you could be picking your wits against other regional Fusion winners from around the country, to be named UK Fusion Mixologist of the Year.

How does Fusion work?

To be titled the best you have to prove you are the best.

To do this we have carefully created a cocktail competition that will show to us your commitment, creativity, knowledge & speed…that is all required for you to win this event.

Venue: The Living Room, Newcastle a

Date: Sunday 16th May

Time: 12 til 6

Commitment

Before you even step foot into the competition, the key thing for us is that you will be committed to this challenge.

Why?

Fusion is going to take up a lot of your time, squeeze every last ounce of creativity out of you and put you into a pressure cooker!

But that is why we are in this fantastic industry, to push yourself to the limits!

We want to find eight people who are ready for this. Are you in?

Q&A

Please take some time to answer these questions, as these will go along way to deciding who is invited to participate in the Fusion Cocktail Competition.

What bars do you look up to? What makes them a cut above the rest?

What food inspires you?

What is your most memorable food & drink experience and why?

Which spirit brand & drink encapsulates your personality and why?

If you had your own bar, what would be your perfect speed rail be and why? Taking into account each of the brand’s image and buy in price.

If you could choose one of the region’s chefs to be paired with, who would it be and why?

What makes you think you can cope with the pressure of Fusion 2010?

What would it mean to you to be crowned Fusion Champion 2010?

Fusion Cocktail Competition Overview

Round 1, Knowledge

Having an understanding about the vast heritage of classic cocktails, is the building blocks for any aspiring mixologist.

For the first round of this competition we have selected five classic drinks;

Mai tai
Manhatten
Margarita
Martini
Mint Julep

1. You will have to come to the competition prepared with all the ingredients to make all five of these drinks
2. When it is your turn you will have to randomly select one of these five drinks
3. You will then have 10 mins prep time
4. During your five minute presentation, you will have to explain why you have chosen those ingredients / brands and go into detail about the heritage of the cocktail
5. You can do twists if you wish

Round 2, Speed

Fusion will put you into a situation of extreme pressure, stretching you to your limits! This can not affect your standards of perfection.

So the next challenge is for you to create three classic cocktails in the quickest time possible.

You will be asked to produce the same built, shaken and stirred cocktail
You will be provided with all the same ingredients and cocktail equipment
You will have five minutes prep time
You will be marked on speed, precision, entertainment & taste

Round 3, Creativity

Fusion is a food and drink competition, so we need to find out what your palate is like.

Can you successfully create a drink that will work in complete harmony with a dish that has been prepared.

All competitors will be provided with exactly the same dish
You will be given 30 minutes to go away and develop your drink
You will be provided with ingredients to make the drink, but you can bring along your own supplies if you so wish
You will be provided with a fresh dish before you present
You will then have 5 minutes to talk through your drink and what inspired you to make it

Please send all your answers to john@wanttoimpress.com or give me a call on 07500 893 432.

Thanks

John – www.wanttoimpress.com