What began in 2006 as the Greater Kansas City Bartending Competition has grown to become the Midwest’s largest annual cocktail festival. Paris of the Plains, or PopFest as it has been dubbed, returns this month to Kansas City and promises five days of cocktail parties, seminars, spirits tastings and competitions. In previous years, St. Louis sent some of its most talented bartenders to participate in the finale cocktail competition, and this year is no different. Kyle Mathis, bar manager of Taste, and Mandi Kowalski of Sanctuaria will go head-to-head against other bartenders from the region in this individual competition.
PopFest is adding more excitement to the stir-and-shake stage this year with a team bartending competition, the Midwest Melee. Bartending teams from Kansas City, Denver, Chicago and St. Louis will face off in a battle that will determine not only which team makes the best drinks, but also who can do it the fastest. Representing St. Louis will be Justin Cardwell of BC’s Kitchen, Matt Obermark of now-defunct Salt and current consultant at The Agrarian, Jayne Pellegrino of Blood & Sand and Kyle Mathis of Taste.
Feel like cheering on this city’s top bartenders? PopFest is just an interstate away and all festival events are open to the public, although tickets are required. (Tickets are free for those in the food and beverage industry.). The Midwest Melee is scheduled for Aug. 22. The Paris of the Plains Bartending Competition is slated for Aug. 25. Go here for more information.
This article appears in August 2013.