Wittaya Kunplome (center, left) prepares to bang the
gong to launch the event.
Jetsada Homklin
The Zign Hotel captured top honors at the annual Pattaya Bartender
Competition, placing in six hospitality contests and showing the most flair
mixing drinks.
Renamed the Pattaya Bartender Issan Classic this year to reflect its
northeastern theme, the competition at the Dusit Thani Hotel is sponsored each
year by the Pattaya and Chonburi governments, Thai Hotels Association Eastern
Region and Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote visits to the city and the
quality of the area’s resorts.
Five young ladies perform a traditional Isaan dance.
The day-long competition among 30 hotels and resorts began with table-setting
and cake-decorating contests with the showy cocktail-mixing show entertaining
guests during dinner. There also was a “Miss Bartender” dance show with women in
traditional Issan costumes and concert from northeastern bands and two comedians
from Ponglangsaorn.
The day was a big one for The Zign hotel which, although it didn’t place first
in any of the daytime contests, managed to place second or third in all. Then,
after dark, its drink master won the Flair Bartender Competition, giving the
North Pattaya resort the most points among the 30 competing hotels.
It takes great concentration to carve fruit into
masterpieces.
The Dusit Thani placed second overall, winning first place in fruit carving,
dining table decoration, and the female bartender contest. It also placed second
in the Flair Bartender contest and third in flower decoration and ice carving.
The Long Beach Garden Hotel and Spa took third overall, placing first in both
cake decorating and flower decoration, and second in dining table decoration.
The Amari Orchid won first place in ice carving and fourth in Flair Bartender,
while the Woodlands Hotel & Resort took second place in fruit carving and third
in cake decorating. The Cape Dara Resort’s only win was third in the female
bartender contest. The City Hotel captured third in the Flair Bartender match.
Contestants compete in the Miss Bartender and Flair
Bartender contest.
A Miss Bartender contestant mixes up a drink with
the hopes of impressing the judges.
A sample cocktail made by one of the participants,
“Isaan Modern”.
A contestant competes for the “Miss Bartender”
title.
A bartender shows off his skills to impress the
judges.
Two comedians, Lulu & Lala from Ponglangsaorn amuse
the audience.
Dancers and ghosts perform a traditional Thai -
Isaan dance for the opening of the Pattaya Bartender Isaan Classic 2014.
Miss Bartender juggles bottles, showing her mad
skills.
Prizes were presented to the hotels that won most
categories of the competition: 1st The Zign Hotel, 2nd Dusit Thani (the host),
3rd Long Beach Garden and 4th Amari Orchid.
