Launch of Stoli's Global Casting Call‏, The Back Room, Sydney (13 Sept 2011)

2A Roslyn Street, Potts Point NSW 2011

http://www.backroomsydney.com
http://www.facebook.com/stolivodkaaustralia

Call out for creative individuals

Thanks to Brooke Simmons from Polkadot PR for inviting me along to the launch of the Stoli Global Casting Call at the well-hidden and quirky style bar The Back Room. Greeted by Playboy Bunnies isn't something you come across everyday, sadly, but the themed Hugh Hefner was also on standby to support the cause to try and find someone as original as himself to win a trip to LA and enjoy a party at the Playboy Mansion. If that wasn't cool enough (for guys anyway) you also get to experience a Zero Gravity Flight. Opportunities like this probably come around once in a lifetime but to win you'll need to be a very highly creative and original individual of some description and enter via Facebook by 15 October 2011. Stoli Cocktail Ambassador Luke Ashton created two cocktails to try and match the theme of the competition. They were pretty different and the Just Add Water cocktail reminded me a little bit of the experimental cocktails I had at Zeta Bar's Extreme Cabaret. Adding Freeze Dried Fruit Powder to Stoli was something I hadn't really come across although if you didn't successfully dissolve the powder it was like eating sherbet in your cocktail. I think I preferred the Supanova cocktail but in moderation because it seemed to be quite sweet or maybe it was the taste of cherry that I needed to consume in moderation. A few canapes were on hand including lamb cutlets which seemed to be a crowd pleaser. I was so side tracked by the cocktails that I missed out on enough food throughout the night so had to top myself up with some nachos around the corner from Guzman Y Gomez.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Enter to win a trip with a mate to LA including a party at the Playboy Mansion (I'm assuming no touching allowed?) and a Zero Gravity Flight Experience.

CONS: You can only enter via Facebook it seems, Drinking more cocktails than eating food usually doesn't end well the next day

MUST TRY: Thinking of a good cocktail to make with the Stoli Orange I received in the goodie bag

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Bartenders ready to please including Luke Ashton (right)

Cocktail making in progress

Freeze Dried Fruit Powder Blend for 'Just Add Water' cocktail — Do not sniff, it'll make your nose a funny colour, I think

Just Add Water cocktail — Combination of Stoli Vodka with Freeze Dried Fruit Powder Blend

Freeze dried fruit garnishes — Pineapple or Blackberry

Bartender Luke making the Supernova cocktail - Stoli combined with Mozart Dry Chocolate Spirit, Russion Caravan Tea and Cherry Tisane, Menthol

Lamb cutlets — these were quite yummy although I think some of the tomato salsa made its way to the floor in the process

Crispy wontons filled with cheese — how could you go wrong

Pork belly canapes with I think an apple salsa

Seared fish canape

I obviously pulled the short straw to have my photo with the Playboy bunny hostesses

Some Stoli cocktail lovers

When you're that rich you might as well shoes that are comfortable

Photographers in action

Walls hangings and encyclopedia page turning to Human Reproduction System

Upside down lamp decor

Mens and womens toilet wall decor

Stoli Vodka Lime & Soda, Goodie Bag of Stoli Orange and merchandise

Look out for the scary dolls in the TV

The Backroom signage

Late night snack of Guzman Y Gomez Nachos ($10.50)

Stolichnaya Global Casting Call



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Stoli Vodka 'Original' Blogger Event at Sol Lounge Bar, Darlinghurst (23 June 2011)

239 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
http://www.solloungebar.com.au

Being infused with Stoli Vodka

Thanks to Beau from Polkadot PR for inviting me to this very intimate event of around 20 bloggers to sample some original Stoli Vodka cocktails by Bartender Luke Ashton and tasty canapés by Chef Matty Bee. It was quite a relaxed event and due to the small number of guests it allowed most people to have a seat which was nice and there was no worries about easily sampling the food and drinks stress-free.

Chef Matty Bee apparently used to work for Longrain and he’s cooking skills were evident. His Bloody Mary Oyster Shots with Asian Celery was brilliant using Coffin Bay Oysters which are one of my favourites. Great flavours which punch that didn’t hold back until the last drop — I eventually stopped myself by the fifth one, I think. The nicely presented Rare Seared Tuna with Stoli Vodka infused Black Bean, Cucumber and Ginger Dressing was a melt-in-your-mouth sensation and the Blue Cheese Balls with Walnut Dust with Stoli Vodka macerated Cherry Tomato was certainly well-flavoured by the blue cheese. I openly declared the Szechuan Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings better than District Dining and still stand by my decision — they were seriously wicked and I want the recipe please. My childhood pyromaniac tendencies were excited with the Torched Marshmallow Skewers although I can’t remember seeing the Melted Chilli Stoli Vodka Chocolate that was listed on the menu. Unfortunately Sydney will now miss Matty’s cooking as he was about to jet set off the following week to New York to work in a fine dining restaurant — I hope it all goes well for you there.

Bartender Luke Ashton looked comfortable making cocktails and first up on the menu was the Twist on the Classic Dirty Martini. Quite alcoholic as you’d expect although I couldn’t quite get used to the dehydrated smoked olive and licorice ash rim — I like it dirty but perhaps not that dirty. His signature cocktail of the The Tsarina was much more to my liking which used Stoli Razberi. The Vodka and Soda with a bespoke spiced rhubarb soda was the easiest cocktail to drink and the most refreshing. My fourth cocktail was a special request for something different. With the available ingredients at Luke’s disposal he made me a Lemon & Mandarin Gimlet. Lethal on the alcohol but worked quite nicely with the lemon and mandarin notes. It probably would have gone well with a bit of Cointreau to round the flavours with some extra sweetness.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Interesting and intimate venue space, Excellent canapés by Chef Matty Bee, Relaxed atmosphere, Generous goodie bag of delights

CONS: Was a school night, I didn't get to try a straight shot of Stoli out of the freezer to appreciate its smoothness, Chef Matty Bee cooking has gone to New York

MUST TRY: Getting the recipe for Chef Matty Bee’s Bloody Mary Oyster Shots with Asian Celery and Szechuan Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings — please!

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Bloody Mary Oyster Shots with Asian Celery

SIMON FAVOURITE :-) — OMG BLOODY GOOD!

Chef Matty Bee plating up with Yarra Valley Caviar

Rare Seared Tuna with Stoli Vodka infused Black Bean, Cucumber and Ginger Dressing

Blue Cheese Balls with Walnut Dust with Stoli Vodka macerated Cherry Tomato

Szechuan Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings

SIMON FAVOURITE :-) — OMG BETTER THAN DISTRICT DINING!

Torched Marshmallow Skewers with Melted Chilli Stoli Vodka Chocolate + homemade Macarons

Canape menu

Megachef Premium Fish Sauce, Premium Oyster Sauce — Chef Matty Bee swears by this brand

Bartender Luke Ashton

A Twist on the Classic Dirty Martini: Smoked olives steeped in Stoli Vodka then topped with straight Stoli, with a dehydrated smoked olive and licorice ash rim

The Tsarina - Stoli Razberi, Mandarin Napoleon, Luxardo, A dash of Peach Bitters, fresh lemon juice and fresh pink grapefruit juice. Garnised with a mandarin twist

A play on the popular Vodka and Soda - Stoli Vodka combined with a bespoke spiced rhubard soda

Look at the size of those ice cubes

Lemon & Mandarin Gimlet — Something off the menu

Cocktail menu

Fee Brothers 1864 Peach Bitters — haven't seen this one before

Photographer captured 4 ways

Stoli bar

Upstairs seating and decor

Cheeky Stoli drinkers

Sharing a Boy Moments

Downstairs bar

Stairs between downstairs and upstairs

Goodie bag including bottle of Stoli, Sami's Kitchen Falafel Spice Blend, Blackbird Chocolate Hot Chocolate Spoon, Guylian chocolates, Byron Bay Cookies Museli Cookie, Franc Essential body care, Yankee Candle, Lunch Voucher for City Hotel and double movie pass to The Trip.

Outside Sol Lounge

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