New Jersey bartender Steve Fette, who works at Verve Bistro, Bar & Lounge in Somerville, has won a statewide cocktail competition at Harrah's Casino in Atlantic City.
SOMERVILLE - Bartender Steve Fette, who works at Verve Bistro, Bar & Lounge, has won a statewide cocktail competition at Harrah's Casino in Atlantic City.
Steve Fette, bartender at Verve Bistro, Bar & Lounge in Somerville, is the winner of the 2016 Iron Shaker award as the best bartender in New Jersey. (courtesy photo)The Iron Shaker is an annual competition that recognizes New Jersey's best bartender.
The cocktails he created for the competition include:
- "Never Doubt an Eagle Scout" with wild Maine blueberries, bourbon, amaro, lemon and Angostura bitters for the introductory punch round
- "Cinderella Story," a twist on the Arnold Palmer that he served out of a golf bag in homage to Caddyshack for the movie round
- "Sagistic Bastard," for which he toasted sage and mixed Laird's Applejack, Xicaru Mezcal, fresh lime and cranberries for the cranberry round
- "Perfect Game," the baseball-themed beverage that required judges and drinkers to eat a Cracker Jack before sipping
- "La Femme Fatale," a mixture of Bluecoat Gin, St. Germain, sherry, clarified grapefruit juice, maraschino and Butterfly pea extract designed to evoke the beauty of Miss America
Fette outlasted seven other competitors over five rounds of cocktails judged by a panel of three experts while also being sampled by attendees, according to a news release. Leading up to the finals were regional competitions held in New Brunswick, Hoboken and Morristown.
"Everyone at Verve considers the creation of both food and cocktails an art," Fette said. "We enjoy the freedom to express ourselves and use our knowledge, talent and experience to create memorable visits."
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Fette, who is 28, already has two decades of experience, including working at the Pluckemin Inn in Bedminster and Fiddler's Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, where he oversaw seven bars.
He said his career started by supporting the efforts of his grandfather, who, while entertaining guests, would enlist the help of a then 7-year-old Fette.
"We pride ourselves in making the perfect cocktail," said Verve owner Rick St. Pierre. Verve features a turn-of-the-century bar where, according to its owner, the first legal drink was served in the borough following Prohibition.
Fette joins N. Bryan Mack, who took part in the Star of the Bar Mixology Competition International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event 2014, was as a finalist in the NJ.com Best Bars Competition in 2015 and at the 2015 Iron Shaker competition.
Craig Turpin may be reached at cturpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @NJeditor. Find NJ.com on Facebook.