David Cassidy on the Web
If it's good enough for Terrorvision.
Monday, March 1, 2010
http://belfastmedia.com/food/
THE Coasters sang about being down in it, Terrorvision said it made you happy and on a sub-zero Belfast night, a little bit of Mexico and tequila came to The Merchant Hotel, writes Ciara Quinn.
The hugely successful Connoisseurs' Club evening hosted a night of all things tequila from birth to bottle with the cream of the world's finest mixologists, restaurateurs and bartenders in attendance.
One of the hosts was Tomas Estes, a man who has sold more than six million Margaritas since opening his first Café Pacifico and restaurant in 1976.
A story of how he sat and drank tequila with David Cassidy was one in a series of stories that flowed throughout the night. In recognition of his contribution to tequila, the Mexican Tequila Chamber have even appointed Tomas their Ambassador to the European Union.
The Wall Street Journal hails Julio Bermejo as the "epicentre of tequila" and in the state of Jalisco in Mexico he is THE ambassador for tequila.
He owns San Franciscan eatery Tommy's Mexican Restaurant, and spoke with as much passion and fervour as if describing a family member.
Tequila is ever-present in Julio's family as his wife's family own the Cazadores Tequila brand, one the purest Tequila brands in the world.
"As well as the chemical process of distilling tequila, there is an almost mythical process to it as well," said Julio. "The art of making tequila is tied to the land and is at the heart of the family."
Not having the first clue of the history behind tequila, I found the night to be informative, relaxed and I was in the presence of people who lived and breathed the art and distillation of Mexico's champagne.
To make good quality tequila I learned that water and a good pressure cooker were key. The overall process was described as like cooking a good piece of steak, and there is a secret and a timing that must be observed.
Sean Muldoon, organiser of The Connoisseurs' Club and The Merchant Hotel's Potation Manager, said: "At The Merchant Hotel, we are really happy with how well the Connoisseurs' Club events are attended and received. It's a chance for bar/restaurant staff to gain more knowledge of certain spirits and of course every spirit tells a story. We are the only hotel in Northern Ireland that runs this kind of event and hope to continue with it.
"It is something a little different, decadent, and not to mention educational. We hope the continuing success ensues and we can bring the story of each spirit to Belfast."
To find out more about the Connoisseurs' Club, log on to www.theconnoisseursclub.org
