By Sacha Delfosse
As part of this year’s World Class finals, ten of Australia’s best bartenders will be challenged in a food pairing round to showcase their skills by creating elegant cocktails to match an exquisite Japanese menu.
The food pairing challenge will be held in Sydney at Sokyo restaurant, located at The Star, on June 12 from 6.30pm. The ten World Class finalists will be matching their drinks to a contemporary five-course Japanese menu, designed by Sokyo’s head chef Chase Kojima.
“We are honoured to be hosting the World Class national final, and look forward to seeing what exciting cocktails the bartenders create to match the dishes. The event promises to display the prowess of Australian culinary experts in both the food and drink arenas,” Chase Kojima says.
It is one of many challenges the finalists will undergo over three days and is the only one the trade and public can get themselves a front seat to the action for. The World Class cocktail dinner at Sokyo is priced at $180 per person, and anyone interested in booking themselves one of a limited number of seats available needs to call The Star on 1800 700 700 and mention ‘The World Class Event at Sokyo’.
Guests will be taking part in this unique degustation experience and will play a key role in deciding the winner, along with a panel of expert judges, by voting on their favourite cocktails during the course of the evening.
The competing bartenders will have their skills and knowledge tested by being required to take inspiration from the flavours of the menu and create cocktails to match the dishes, using a selection of spirits including Ketel One, Ciroc, Johnnie Walker Platinum, Talisker and Tanqueray No. 10.
To learn more about World Class visit here. View highlights of last year's food pairing challenge below.