For the love of chocolate!

Winner of the Chocolate Drink Competition, Michael Hudson, with his signature creation.

JUDGES AND guests waited with bated breath to see what spectacular ideas the five bartenders vying for the top prize in the chocolate drink competition's grand final would have brought to the table on August 3 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf and Spa Resort, Rose Hall, Montego Bay.

However, Michael Hudson, bartender from Cohoba's Lounge, outshone them all and navigated a chocolate expedition, creating a skillful concoction of crème de cacao white and crème de cacao dark, forming a 'match-made-in-heaven' marriage between chocolate and martini mixology, resulting in ­ a double chocolate martini.

"All four bartenders performed outstandingly, and they were all certainly winners," commented Bernard Viola, food and beverage director, at the end of the competition.

He said, however, as soon as Hudson poured the first glass of his creation, he noticed that all the judges were in awe and probably wondered inwardly if the taste would be as divine as the display.

GREAT INSPIRATION

"Michael's inspiration was marvelous and the exquisite quality of his creation surpassed all the other wonderfully playful presentations," added one of the judges, as he indulged in the last sip of Hudson's martini.

The double chocolate martini served on an ice cream base in heaps of vertical layers was a study in simple forms. Guests were able to savour the delightful drink throughout the month of August and this has now become the signature martini drink served in the Cohoba's Lounge.

Other irresistible presentations were mangos chocolate sip-crème de cacao white and brown, a combination of rum cream, chocolate syrup and ice cream base, served from a coconut, lending a very rustic and pastoral look; the witch master from the White Witch Golf Course and midnight desire ­ a combination of amaretto, crème de cacao and Jamaican overproof rum served shaken, not stirred!