Awards

Speaking of Awards, Roots’ Bartender Patti Frank Won One at NRA

Patti Frank of Roots mixes her winning cocktail.
Patti Frank of Roots mixes her winning cocktail.

A certain New York-held awards ceremony has been the big topic of conversation this week, but it’s not the only award anybody from Chicago won this week. Patti Frank, bartender at Roots Handmade Pizza, won one at the National Restaurant Association show earlier in the week that, unlike a James Beard award for Best New Restaurant, say, carries a distinctly tangible prize: $5,000. The award is called the “Star of the Bar” competition, it’s part of the International Wine, Spirits and Beer Event that’s part of the NRA Show, and she won it from a pretty heady list of judges: “The Modern Mixologist” author Tony Abou-Ganim, “King Cocktail” himself, Dale DeGroff, and Top Chef audience favorite winner Fabio Viviani. Frank won for her cocktail “The Drunken Flower,” using Broker’s gin, elderflower liqueur and pomegranate and lemon juices; watch her making it in the video below.

Speaking of Awards, Roots’ Bartender Patti Frank Won One at NRA