You all know Kent Rathbun, owner of Abacus and Jaspers, Iron Chef winner, etc. You know his wife, Tracy, runs Shinsei restaurant. On November 23, the two will battle, but over drinks, not food. Grey Goose vodka is the liquor of choice, and bartenders from the three restaurants will compete for the title of “Bartender Extraordinaire.” (Okay, we made that up). But the winner will get his or her cocktail placed on the menus at all three restaurants, so that’s a good thing, too.
Want to judge the competition? For $75, you get drinks and food (Rathbun barbeque, yes please) and the opportunity to give a marble to whichever drink you like the best. The one with the most marbles wins. Jump for all the details.
Three Dallas Favorites and Grey Goose Get Shaken and Stirred in the Ultimate Showdown
What: What do fine dining establishment Abacus, modern outdoors-themed Jasper’s and pan Asian favorite Shinsei have in common with the popular Grey Goose Vodka brand? Find out as three of Dallas’ most talked-about concepts feature the famous liquor brand to host the ultimate battle of bartending know-how. Kent Rathbun’s Abacus hosts the beverage brawl with an all-you-can-eat barbeque feast. Your 75 dollars gets you a ticket in the door plus a marble to give to the maker of your favorite cocktail. The winning drink recipe (bartender with the most marbles) will be featured on all three restaurant menus for serious bragging rights.
Who: Since Abacus opened 1999, the fine dining establishment has received numerous accolades and has been catapulted into the local, regional and national spotlight with industry recognition coming from Mobile Four-Stars, AAA Four Diamonds, DiRONA, Five Star rating from the Dallas Morning News and “Most Popular Restaurant in Dallas” rating by Zagat Survey in 2007 and 2008. Abacus has been featured in publications such as Elle, Southern Living, Veranda, Texas Monthly, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire Magazine, Rosie Magazine and Wine Spectator.
Rated one of Esquire Magazine’s Top 20 Best New Restaurants in America, Nation’s Restaurant News’ 2008 Hot Concepts! Award Winner and recipient of the DiRONA Award of Excellence, Jasper’s features a casual design with a “modern outdoors” theme complete with stained concrete floors, teak outdoor-style furniture, bamboo planters, dramatic lighting and artistic-interpretations of natural elements. Executive chef and owner Kent Rathbun has made a name for himself in the culinary world through his interest in creating unique and unsurpassed dishes. Jasper’s menu reflects Rathbun’s “home cooking” style with the best of America’s regional cuisine, including rotisserie chicken, fish, steaks, salads and pizza.
Shinsei, meaning “rebirth” or “new beginning,” is the brainchild of Dallas locals Tracy Rathbun and Lynae Fearing. Described as a hip, yet meditative sushi bar and pan Asian kitchen, Shinsei is a delight to the senses and the palate.
When: Sunday, November 23, 2008
5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Cost: $75 per person
Where: Abacus
4511 McKinney Ave.
Dallas, Texas 75205
