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On Tuesday July 1st, at Americano located in the Hotel Vitale, eight Bar Chefs from some of San Francisco’s finest establishments participated in a challenge to be crowned San Francisco’s Top Bar Chef. Competitors were given a secret ingredient that was a complete surprise to them that they had to incorporate into their cocktails. The first round’s secret ingredient was Nectarines with five varieties chosen from the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market. After eliminations three competitors remained to create cocktails with the next secret ingredient, Peppers, also from the Farmers Market. The three remaining competitors, Ronaldo Colli from Americano, Josh Harris from Five Star Cocktails, and Cody Robertson from Oola, made two cocktails each to be judged choosing from a selection of ten peppers. The judging panel which consisted of David Nepove, Vice-President of the United States Bartender’s Guild, Steven Oliver, General Manager of Le Colonial, Camper English, alcademics.com and San Francisco Magazine, and Deborah Parker-Wong, Associate Editor Patterson’s Tasting Panel Magazine, judged 14 cocktails over the course of the evening and came away with a unanimous decision crowning Colli the winner. Guests, while being entertained by the Bar Chefs hard at work sipped on Lotus Vodka cocktails on the patio of Americano as the sun set on the bay.