collab w/ Anvil Bar and Refuge

UBC Americas 2009, Dallas, Texas

I recently competed in the Ultimate Barista Challenge Americas in Dallas Texas at the Texas Restaurant Association's Food Expo. This competition takes place in 3 to 4 locations here in America during the year, and also in 3 foreign countries as well. It is divided into 4 categories: Latte Art/Specialty Latte, Frappe, Best of Brew, and Coffee Cocktail. Essentially the competition is in an "Iron Chef" style format, where the winner of each category in our respective regions (ours being south central region) face off against the "iron barista", or ultimate barista, who has gained their title by winning against a previous ultimate barista in one of the formats. In my quest to jump into the competitive circuit I thought this competition would be a good way of combining my coffee "purist" mentality with some of the greater minds in the food and service industry here in Houston. I was mentored by Bobby Heugel of Drinkdogma.com , who is one of the owners of Anvil Bar and Refuge on Westheimer. His cocktail philosophies almost made it inevitable that as long as I didn't mess up (thank goodness I pulled through) we would take the cocktail comp. We did. Which is a great example of the great things we can do when we collaborate between industries. Plinio Sandalio, of Textile Restaurant and http://plinkoeats.blogspot.com/ , helped me with my frappe, and I must say, this thing was incredible! I did not take the contest like I did with the cocktial, but the fault lies solely on me. I plan on mastering this amazing drink to continue competing with it in the next competition!

Returned from my first competition

I recently competed in the Coffeefest Las Vegas Millrock Latte Art Contest. This was my first attempt at a coffee competition and was really pleased with the entire thing. I didn;t place in the finals or anything, but I learned a helluva lot of new techniques (thanks to Chris Deferio on that) and met some great people in the industry. Getting my feet wet in the competitive circuit is a big step for what I plan on becoming here in Houston, a definitive go to barista when questions or projects are had. My next competition will be June 28 - 30 in Dallas TX for the Ultimate Barista Challenge. I am lucky enough to have support locally from a great bar in town (Anvil Bar & Refuge) in creating my signature cocktail. Really looking forward to advancing my craft and representing my hometown of Houston TX in the coffee industry.

Quality Houston?

so the journey begins... quality coffee in houston? I will share what I know. Max over @ Catalina- by far the most recognized, and for good reason. Great staff and always evolving into the premier spot for great espresso here in town. Sean Marshall, www.fusionbeans.com is a great roaster, with aspirations for a shop to come. I am in 5 Greenway Plaza, and I do consider myself a boutique espresso shop, even though I am inside this business plaza. Besides Catalina on Washington, you may be hard pressed to find a better espresso in Houston, and that is my challenge, where is all the quality?? Please enlighten me, so I can check it out!