Raminad Ong wins TGI Friday's regional bartending championship
MANILA, Philippines - Seasoned bartender Raminad Ong of TGI Friday’s-Robinsons Place Ermita was adjudged grand champion in the recently concluded Regional TGI Friday’s Bartending Championship held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Other winners were bartenders from Taiwan and Japan who garnered first and second runner-up honors, respectively.
More than the prize money amounting to $1,000, Ong earned the respect and admiration of the judges who were impressed with his smooth manipulation of cocktail shakers, mastery in mixing drinks as well as his showmanship in flipping, juggling and tossing bottles in the air with ease and style. The win also came with the privilege to officially represent the country in the TGI Friday’s World Bartending Championship in Texas slated in February 2012 — a much-anticipated event in Friday’s worldwide that puts together the best bartenders in one showdown.
The Friday’s Philippines contingent came in full force to root for Ong led by Bistro Group of Restaurants president and CEO William Stelton and COO Jean Paul Manuud. Ong and others from the Friday’s team were flown to Kuala Lumpur via Cebu Pacific, the official partner of TGI Friday’s in the Bartending Competition along with Bacardi.
