13-Apr-15 – Bartenders from around the country will compete at River North’s House of Blues next month at an event emceed by author, restaurateur, and television personality Geoffrey Zakarian.

(Left) Geoffrey Zakarian. (Photo by Janet Rhodes.)

The National Restaurant Association announced on Thursday finalists for its Star of the Bar Mixology Competition. Six bartenders from six cities will compete for $5,000 by creating cocktails using Casamigos Tequila, a sponsor of the event.

Chicago’s contender is Andrew Turner (right) of Bottlefork in River North. The National Restaurant Association says he impressed the judges with his ingredients, a pre-cocktail treat, and “whimsical Styrofoam cup presentation.”

Zakarian appears on Food Network shows. On the series Chopped, he is often one of three judges on a show in which chefs compete by cooking for the judges, who eliminate one contestant each round. He is also executive chef of restaurants in New York, Atlantic City, and Miami.

Scheduled for May 17 from 9 p.m. to midnight, the HOB event is part of a larger trade show happening in Chicago.

The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest annual gathering of restaurant, food service, and lodging professionals in the world. More than 65,000 people are expected to attend events scheduled for May 16-19 at McCormick Place.