Austin, TX

RENATO TONELLI CROWNED 2023 US BARTENDER OF THE YEAR AT USBG PRESENTS WORLD CLASS SPONSORED BY DIAGEO FINALS IN AUSTIN, TX

Published

1 year ago

May 19, 2023

RENATO TONELLI CROWNED 2023 US BARTENDER OF THE YEAR AT USBG PRESENTS WORLD CLASS SPONSORED BY DIAGEO FINALS IN AUSTIN, TX

A showstopping competition of the nation’s Top 30 bartenders leads to one winner who will represent the US during World Class Global Finals in Sāo Paolo, Brazil.

NEW YORK, May 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The eleventh season of the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) Presents World Class Sponsored By DIAGEO announced Renato Tonelli of Brooklyn, NY as the 2023 US Bartender of the Year following three challenging days of exceptional craft cocktail showmanship. Hosted in Austin, TX, the acclaimed competition brought together the nation’s top 30 bartenders to put their skills, senses, and agility to the ultimate test with a series of intense challenges. Renato Tonelli was a standout talent, demonstrating that passion and determination for the trade can truly lead to success. Known for his utmost hospitality and creativity, Tonelli showcased a skilled and thoughtful approach to the prestigious competition, earning the honor of representing the US at the Global Finals in Brazil this fall.

A showstopping competition of the nation’s Top 30 bartenders leads to one winner who will represent the US during World Class Global Finals in Sāo Paolo, Brazil.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9171851-usbg-presents-world-class-sponsored-by-diageo-2023-bartender-of-the-year/

Renato Tonelli got his start in the hospitality industry working globally in Rome, Italy before broadening and perfecting his craft in Brussels, Germany then Melbourne, Australia and eventually returning to New York City where he was born and raised. With a growing passion for sustainability practices throughout years of experience behind the bar, Tonelli is best known for his love of developing unique and delicious recipes that upcycle food waste.

“Being named the 2023 US Bartender of the Year is something I have dreamed of for years and that dream just came true,” says Renato Tonelli. “I’ve gained so much invaluable knowledge, skills and camaraderie from this competition that will make a major impact in the future for both my personal and professional career in this industry. I’m thrilled to be heading to the Global Finals in Brazil and continuing to pursue sustainable practices with this craft, and I have the outstanding support of this community behind me to thank for that.”

This year the National Finals took place at a combined event where the country’s Top 30 bartenders first competed in three challenges over two days. Competitors mixed and stirred across the Garnished With Good challenge where they crafted a recipe using a sustainably sourced or made ingredient or process using Ketel One Family Made Vodka, followed by Walk With Me where they developed a bespoke cocktail with Johnnie Walker that they would serve a person or group embodying the spirit of progress, and finally the showstopping Speed Round that tasked competitors with designing and executing a themed menu of eight cocktails within 10 minutes using the DIAGEO Reserve Spirits portfolio. From there, the Top 5 Finalists were selected to compete in two final showdown challenges, testing their ability to pair a Tequila Don Julio cocktail with local cuisine as well as a bartender’s choice cocktail using a mystery ingredient sourced from Austin, TX.

“The growth and evolution of the World Class US program from the first year to now, the eleventh, has been inspiring,” shares USBG Executive Director Aaron Gregory Smith. “We are incredibly proud of this program and how it continues to contribute to the careers and camaraderie of the bartenders in our community.”

Cassandra Ericson, Manager of On Premise Channel Marketing at DIAGEO North America adds, “The level of commitment and engagement that each participant brings to the World Class US program only exemplifies the impressive and diverse talent found in today’s bartending community. We are proud to be committed to providing each participant with mentorship, innovative resources and ongoing digital education through DiageoBarAcademy.com to help further elevate their craft to the next level no matter what their experience level might be.”

Those interested in taking a shot at the US Bartender of the Year title are invited to apply for the 2024 USBG Presents World Class Sponsored By DIAGEO program. Follow @WorldClassUS on Instagram to learn more and be alerted when applications open this summer. In the meantime, try your hand at Renato Tonelli’s recipes that helped him win the US Finals this year.

Market Sangria

Ingredients:

1.25 oz Ketel One Family Made Vodka Infused With Fig
1.25 oz Local Orange Wine
1 oz Clarified Grape Juice
2 oz Pink Lady Apple Kombucha
0.5 oz Local Infused Honey
2 dashes Ketel One Botanical Peach & Orange Blossom
4 dashes Saline Solution
Garnish: Upcycled Market Leftovers & Foraged Flowers

Preparation:

Combine Ketel One Vodka Infused with Fig, Orange Wine, Clarified Grape Juice, Honey, Ketel One Botanical Peach & Orange Blossom and Saline Solution into a shaker with ice.
Shake thoroughly and strain into glass
Top with Pink Lady Apple Kombucha and stir gently
Garnish with Upcycled Market Leftovers & Foraged Flowers

Urban Garden

Ingredients:

1.25 oz Johnnie Walker High Rye
0.25 oz Seedlip Garden 108
0.25 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
0.5 oz Green Tea
0.5 oz Lime Juice
0.5 oz Garden Scrap Cordial
4 dashes Saline Solution
2 dashes Pernod
Half of a Muddled Tomatillo
1 oz Egg White
Spray of Green Chartreuse
Garnish: Microherbs

Preparation:

Combine ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
Strain over ice into a glass.
Spray Green Chartreuse over drink and garnish with Microherbs.

Cocktails created for the duration of this year’s competition can be found on Instagram using the handle @WorldClassUS. When showcasing your own mixology or sampling award-winning recipes from this year’s competitors, USBG and DIAGEO reminds you to do so responsibly.

For additional information about the program and for details on the upcoming global competition, follow hashtags #worldclassus, #worldclass2023 and #roadtobrazil on Twitter and Instagram, and check us out online at https://worldclass.usbg.org and https://www.usbg.org/.

About USBG
Founded in 1948, the United States Bartenders’ Guild®️ is the national, member-led not-for-profit association of bartenders and other hospitality professionals that unites and elevates the bar industry through education, community, and advocacy. Through its network, the USBG connects members with peer-to-peer learning, expert instruction, service projects, and skills-based competition, all while fostering a fun and healthy environment and reinforcing the importance of the ‘third place’ in neighborhoods across the country.

About DIAGEO
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.

For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

SOURCE DIAGEO

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Austin, TX

How to protect your vehicle from the Texas heat this summer

Published

41 mins ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

How to protect your vehicle from the Texas heat this summer

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It’s summertime in Texas, and with it comes more extreme heat and the possibility of severe weather. Paired with more intense weather patterns is summer vacation, a time when many Texans will likely hit the roads seeking a little rest and reprieve.

Before a storm front rolls in or you venture off for a road trip, here are some key areas you should check on your vehicle to ensure you’re traveling safely.

Your summertime car care checklist

“Starting off, severe weather or not, [you should be] making sure that your tires are in good condition, your tire thread has good life on it,” said AJ Garza, a regional manager for Jiffy Lube with oversight on the San Antonio and Austin markets.

During the summer months, the extreme heat radiating off roadways can threaten your tires if they’re more worn down and in need of replacement, Garza said. Ensuring they’re in good condition can help drivers avoid a blowout while driving, he added.

Three other key checkpoints on your vehicle include wiper blades, lights and the battery. Wiper blades eventually wear down after exposure to extreme temperatures, especially when paired with grime and debris and extended use. AAA recommends replacing them at least once a year if not more frequently, given Texas’ more intense climate.

For lights, Garza said this is especially critical if drivers are anticipating severe weather, such as rainstorms. Checking to make sure the lights work will ensure you can safely navigate roads, should you get caught in a downpour or other intense storms.

As for the battery, it’s no surprise that monitoring its condition and lifespan is especially crucial in Texas. Extremely high temperatures can overwork a battery and cause them to die.

“The extreme heat just completely puts a huge damper on your battery, so it can drain your battery out,” Garza said. “The extreme heat also breaks down your coolant and antifreeze a lot faster, which can lead to a vehicle overheating.”

Garza recommended checking to make sure your backup and spare reservoirs are at the proper level and the fluid is within its lifespan and hasn’t broken down.

Finally, with air conditioners, he said drivers should check to make sure their Freon — the non-combustible gas used in ACs — has been replenished. Garza added most manufacturers recommend drivers add new Freon in every two to four years.

A standard re-up item on a car Garza warned drivers not to forget about is their brakes. Those should be inspected routinely by a service center any time you’re getting an oil change.

There are also plenty of shops that’ll do a free visual brake check. He cautioned drivers to stay on top of routine maintenance so they’re not waiting until they’re in the “red zone” to do something about it.

“[Jiffy Lube operates] in green, yellow and red, which green is in good condition, yellow is for your consideration and red is for immediate attention,” he said. “So when it comes to brakes, nobody ever wants to wait for your brakes to meet in the red.”

What should you always have on hand in your car, in case of an emergency?

One guarantee is that you never know when you might run into an issue with your vehicle, but Garza said drivers can prepare themselves with a few simple items.

The first is a first aid kit, in case a situation arises and someone needs lower-level medical care. From there, he stressed the value of having jumper cables tucked away into your car.

A spare gas container is also recommended in case you run out of gas and you need to go fill up the extra container to replenish fuel levels.

Handheld air compressors are a small but mighty tool that can refill a tires in a pinch. Keeping extra phone chargers on hand in the event of an emergency is also one way to keep people safe and seek out help, as needed.

Garza suggested carrying a couple of spare blinkers or headlights, in case one goes out.

“If you know what your headlight is, it’s always good to just have one extra on your blinkers or your license plate lights,” he said. “Because you always want to be able to not only see but be seen.”

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Austin, TX

Missing man's friends find phone on ground hours after he was last seen: APD

Published

8 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

Missing man's friends find phone on ground hours after he was last seen: APD

article

(Austin Police Department)

AUSTIN, Texas – The Austin Police Department is looking for a missing man who was last seen Saturday afternoon in the Rainey Street area.

40-year-old Daniel Choi was last seen just after 1 p.m. on June 29 in the 600 block of Davis Street.

APD says Choi’s friends found his phone on the ground at Cesar Chavez and South 1st Street, less than a mile away, at about 5:45 p.m.

The department says that there is a concern as Choi needs medication and has no wallet or phone and this is considered out of the ordinary behavior for him.

Choi is described as a white male, 5’8″ and 130 lbs, with straight black hair and limited use of his right arm. He was last seen wearing blue swim shorts with a bird print and a blue T-shirt.

Anyone who sees Choi should call 9-1-1 immediately or the APD Missing Person’s Unit at 512-974-5250.

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Austin, TX

APD seeking the public’s help to find 40-year-old missing man

Published

15 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

APD seeking the public’s help to find 40-year-old missing man

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department has asked for the public’s help in its search for a missing 40-year-old who was last seen Saturday afternoon in downtown Austin, according to a press release from the agency.

Police identified the missing man as Daniel Choi, and said he was last seen in the 600 block of Davis Street around 1:04 p.m. His friends found his cellphone on the ground at Caesar Chavez and South First Street around 5:45 p.m., APD said in a news release.

APD said it has concerns for Choi’s disappearance, as he needs undisclosed medications.

The Austin Police Department is seeking the public’s help to find a 40-year-old missing man last seen in downtown Austin Saturday (Courtesy APD)

Choi is described as an Asian man, 5 feet 8 inches, 130 pounds, has straight black hair and has limited use of his right arm, according to APD. He was last seen wearing blue swim shorts with bird print on them and a blue T-shirt.

If anyone sees Choi, they are urged to call 911 immediately or the APD Missing Person’s Unit at 512-974-5256.

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