Kewaunee County Star News

Main Menu

  • Classifieds
    • Place Ads
    • View Ads
  • Electronic Edition
  • Obituaries
  • Contact US

logo
Serving Algoma, Casco, Kewaunee, Luxemburg and all of Kewaunee County

Kewaunee County Star News

  • Classifieds
    • Place Ads
    • View Ads
  • Electronic Edition
  • Obituaries
  • Contact US
AlgomaFood and Beverage FestivalsRestaurantsWI
Home›Algoma›Algoma bar’s bloody mary wins three first places at statewide festival in Milwaukee

Algoma bar’s bloody mary wins three first places at statewide festival in Milwaukee

By
August 24, 2022
115
0
Share:

ALGOMA – Last year's win may have been big for Smashed on the Rocks Saloon, but this year, they tripled their fun.

The Algoma lakeside bar swept all three first-place awards for which it was eligible in The Bloody Mary Festival held Saturday in downtown Milwaukee. Its version of a bloody mary successfully defended last year's People's Choice win and added wins in the Best Original Recipe and Best Garnish categories, both of which they placed second in 2021.

"It was awesome," said Rana Ninneman, owner and manager of Smashed on the Rocks, about the triple wins. "We went into it knowing the competition was tough. We didn't know if we could win again, and here we win three times, so that was exciting."

This smaller version of the garnish used on Smashed on the Rocks' regular loaded bloody mary won the Best Garnish category at the 2022 Bloody Mary Festival held Aug. 20 in Milwaukee. The Algoma saloon's bloody mary also won for Best Original Recipe and the People's Choice award.

The annual festival and contest this year featured 13 bars and restaurants from across the state and Menominee, Michigan, that served sample-sized cups of their bloody marys on the plaza of Fiserv Forum, aka the NBA Milwaukee Bucks' Deer District, to judges selected from around the country and about 800 members of the public.

The judges select first- and second-place winners for original recipe, traditional recipe and best garnish, and everyone who attends gets a vote for People's Choice, which the festival organizers seem to consider the top award. Four makers of bottled bloody mary mixes from Wisconsin and the Twin Cities also competed in their own category.

In winning the judges' Best Original Recipe award, Smashed on the Rocks beat out runner-up Matty's Bar & Grille, one of eight bars or restaurants competing from the metro Milwaukee area and winner of Milwaukee's Best Bloody Mary three years running from 2019-21.

To win the garnish prize, Ninneman said they made what were essentially smaller versions of the garnish the saloon builds for its uber-popular loaded bloody mary, of which it serves about 200 to 250 a weekend. The loaded drinks are 18 ounces and carry a garnish with 31 toppings that include meats, onion rings, corn dogs, corn on the cob, fruit, pickled veggies and a few fried foods.

That might be a bit top-heavy for the 5-ounce bloody marys samples served at the festival, so Ninneman and her crew instead created a smaller garnish that remained somewhat loaded nonetheless, carrying bacon, chicken wings, pretzel bites, a cheese-and-sausage stick, lemon wedge, celery, pickle, olive, mushroom and asparagus, among other goodies. Ninneman said she and her staff spent quite a bit of time the week before the festival preparing them.

"We added hot food this year," Ninneman said about the difference between last year's second-place garnish and this year's winner. "A lot more prep work went into it."

Not just any bar can compete in the festival. Nominations can be submitted to the festival organizers, but judges go around the state to try bloody marys, then decide which ones are worthy of taking part and send out invitations. Organizers hold a series of bloody mary festivals in larger cities across the country, with five this year including stops in Austin, Texas; Portland, Oregon; the Twin Cities; and Denver. 2022 marks the ninth year of the series.

Ninneman said she and her crew — seven people, including her, and she said she easily could've used a couple more — didn't get a chance to check out their competition during the festival because they were so busy. But she said the people who stopped to try their bloody marys loved not only the beverages but also the presentation based on Smashed on the Rocks' tropical bar vibe.

"We had the best compliments and feedback," she said. "People loved our booth, loved our tropical theme. We had a couple people in costume giving out beer chasers. They loved the mix."

Smashed on the Rocks is at 70 Church St., Algoma. It is open at 11 a.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 9 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays during the season; the loaded bloody marys are available Saturdays and Sundays until 2 p.m. For more information, visit the "Smashed on the Rocks Saloon" Facebook page or call 920-487-8202.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-741-7952, 920-562-8900 or [email protected].

MORE:  Door, Kewaunee County businesses are raising funds for Ukraine relief. How are they doing?

MORE:  State record salmon caught off Algoma sheds light on evolving Great Lakes fishery

FOR MORE KEWAUNEE COUNTY NEWS: Check out our website

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Algoma bar's bloody mary wins three first places at statewide festival in Milwaukee

Previous Article

Kites will fly, swoop over Algoma beach ...

Next Article

Luxemburg-Casco learning director Snowberry wins national award ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • AlgomaBeachesLuxemburg-Casco School District

    Kewaunee County, Door County organizations receive grants from Green Bay foundation

    March 17, 2023
    By
  • KewauneeLibrariesNew BusinessesWI

    Book store to support the Kewaunee library reopens in new location

    March 16, 2023
    By
  • AlgomaKewaunee CountyLuxemburgRoad construction and improvementTown of CascoWIWisconsin Department of Transportation

    State 54 will close in Kewaunee County for three weeks this summer

    March 15, 2023
    By
  • CareersKewauneeKewaunee School DistrictKewaunee StormWI

    Kewaunee High School student is testing his culinary skills in SkillsUSA Wisconsin Culinary Arts Competition

    March 8, 2023
    By
  • AlgomaWI

    Algoma boy’s trip to Milwaukee Brewers spring training turns him into a new fan

    February 28, 2023
    By
  • AlgomaBaseballWI

    Algoma boy one of three going to Brewers spring training to throw out first pitch Saturday

    February 22, 2023
    By

Leave a reply Cancel reply

  • Kewaunee County

    Kewaunee County Star-News to get new owner

  • AlgomaBeachesLuxemburg-Casco School District

    Kewaunee County, Door County organizations receive grants from Green Bay foundation

  • KewauneeLibrariesNew BusinessesWI

    Book store to support the Kewaunee library reopens in new location

  • News

  • Sports

  • Green Bay

  • School store

    New student-led initiative takes off, results in enhanced learning

    By Kris Leonhardt
    December 6, 2023
  • The 2023 Build the Future Foundation Wall of Fame banquet honored Colonel Charles B. Meyer, Ron Pelnar and Joe Kassner. Pictured from left are: Jeff Vollenweider and Norman Paplham, who accepted on behalf of Meyer; Pelnar; and Kassner. Submitted photo

    Nominations sought for Kewaunee Wall of Fame

    By Kris Leonhardt
    December 5, 2023
  • Titletown sign

    The NFL Draft: Rolling out the red carpet

    By Kris Leonhardt
    December 4, 2023
  • Nora Krause looks for a passing lane as she brings the ball up court on Monday, Nov. 27 against Mishicot. Josh Staloch photo

    Wolves finding their way, defeat Blazers

    By Kris Leonhardt
    December 2, 2023
  • WisDOT logo

    WIS 54 construction completed

    By Kris Leonhardt
    December 1, 2023
  • Avery Jerabek drives towards the basket with Luxemburg-Casco's Reagan Doell closing in Tuesday in Kewaunee. Josh Staloch photo

    Storm survive Spartans

    By Kris Leonhardt
    December 8, 2023
  • L-C's Josh Parins drives baseline against a pair of Marinette defenders on Tuesday, Nov. 28 in the Spartans' season opener. Josh Staloch photo

    L-C opens with big win

    By Kris Leonhardt
    December 3, 2023
  • The L-C boys are working extra hard in early practice sessions as they look to improve on an overall record of 8-16 last season. Josh Staloch photos

    Luxemburg looking for improvement

    By Kris Leonhardt
    November 28, 2023
  • Basketball player

    New coach, same goal for Storm

    By Kris Leonhardt
    November 27, 2023
  • The Algoma boys were in full scrimmage mode during a practice earlier this week. Josh Staloch photos

    Wolves hoping for improved season

    By Kris Leonhardt
    November 26, 2023
  • Keynote speaker

    Power of place: Embracing lifestyle savings

    By Kris Leonhardt
    June 26, 2023
  • New North Summit: The power of place

    By Kris Leonhardt
    June 18, 2023
  • Kewaunee County shop hop hopes to draw visitors from across the Midwest

    By
    June 2, 2021
  • Scott bar badly damaged in Tuesday fire

    By
    May 3, 2017
Copyright © 2023 Multi Media Channels LLC.