Phillip Antoine is the defending champion mixologist for the annual Food, Wine And Rum event held in Barbados.
Last year he was Bartender Of The Year, representing Barbados at Taste Of The Caribbean, this year he is shadowing Ryan Adamson who beat him for the title.
He made a simple mistake and forgot an ingredient.
“I won gold last year on the team and Best Non-Alcoholic Drink with a pomegranate guava concoction. I won special mention for my shaking technique.”
This year he is the backup for Ryan just in case something happens, as Phillip can attest to.
In 2014 he was with the same culinary team where he was the “shadow” to lead bartender Rohan Hackshaw, but never made it to Miami.
He suffered a crushing blow – a broken ankle in three places three weeks before the team was to leave and spent three weeks in the hospital.
“That was crushing to me. I really wanted to go and represent the team. Hackshaw was the lead bartender and I was the backup so it didn’t really affect the team that much.
“But Ryan is good this year. I am confident he will do well. I am so confident that I am not even preparing as hard as I should as I want Ryan to experience it.”
The bartenders, like the rest of the team, are in training three days a week for about four to five hours a day.
“This is our last week before we head off to Miami. The competition is from June 6 to 10. We have already fine-tuned the drinks we want to present so it’s all up to Ryan to bring home gold. No pressure, buddy,” he said, laughing.
Competition isn’t new to Phillip. He is the Angostura ambassador for 2016. In October he represented Barbados in St Maarten at the Angostura regionals where he came third (he forgot to chill his glass). Then in December he spent a week in Brazil represent Barbados at a food festival.
The mixologist at Fusion Bar in Limegrove, Phillip has made guest appearances throughout the Caribbean, just getting back from Trinidad, and has a few competitions to judge.
“I have to give thanks for 2015. I came into 2016 winning or placing in top three.
“I was disappointed not to win Bartender Of The Year to be honest. But Ryan was the better man on the day.”
Phillip said Taste Of The Caribbean is an experience that Ryan would love.
“I won gold on my first try. The experience is great. You are supposed to learn from it.
“I wasn’t nervous at the competition. I was ready. After three to four months of training, making the drinks became part of me.”
Phillip took EASY back to last year when he was at Taste Of The Caribbean.
“I laid out all the equipment in my room. I went through my flow, talking to the crowd, pulling them into my spiel. The tension is there as you are judged down to the finest details by four judges.
“I had a bumpy start on the day. I went over my time by 20 seconds in the first round. But I still nailed it by end of judging. What I loved about the competition was the camaraderie with the other teams. The bartenders from the other teams bonded as they want to see who they were up against especially if they have heard about you.”
Phillip is eager to see Ryan “kick tail”.
“I want him to win gold. It is a nice feeling when you get that medal.”