February 23-24: Jim & Rocky’s Barback Pro-Am Hits Downtown LA

Jim Romdall and Rocky Yeh are dining on fresh meat up and down the West Coast.

This winter, two renowned bartenders and spirits professionals from Seattle are hitting the road to visit some of the West Coast’s top bars for Jim & Rocky’s Barback Pro-Am. Rising Star Mixologist Jim Romdall and Rocky Yeh (NW Vivant) of the late, lamented Vessel are challenging amateur mixologists, writers and bloggers to step behind the stick for a shift and demonstrate their skills during real world bar conditions.

Each night will feature a new competitor (or as the duo calls them, “victims”) behind a host bar in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Competitors will be judged on appearance, skill, technique, customer service and quality of their cocktails. All of the carnage is being documented for Jim & Rocky’s Barback Pro-Am, an upcoming series on the Small Screen Network.

The duo is now in So Cal, and after putting Ron Dollete (Lush Angeles) and Tatsuya Oiye (Cocktail Community) through their paces in San Diego and Seal Beach (at El Dorado Bar and 320 Main, respectively), the tour comes to downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 23rd and Thursday, February 24th.

The first victim barback is Chuck Taggart (Looka!), who will be working his shift at Bar | Kitchen on Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm. The next night, Marleigh Miller (SLOSHED!) will be the featured barback at Caña Rum Bar, starting at 8pm. Caña GM Allan Katz is extending an invite to non-member guests: anyone who mentions “Jim & Rocky’s Pro-Am” at the door will receive a free Caña membership, courtesy of Kindred Spirits.

No cover or RSVPs are necessary at the Pro-Am events, just come on down and support these brave barbacks!

Jim & Rocky’s Barback Pro-Am
February 23-24, 2011
Featuring: Jim Romdall and Rocky Yeh
With: Chuck Taggart and Marleigh Miller

Bar | Kitchen (Chuck Taggart)
Wednesday, Feb. 23
6pm-9pm
819 S. Flower St.
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 623-9904
www.ohotelgroup.com

Caña Rum Bar (Marleigh Miller)
Thursday, Feb. 24
8pm-12am
714 W. Olympic Blvd. (at Flower)
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 745-7090
www.canarumbar.com