North Carolina’s restaurant industry leaders and local food enthusiasts from across the state gathered at Bay 7 in Durham on Monday, August 26 for the eighth annual Grand Finale of NCRLA’s Chef Showdown, presented by Got to Be NC Agriculture. After 11 preliminary and semifinal rounds, the evening culminated with the announcement of the 2024 winners.
Revival 1869’s Miguel Angel Latorre, Jr. was named NCRLA Mixologist of the Year and also took home the NCRLA Mocktail of the Year award, while Broadslab Distillery was awarded the prestigious title of NCRLA Distillery of the Year.
Each competing mixologist must choose an NC-based distillery to partner with for the competition and incorporate a product from that distillery into their competing concoction. Miguel partnered with Jeremy Norris with Broadslab for this year’s competition. A lot of time, effort, and creativity goes into competing in the Chef Showdown and competition is fierce. The event highlights local state ingredients, supporting over 500 NC farmers and producers.
Photo Credit: North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association
“The NCRLA Chef Showdown was an experience of a lifetime. From the ideation, to the preparation, all the way through to serving 500+ people at the finals, there were so many logistical challenges and things to troubleshoot. It was a lot! But all of the hard work and creativity was so worth it! To be able to showcase my talents and tell stories in the process is the exact reason why I feel as a bartender I often double as a storyteller,” said Miguel on his win.
Awards are given out for using specific products that can vary each year; this year featured awards for the best use of a dairy product and a Pepsi product. Miguel also took home the 2024 Born in the Carolina Award for Best Use of a Pepsi in a Cocktail Product. Miguel presented two innovative and expertly crafted drinks: Ode to Jessica (mocktail) and Just Down the Road (cocktail). Both drinks showed versatility and creativity.
Speaking on his inspiration for the mocktail, Miguel said, “‘Ode to Jessica’ is a savory and refreshing creation that pays homage to my mother’s Puerto Rican cuisine while highlighting NC-based ingredients. The sofrito sauce recipe brings a depth of flavor with its blend of herbs and vegetables, complemented by the earthy notes of muddled rice and beans. Coconut water, pineapple juice and lime juice add brightness and acidity, while simple syrup balances the flavors. The addition of Crude Bitters Cucumber Shrub-infused soda provides a crisp effervescence, enhancing the overall drinking experience. Garnished with savory chicken and steak jerky and a fresh cilantro sprig, this mocktail offers a unique and satisfying taste of both Puerto Rican and North Carolina culinary traditions.”
Miguel continued that his winning cocktail, Just Down The Road, “is a sophisticated stirred cocktail that marries the robust flavors of Aunt Ruby’s Peanuts infused with Broadslab’s Flu-Cured Rye Whiskey with the fruity bitterness of BlackBerry-infused Campari and the sweet complexity of Peach-infused Carpano Antica sweet vermouth. The addition of Pepsi Wild Cherry syrup reduction and Mindset Bitters adds layers of depth and a hint of cherry sweetness, perfectly balanced by the cocktail’s herbal and nutty undertones. Garnished with a delicate peach chip and a local flower, this cocktail not only delights the palate but also celebrates the flavors and botanicals unique to North Carolina.”
Maleah Christie, who co-owns Revival 1869 with her business partner Mike Stojic, said the NCRLA competition is something they look forward to each year. It requires a lot of time and creative passion from the very best people in NC's food and beverage industry. Miguel is the third bartender to make it to the finals and the first bartender to win, which Maleah and Mike are remarkably proud of. Revival has had mixologists compete and make it to the Top 6 final round twice before!
“Miguel's winning cocktail and mocktail truly embody his personality and talent, as well as the playful elegance we've created here at Revival 1869. Our bar team works together to continually grow, learn from each other and push creative boundaries. Miguel represented that well in this year's NCRLA competition.” Maleah continued, “Teaming up with Jeremy Norris at Broadslab Distillery is an honor. We're tickled to death he won Best Distillery! Jeremy's such a great guy and his heart and creativity show in his whiskey. These awards show that people can really taste the love and hard work put into showcasing our industry and our state... I'm certain that Miguel and all of us at Revival 1869 will be savoring this win for a very long time! We can't wait for next year's showdown!”
Mike is also very proud of what Miguel was able to achieve at the NCRLA Chef Showdown, saying it was a fantastic culmination of a lot of growth and development. Creating a cocktail which embodies passions, tells a personal story, and has amazing complexity is no easy task. The Showdown is the biggest culinary event in NC and being a part of it is always a huge honor.
Mike continued, speaking to the environment he and Maleah have crafted at Revival, “When Maleah and I built Revival 1869, we set out to foster an environment which encourages freedom in creativity from all the bartenders, not just one Bar Manager or Beverage Director. In doing so, we have a wealth of unique perspectives brought on by different socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, and personalities. They work together to refine their craft through shared passion. Miguel deserves the accolades for winning Mixologist of the Year. But, stirred in that award winning cocktail is a little piece of each member of our bar family that assisted in his journey. I’m excited to see what’s next for him and how the rest of our team rises to this new challenge.”
Miguel spoke to that environment as well, “Mike and Maleah have been instrumental in my journey and I am so thankful to be a part of this team. They really have cultivated an environment where we feel supported and our creative liberties are able to shine. The NCRLA Chef Showdown was an opportunity to dive deeper into the craft of mixology and present mocktails and cocktails that I believe showcase my story and my passion for the craft. It’s truly an honor to be given this title and I plan to continue to curate memories and experiences at Revival 1869. I am so thankful for Broadslab Distillery, Jeremy Norris and Colby Norris, for being supportive and allowing me to showcase their fantastic Flu-cured Rye Whiskey.”
Broadslab Distillery is the state’s only dirt-to-bottle, farm-based distillery, known for their five-generation moonshine recipe and dedication to crafting high-quality spirits. As Broadslab continues to grow and innovate, this award solidifies their reputation as one of the top distilleries in North Carolina.
“We are honored to have been chosen by Miguel at Revival 1869 to use our farm-to-bottle rye whiskey in his unique cocktail! The fact that we won the 2024 NCRLA Distillery of the Year is an incredible honor!” said Jeremy Norris, Owner and Master Distiller at Broadslab. “I truly believe the judges enjoyed the story behind our distillery and the fact that we are a family-owned and farm-to-bottle distillery with a unique 'flue-cured' patent pending whiskey aging process.”
Broadslab recently released a new product line, one of which Miguel used in the Showdown. It is a line of flue-cured bourbons and whiskeys; aged using a patented process where barrels of product are placed in a flue-cured tobacco barn, using the heat to speed the aging process.
Jeremy continued, “this experience was awesome since our distillery has never entered this contest before. Miguel told me from the beginning he was 'in it to win it' and he was not joking!! Miguel is a fabulous mixologist with a wonderful personality! It was a pleasure to work with him throughout this entire process! Be sure to visit Revival 1869 in Clayton this Fall to try Miguel's Just Down the Road cocktail made with Broadslab's Flue-Cured Rye Whiskey!”
Mike added that the bartender/distiller partnership is an integral part of the competition, “I love the partnership between bartender and distiller. Distillers, like Jeremy Norris at Broadslab, crafting amazing products and bartenders, like Miguel, using it to create masterpieces. It’s our industry's greatest display of culinary artistic expression.”
Photo Credit: North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association
Also represented this year was Hinnant Vineyards, partnering with a competing chef to use wine as a complement to the dish. In addition, Tiesha Whittaker of Buttermilk Boutique, and 2021 NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year, participated as a judge. Events like the Chef Showdown help to highlight the exceptional talent and quality products coming out of Johnston County. These accolades serve as an open invitation to food and drink enthusiasts to explore the vibrant and expanding scene in the county and place JoCo firmly on the map as a culinary destination in North Carolina.
Miguel reflected, “Winning the 2024 NCRLA Mixologist of the year, Mocktail of the year, and best use of a Pepsi product accolade feels surreal. I think of ‘The Alchemist’ written by Paulo Coelho where he writes of the journey of a Shepherd boy following his personal legend. He faced adversity and had to overcome every obstacle that came his way. I’ve had to overcome obstacles both personally and professionally to get to this pivotal moment and I’m so thankful for it. My hard work and dedication has paid off. This competition means more to me than just the title of Best Mixologist in NC. This competition shows me that I am capable of manifesting the life I desire. You can do anything you desire with the right goals, dedication, and unwavering passion and positivity.”
For more information about the Chef Showdown event and to see all this year’s winners, visit www.ncrla.org/ncrla-events/2024-ncrla-chef-showdown. To learn more about how to VisitJoCo go to www.johnstoncountync.org.
