The purists will insist that the only real martini is one made with a 2½-ounce pour of gin, a splash of dry vermouth and a green olive or lemon twist for garnish.
Whether the ingredients are shaken or stirred remains a point of contention.
Variations on the theme prevailed, though, when invited four community figures to create their favorites for a fundraiser called Martinis & Jazz.
Jeff Francis, a pitcher for the , created a White Russian-tini that ultimately was voted the favorite of the evening. Author and radio host David Sirota lit up the night with his Red-Hot Dirty Martini. And publisher Jerry Cunningham, winner of the favorite celebrity prize, offered an ode to fall with a pom-apple-tini made from pomegranate juice, apple juice and vodka with a cinnamon stick and candy cane garnish.
I participated, too, with a French martini: Chambord, vodka and pineapple juice.
The event was held at Willow Ridge Manor in Morrison and everyone was having so much fun sampling that by the midway point in the evening, the benefit’s name was spontaneously changed to Martini Madness.
Credit for the beverages tasting as good as they did, though, goes to professional bartenders Jody Bouffard and Holly Hatch ( ), Guy Faulkner ( ) and Jeff Trujillo ( ), who presided over the quality control.
Co-chairs for the benefit were Lawrence Bub, Brad Clark, Jerry Cunningham, Jim Kurtz-Phelan, Jamie Sarche and Erin Yourtz. Gregory Sargowicki, owner of , and his partner, Lawrence French, whose provided the food, also helped coordinate the festivities.
The guests included financial planner Wade Frisbie, treasurer of the board of directors; attorney Ellen Stewart; Scott Levin, regional director of the ; Christopher K.M. Leach, president of ; Dan and Jody Stenersen (he’s the president and CEO of Shalom Cares); Judy Neumann; Gary and Terri Yourtz; Willie Recht; Susy Grazi; and Purnell Steen, whose jazz trio supplied the music.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, davidson@ denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
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