The Roanoker - November/December 2019 - 56
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★ Rockfish Food & Wine
BEST LOCAL COFFEE SHOP
Platinum
Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea
Gold
Sweet Donkey Coffee House
Silver
RND Coffee Lounge
A "Lucky" Platinum Win at Last
Kent Gugliuzza, bartender extraordinaire at Lucky Restaurant in downtown Roanoke,
is no stranger to the "Top Bartender" list, having earned gold and silver in recent years.
For the 2020 Dining Awards, however, readers voted him his first Platinum win, an
award he's humbled to receive.
"I'm extremely honored [for this award] because it means I'm reaching my goals,"
he says. "Plus, I owe a big shout out to Hunter Johnson and JP Powell for making this
award possible for me to obtain!"
For Gugliuzza, the love of his job comes from the people he meets, and tailoring an
individual experience for them. Whether it's food, drink or conversation, he wants guests
to come back and want more of it.
"Working at Lucky has been a dream come true," he says. "People come in and trust
me, without even knowing me, to make their drinks."
The creative process is different for everyone, but he's always excited to tackle
something new. He usually starts his base idea to include seasonal ingredients, or showcase
a specific spirit or liqueur. He also checks his Flavor bible to see the best flavor pairings
before going forward. Once it comes together, however, he has to remind himself to step
back. "Never stop trying to make a great drink, but once you do, let it be!"
Gugliuzza enjoys quality flavors from the other side of the bar when he isn't working.
His own favorite? A Sazerac cocktail, made with rye whiskey, sugar, Peychaud's bitters,
a peel of lemon and absinthe rinse.
Perhaps the most important pairing for any good drink is the experience. For guests to
take the time to visit the restaurant and enjoy a great meal (and/or beverage) is something
he doesn't take for granted.
"When a guest comes to our bar, I hope they are a little happier when they leave,"
Gugliuzza adds. "Thank you for letting me be a part of this incredibly generous community
that is Roanoke, Virginia!"
-LIZ LONG
56
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019
Platinum
Wasena City Tap Room & Grill
Gold
Blue 5 Restaurant
Silver
Mac & Bob's Restaurant
Best Bar Food
Platinum
Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill
Gold
Mac & Bob's Restaurant
Silver
AllSports Café
Most Creative Cocktails
Platinum
Lucky Restaurant
Gold
The River & Rail Restaurant
Silver
Local Roots: A Farm-to-Table Restaurant
BEST WINE LIST
Platinum
Local Roots: A Farm-to-Table Restaurant
Gold
Rockfish Food & Wine (TIE)
Montano's International Restaurant (TIE)
KENT GUGLIUZZA PHOTO BY MARK SORIANO, ROCKFISH PHOTO BY NOAH MAGNIFICO
★ Kent Gugliuzza
BEST LOCAL CRAFT BEER SELECTION
(RESTAURANT)
TheRoanoker.com
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker - November/December 2019
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker - November/December 2019
The Roanoker - November/December 2019 - Intro
The Roanoker - November/December 2019 - Cover1
The Roanoker - November/December 2019 - Cover2
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The Roanoker - November/December 2019 - Cover3
The Roanoker - November/December 2019 - Cover4
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