Nalu emerges as winner in Starboard Bloody Mary contest

A total of 16 teams went head to head at The Starboard Restaurant’s Third Annual Bloody Mary Contest May 15. Some of the best restaurants in town turned out to compete in the hope of taking the title of Best Overall Bloody Mary, and it was quite a show. Co-owner Dickey Heidenberger, clad in his signature red suit and WWII bomber hat, played emcee for the day.

A behind-the-scenes madhouse gave way to stellar bloodies, from the tropical to the green and the downright wacky, every savory beverage was piled high - dressed to the nines in garnish.

Highlights included Jimmy’s Grille whose choke the chicken bloody Mary featured homemade chocolate-covered Oreos and their own fried chicken; Que Pasa’s taco salad bloody, featuring a full taco salad with a deep-fried softshell crab; and winner for stage presence, and the most elegant of the day, 99 Sea Level’s bloody Mary featuring a lamb lollipop and perfectly fried quail egg.

The prize for creativity went to The Starboard, who rocked their home field advantage by presenting the most colossal bloody mary board ever. The mug of bloody goodness was a meal fit for a king with a bone-in steak, soft-shell crabs, scallops wrapped in bacon, crab claw and a fruit kabob, and was ultimately topped with an entire hamburger.

Best taste went to Bluecoast, whose beverage had a spicy kick and a sweet finish that kept the judges coming back for more. But the Grand Champion of the day was Nalu, who served the winning bloody in a frozen pineapple shell. Prizes included $500 cash to the winner and bragging rights. Runners-up received $100 in gift certificates to The Starboard and Bethany Blues.

The revelry was a fine farewell to one of the Starboard’s own, Matt Huber, who is leaving after 11 years at The Starboard to pursue a career in media coordination.

Steve “Monty” Montgomery and the whole Starboard crew want to thank everyone who came out to enjoy the day and get a taste of the bloody madness.