Culinary & Mixology Tent
At the 2025 Fest, the Culinary & Mixology Tent will host cooking and cocktail demonstrations performed by a variety of chefs, and mixologists, including Mixaritas Mobile Bartending Service! The chefs and mixologists utilize products from our festival vendors in their recipes. In addition to the demonstrations, the chefs and mixologists also compete in ‘Iron Chef’ style competitions each day of the festival, with an ultimate winner awarded on Sunday! 2024’s Winner of the Final Competition was Sakari Smithwick! Social Media Influencer judges put their taste buds to the ultimate test and chose the winners!
Schedule
Saturday, June 28th
10:15am – 10:45am (VIP Welcome)
Brunch Cocktails with Mixaritas Mobile Bartending
11:00am – 12:00pm
Brunch Demonstration with Danny & Kathleen Pigliavento (Dannypigs, sponsored by the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition)
12:15pm – 1:45pm
Culinary Competition #1 – with Chefs Carl Weiner (Sans Souci) & John Holmes (Lakeside Restaurant & Lounge)
2:00pm – 2:45pm
Wine, Cheese, & Chocolate Pairings with Courtney Rankin (Sommelier & Wine Maker at Adirondack Winery) *Featuring products from Barkeater Chocolates, Worldling’s Pleasure & Little Cheese Shop
3:00pm – 4:30pm
Culinary Competition #2 – with Chefs Ciarán McGoldrick (Glenmere Farm) and Noah Frese (Siro’s, Noah’s)
5:00pm – 5:30pm
Cocktail Demonstration with Mixaritas Mobile Bartending
Sunday, June 29th
10:15am – 10:45am (VIP Welcome)
Brunch Cocktails with Mixaritas Mobile Bartending
11:00am – 12:00pm
Culinary Demonstration With Chef Ciarán McGoldrick (Sponsored by the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition)
12:15pm – 1:00pm
Mixology Competition presented by High Camp Flasks – With Kelli Hatin + Jenn Berry-Youngs of Mixaritas Mobile Bartending & Ethan McKee + David Joseph of Park & Elm
1:15pm – 2:00pm
Wine, Cheese, & Chocolate Pairings with Courtney Rankin (Sommelier & Wine Maker at Adirondack Winery) *Featuring products from Barkeater Chocolates, Worldling’s Pleasure & Little Cheese Shop
2:15pm – 3:45pm
Final Culinary Competition- The Winning Chefs from Saturday go head-to-head
4:00pm – 4:30pm
Cocktail Demonstration with Mixaritas Mobile Bartending
2025 Chefs & Mixologists
Chef Ciarán McGoldrick
Chef Carl Weiner
Chef John Holmes
Chef Noah Frese
Chef Ciarán McGoldrick is the owner and chef at Glenmere Farm in the Hudson Valley. culinary journey began to take shape during idyllic childhood summers spent at his family’s farm in Ireland. Surrounded by lush landscapes and the rich tapestry of Irish culture, he developed a deep appreciation for fresh, locally sourced ingredients and the art of transforming them into culinary masterpieces. After completing his formal education, Chef Ciarán embarked on a transformative culinary journey, working alongside renowned chefs. He lent his skills to the former Michelin Star Restaurant – Café Boulud in New York, where he fine-tuned his ability to create culinary experiences that transcended the ordinary. Ciarán proudly holds the coveted title of a Food Network CHOPPED Champion!
Chef Carl Weiner is the owner of Sans Souci, a charming restaurant in the east side community of Cleverdale, just 10 minutes outside Lake George Village off Route 9L. Sans Souci offers casual dining and delicious pizza in a welcoming local setting. Carl is hands-on, splitting his time between the front of the house and the kitchen. Besides his culinary pursuits, he is also a practicing CPA. Notably, Carl was the winner of the 2023 Sunday Culinary Competition and took Second place in the 2024 competition!
Overseeing food at the Lakeside Restaurant and lounge at the Fort William Henry is Chef de Cuisine John Holmes, who joined Fort William Henry after years of working in corporate and fine-dining settings in and around Manhattan. Among the influences on the menu are his mother’s meatballs, grandmother’s lemon tart, the family’s bread-and-butter pickles and, in an homage to Lake George, rainbow trout cooked in cast iron.
A 2nd generation chef from Albany, New York, Chef Noah Frese fell in love with cooking at an early age. Noah started his career after high school when he moved to Manhattan and put himself through The International Culinary Center, where he learned classic French cuisine. He was able to take his knowledge down to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he became the head chef for Barcelona Wine Bar and learned to master a tapas-style menu. Chef Noah was the executive sous chef at 677 Prime before taking on The Roosevelt Room. Noah won the Rising Star Chef competition at the Albany Chef Food and Wine and also took first place at the 2023 Albany Boys and Girls Club Great Future Gala. Noah is currently the executive chef at Siro’s and will soon open his own restaurant, Noah’s Italian in Saratoga Springs.
MIXARITAS MOBILE BARTENDING
Ethan
McKee
Courtney Rankin
Danny And Kathleen Pigliavento
Mixaritas is brought to you by expert mixologists Kelli Hatin & Jenn Berry-Youngs! Our mobile bartending service delivers the party right to your doorstep, featuring professional and knowledgeable mixologists who craft custom cocktails and mocktails to perfectly suit your event. Whether it’s a birthday, wedding, anniversary, or a girl’s night out, Mixaritas ensures you can sit back and enjoy the fun! Our talent was recognized with a full sweep at last year’s festival, winning the mixology competitions on both Saturday and Sunday!
Ethan McKee is the Beverage Manager at Park & Elm in Glens Falls, NY. With over a decade of bartending experience—from Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro in Saratoga Springs to cocktail bars on the West Coast—Ethan is fueled by a passion for the nuanced art of crafting cocktails. His creative mixology style focuses on harmonizing unique flavors to create unforgettable guest experiences. Outside the bar, Ethan enjoys spending time with his dog and savoring a nice glass of wine. He’s always eager to showcase his skills and learn from the best mixologists in the industry.
Courtney Rankin is Adirondack Winery’s inaugural female winemaker. With over six years of experience in winemaking, Courtney is responsible for overseeing the production of over 35 wines and 6 hard ciders, as well as leading the development of new wine and hard cider releases for the company. Shortly after commencing her new position at Adirondack Winery, Courtney demonstrated her expertise in the field by passing the Level 1 Sommelier Exam. To earn this status, she had to pass a Wine Theory Exam in which she was tested on different wine types and the various regions it resides in. This accomplishment not only highlights her dedication and passion for wine, but also positions her as a valuable asset to the winery.
Danny and Kathleen have risen to notoriety on the social media account Danny Pigs. Blending their love of cooking with humor and banter, they have gained a following with their fun and informative social media clips.
DAVID JOSEPH
Representing Park & Elm, David brings both precision and creativity to the bar. With a Coffee Master Certification under his belt, he has a deep appreciation for balance, flavor, and craft. He began his journey as a barback, including a focused season at The Gem where he honed skills in syrup creation and dilution techniques. David quickly rose through the ranks at Park & Elm and has now been bartending there for over two years, known for his thoughtful approach and bold, well-structured cocktails.
2025 Judges
518 FOODIES
MOM NEEDS COFFEE
DANNY & KATHLEEN
Megan from 518 Foodies will be judging the Saturday Culinary Competitions starting at 12:15 PM & 3 PM.
Kristen from Mom Needs Coffee will be judging the Saturday Culinary Competition starting at 3:00 PM
Danny & Kathleen Pigliavento from DannyPigs will be judging the Saturday Culinary Competition starting at 12:15 PM.
FOOD & HART
ME, MYSELF AND WINE
YOUR FOODIE PRINCESS
Kristen from Food & Hart will be judging the Saturday Culinary Competition starting at 12:15 PM.
Carol Ann from Me, Myself and Wine and Director of Events & Community Engagement for ARCC will be judging the Saturday Culinary Competition starting at 3:00 PM
Melina from Your Foodie Princess will be judging the Sunday Culinary Competition starting at 2:15 PM.
FEED ME 518
DEEPAK BALLANEY
LIBBY'S LIBATIONS
Nellie from Feed Me 518 will be judging the Sunday Culinary Competition starting at 2:15 PM.
Deepak will be judging Sunday’s Culinary Competition starting at 2:15 PM.
Libby Adams from Libby’s Libations and FLY 92.3 will be judging Sunday’s Cocktail Competition starting at 12:15 PM.
518 CRAFT BEER
LIME & LIQUOR
Shannon & Ryan from 518 Craft Beer will be judging Sunday’s Cocktail Competition starting at 12:15 PM.
DJ & Shalini, the husband-and-wife team behind Lime & Liquor, will be judging Sunday’s Cocktail Competition starting at 12:15 PM. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago and now based in Glens Falls, they share a passion for crafting cocktails that blend global inspiration with Caribbean roots.
2025 Culinary & Cocktail Tent Supporters
We want to give a big shoutout to our 2025 supporters of the Culinary & Cocktail Tent! THANK YOU for your generous donations that make our festivities possible. Be sure to stop by their booths at the festival!
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