Who makes the best coquito in Miami? You can taste for yourself the first Coquito Festival
The first coquito festival will be held in South Miami on Saturday to determine who makes the best coquito in the city.
The party, complete with pleneros, musicians who play a Puerto Rican style of music called plena, will be at Planet 57, a boricua restaurant located at 5765 Sunset Drive.
There will be three categories and awards: best restaurant, best amateur and best coquito overall.
The winner of the best restaurant coquito and the best amateur will compete to determine the best coquito in the city.
Ten restaurants and 12 individuals will be competing, according to the bar manager at Planet 57, Laura Raysan.
Roberto Gamez, an amateur participant in the contest, said that he has been perfecting his recipe for almost two years and that this will be the first time he’ll be bringing his product to the public.
“I’m very happy to have the opportunity of participating and to have the chance to win the title of best coquito in Miami,” Gamez said.
The judges will consist of two representatives from Don Q, the Puerto Rican rum company, 2 judges from Goya and two from Casa Faroy. Although the participants will have their own opinions, the judges will be the ones who’ll decide who makes the best coquito in Miami.
As one of the sponsors of the event, Don Q will provide rum for all participants. They won’t be allowed to use any other rum.
The ticket, which costs $10 plus tax and fees, includes the opportunity to try the different coquitos at the festival and a Planet 57 coquito martini.
They will have piragüas, or snow cones, and lechon, arroz con gandules, and other Puerto Rican food for sale.
Although you may be used to the classic coquito, Planet 57 has all kinds of different flavors: apple cider, nutella, pistachio, cotton candy, and more.
Coquito means “Little Coconut” in Spanish is a traditional Christmas drink that originated in Puerto Rico. The coconut-based alcoholic beverage is sometimes called Puerto Rican Eggnog, though some people take offense to that characterization. It’s made with white rum, coconut milk, coconut cream, and sweetened condensed milk.
Raysan says that it all started with the people from Foodie Network, who planned and organized the entire event. They visited the restaurant and told them they had the best coquito in Miami. After talking for a while, they came up with the idea of holding a festival where they could put that to the test.
Around 200 people are expected to attend Saturday’s event.
Planet 57 is already planning the 2020 festival.
If you want to go to “Puerto Rican Christmas in Miami” this year, you can buy your tickets here.
If you go:
What: Coquito Festival
When: 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21
Where: Planet 57 (5765 Sunset Drive)
Cost: $10 plus taxes and fees
More info: Here
