The Nation’s Top Bartenders Set to Battle for the USBG National Champion Title – Plus, Tucson Knife Fights Brings a Unique Culinary Showdown to Vegas
Las Vegas, NV – February 18, 2025 – The United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) has officially revealed the finalists for its Shake It Up competition, set to electrify the 2025 Bar & Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas. This legendary showdown of Classic and Flair bartending will put the country’s best behind the bar for a head-to-head test of skill, speed, and creativity. And this year, an unforgettable culinary battle is joining the action—Tucson Knife Fights, the high-intensity cooking competition organized and hosted by Michael Elefante and Gary Hickey. Bringing a fast-paced, no-rules approach to live cooking, this event is sure to make waves at the Expo.
Meet the Shake It Up Finalists
Classic Competition Finalists:
• Felipe Castro C – Park City, UT
• Yolanda Gregg – Charlotte, NC
• Connor Perry – Ann Arbor, MI
• Liz Rodriguez – Miami, FL
• Jonathan Stanyard – Seattle, WA
Flair Competition Finalists:
• Mariano Gil, Jr. – Brownsville, TX
• Mike Hastings – Nashville, TN
• Manuel Picon – Miami, FL
• Harry Rivera – Las Vegas, NV
• Kenijiro Yanagi – Las Vegas, NV
Competition Schedule – Spotlight Stage at Bar & Restaurant Expo
• Classic Competition – Tuesday, March 25, 2025 | 1:30 – 4:30 PM
• Flair Competition – Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Bartenders will go all-in as they craft stunning cocktails live on stage, with judges scoring them on taste, aroma, presentation, creativity, and precision. The stakes are high—winners earn the coveted title of 2025 USBG National Champion and a shot at competing in the IBA World Cocktail Championship in Cartagena, Colombia. The runner-up will represent the U.S. at the Pan-American Cocktail Championship in Santiago, Chile.
Tucson Knife Fights – A Culinary Showdown with an Edge
Also making a debut at the Expo, Tucson Knife Fights is bringing its high-energy, head-to-head culinary battle to the national stage.
Organized and hosted by Michael Elefante and Gary Hickey, Tucson Knife Fights takes chefs out of their comfort zones and into the heat of competition, where they must battle against each other in lightning-fast rounds. The event is raw, intense, and unpredictable, showcasing real talent and pushing chefs to think fast, adapt, and execute flawless dishes under pressure.
This isn’t just another cooking competition—this is culinary combat.
Expect bold flavors, high-stakes ingredient challenges, and fierce rivalries, all played out in front of an enthusiastic audience. The competition is designed to challenge the best chefs in the industry and is quickly becoming a must-watch event for food lovers and industry pros alike.
“Tucson Knife Fights is all about pushing boundaries and celebrating real culinary skill in its rawest form,” says Michael Elefante. “We’re thrilled to bring this competition to Vegas and showcase what makes it so special.”
Stay tuned for more details on the competition schedule and participating chefs.
Shake It Up Sponsors – Powering the Best in Bartending
• Bull In China – Tools Sponsor
• Finest Call – Flair Syrup Sponsor
• Fresh Origins – Garnish Sponsor
• Hoshizaki Ice – Ice Sponsor
• LAV HORECA – Glassware Sponsor
• New Riff Distilling – Spirits Sponsor
• Reàl Infused Exotics – Classic Syrup Sponsor
Beyond the Competitions – Where Bartenders and Chefs Come to Play
The 2025 Bar & Restaurant Expo is more than just competitions—it’s a place where industry leaders connect, learn, and push the limits. From the Cocktail Clubhouse to hands-on workshops, masterclasses, and trend-spotting panels, this is where the future of food and drink takes shape.
How to Join the Action
The 2025 Bar & Restaurant Expo runs March 24-26, 2025, in Las Vegas. Interested in attending or exhibiting? Visit www.barandrestaurantexpo.com.
Note: The Bar & Restaurant Expo is trade-only and not open to the general public. Stay connected via Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram for event updates.
About USBG
Founded in 1948, the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to uniting and elevating the bar industry through education, community, and advocacy. USBG fosters professional growth through peer-to-peer learning, service projects, and competitions, while promoting the significance of hospitality as a cornerstone of local communities.
About Tucson Knife Fights
Tucson Knife Fights is an adrenaline-fueled, no-rules culinary competition that puts chefs to the test in a live, high-stakes battle. Created and hosted by Michael Elefante and Gary Hickey, this event strips away the fancy plating and polished presentations—what’s left is pure, unfiltered cooking skill.
About Questex
Questex connects professionals across hospitality, travel, wellness, life sciences, and technology through live experiences, data insights, and digital communities. Focused on delivering real results, Questex helps businesses thrive in the experience economy.
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