DOWNTOWN — The Hard Rock Hotel took first place at the San Diego Spirits Festival’s “Taste de Mixology Food & Cocktail Shakedown” on Nov. 7, event organizer Liz Edwards has announced. The event paired chefs with bartenders to compete in an Iron Chef-style showdown on the rooftop of the hotel, located at 207 5th Ave. The Hard Rock’s bartender-chef duo included executive chef Jon Eyer and Brian Holland Fish. Close behind was a team consisting of executive chef Keoni Simmons of the Alpine Inn, located in Alpine at 2223 Alpine Blvd., and bartender Adam Stemmler of Vin de Syrah, which is downtown at 901 5th Ave. Chef Chad White of catering company Ego Culinary Trends and mixologist Ian Ward of Snake Oil Cocktail Co., a mixology consulting company, won third place. All the proceeds from the event went to the Chef de Cuisine Association Educational Foundation. Others participating in the event were as follows: • McCormick & Schmick’s executive chef Ben Diaz and mixologist Derwayne Chesterman of Liquid Syndicate. • executive sous chef Bobby Mariner of Viejas and mixologist Juan Sanchez of Tower 23 • executive chef Scotty Wagner of Eden and Amy Bissell, lounge supervisor of the U.S. Grant Hotel • executive Chef John Reynolds of Palm Restaurant • Chef Brent Calley and mixologist Antonio Gonzalez of Porto Vista Hotel’s Glass Door