Westin New Orleans Names Christina Ramirez Head Mixologist
(New Orleans, La.) – Westin New Orleans, the upscale riverfront hotel located in the French Quarter, announces Christina Ramirez as Head Mixologist for Observatory Eleven, the hotel’s signature bar and restaurant. In this role, Ramirez will lead menu ideation, execute bar strategy, oversee staff management and ensure guest satisfaction.
A New Orleans Third Ward-Native and Johnny Walker Black 2021 NOLA-winner, Ramirez began bartending in 2009 and is heavily influenced by tropical flavors. Prior to Observatory Eleven, Ramirez served as a Spirit Specialist and Craft Cocktail Bartender for Doris Metropolitan, Bar Manager at the W Hotel New Orleans and Lead Bartender at Tujague’s Restaurant.
At Observatory Eleven, Ramirez will create a new dynamic cocktail menu that touches on her tiki influence. The menu will feature diverse and complex craft cocktails with ingredients such as hibiscus salts, tamarind, lemongrass, spiced plantain syrup and more. Guests can expect exciting new additions such as elaborate garnishes and a twist on the New Orleans-classic, Ramos Gin Fizz, featuring cool foam infused with floral key lime pie flavors.
Ramirez has competed globally in cocktail competitions including Belvedere Red 2016 NYC, Bacardi Legacy 2017 NOLA, Bolden Vodka 2019 NOLA, Booze & Infuse 2020 NY. As a Latina woman with Peruvian and Honduran roots, she is passionate about Latinx and female representation in both the city of New Orleans and the bartending industry.
Situated on Canal Street, the Westin New Orleans is comprised of 437 luxury rooms and suites, a state-of-the-art fitness center, 29,000 square feet of event space, private meeting facilities, and two on-site food and beverage concepts. These include Observatory Eleven, a 360-degree, circular craft cocktail bar and restaurant with Mississippi River Views, and Bistro on the Bend, an elevated dining room serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Westin New Orleans hosts two ballrooms on the eleventh and twelfth floors that can accommodate up to 350 guests with breathtaking views and outdoor space.
To learn more about the Westin New Orleans and Observatory Eleven, visit www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/msywi-the-westin-new-orleans or follow @WestinNewOrleans and @ObservatoryEleven on Instagram.