Best bar none as Frank serves up cream of Irish coffee

AN American barman with an Italian surname has been crowned the World Irish Coffee-Making Champion.

The centrepiece of a festival weekend in Limerick, Frank Silletti was the toast of the city after he lifted the coveted crown and pocketed a cheque for 1,200.

Despite taking near 27 hours to complete his journey from San Francisco, complete with a seven- hour delay and a five-hour car journey, Frank was voted cream of the crop by the judges.

The competition was the highlight of the annual Irish Coffee Festival which also featured the appearance of the 18th century Earl of Pembroke tall ship on the Shannon Estuary, an air show to celebrate 100 years of aviation and the colourful SAMHLU street parade and fireworks display.

Six finalists from the US, Britain, Munster, Leinster, Connacht and Ulster competed for the title.

Frank works at the well-known Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco which was the first place in the US to serve Irish coffees in 1952.

That was thanks to the invention by chef Joe Sheridan during the flying boats era at Foynes in the 1940s.