I want to record highlights of my apprenticeship at Tales of the Cocktail before the details become too fuzzy. A month ago now, this was an amazing experience for me and I could not have asked to work with a better group of people. Read More
I admit my initial attraction to Tiki was purely aesthetic, but this was years ago. I have always deeply loved all things tropical. Even diseases. No, not really. But there is a definite calming yet exciting characteristic about the tropics that invokes thoughts of blue-green, crystal clear waters, palm trees, and delicious, succulent fruits. All… Read More
People frequently ask me the secret of inventing new drinks. “How in the world do you come up with this stuff?” they ask after looking at the menu, their faces expressive with amazement and/or confusion. Sometimes I tell them I don’t know, sometimes I explain to them that it’s my job, and sometimes I get… Read More
A young bartender/male model/med student was sitting at my bar this past weekend and did not enjoy either of the cocktails that he ordered. When I spoke to him about what could be the problem–and I knew it wasn’t me because the drinks had passed my usual scrutiny–he complained that he had not yet “developed… Read More
In preparation for the workshop I am offering in January, I have been re-reading a book by Anodea Judith called Eastern Body, Western Mind. In it, she offers insight into the chakra system within the realm of Western psychology. Today, I ran across a quote I had inscribed on a page the first time I… Read More