Serve Responsibly

My Job is NOT TO GET YOU DRUNK!!!

My job is to create GREAT cocktails, and to provide an escape from everyday stresses. That's what the bar/lounge/club is, an escape. Whether its from your spouse, job, kids, etc, people come to the bar for many different reasons. Now because of the strength of alcohol, everyone hits their limit at different levels...

Now my job is to make sure that I serve you, and when I see you are getting close, or about to surpass your limit, to cut you off, and serve you RESPONSIBLY!! I am a responsible bartender. I don't want to see any of my clients(because you are more than just customers to me) to EVER leave the bar in a condition where they are putting themselves as well as everyone else around them, or on the road in danger.

All of this leads up to why I posted this today. I had a friend of mine stop by my bar last night. Had one to many, and when i saw she was fading, I started pumping her with water. She fell asleep at the  bar, and woke up trying to drive herself home... Wasn't gonna happen on my shift!! Took responsibility of the situation, took her keys(as she was by herself), found her a place to sleep it off inside the bar, AND drove her home and made sure she was in, sleep, and safe..

I'm sure the Bartender Gods somewhere are smiling down on me today! Too many times Ive seen colleagues allow people to keep drinking and drinking and drinking... and while its good for our pockets, its no good for your reputation... Most, if not all of us are BASSET certified and with that certification, we accepted the responsibility to be mindful of our customers, and serve them responsibly!!

Normally I don't preach and  I never try to get on a high horse, but after my experience last night(which I haven't dealt with since I 1st started tending bar) I felt the need to salute all my fellow bartenders/mixologist who take the extra steps to ensure a safe bar, and to those who don't, please take some time and practice using some discretion in dealing with our customers.. Remember if they leave your bar and get into an accident, WE are just a liable in that situation as they are! The bar can loose their license, we can go to jail, and its just a bad situation all across the board!

Just a little something to think about...

Until next time
Mr.Mixologist

The 2011 "Star of the Bar" Dante Lopresti

The NRA show is here in Chicago and its bringing out all the top stars in the restaurant and bar industry. Last year they had the inaugural "Star of the Bar" competition, and  a good friend of mine, Nathan Greene from Las Vegas was the first winner.

The contest consists of bartenders uploading a custom cocktail to YouTube, and getting people to vote for their drink. The top 6 will be invited to the NRA show to compete and the crowd will pick the top 3, then they will compete at a separate location to be crowned the "Star of the Bar"..

So will great honor and pleasure I present to you all the 2011 IWSB Star of the Bar, my good friend, Dante Lopresti..

Dante's winning cocktail was the "Pink Lion" which is made up of Cazadores Blanco, Hum liqueur, Elderflower Lillet Blanc and fresh lemon... Needless to say if you haven't had one get your ass down to Mercadito's downstairs lounge, Double A, in the River North section of downtown and get this competition winning cocktail from the man himself!!!!

Again from a friend and a colleague, congratulations Dante!! Great way to represent Mixology in Chicago!!!




 
 
Check out the cool vid of Dante's winning cocktail here...
http://youtu.be/OC13yU5Hi8E
 
 
Until next time
Mr.Mixologist

RIP "Macho Man" Randy Savage

A truly somber day to wrestling fans all over the world as a true legends in the sport, Randy "Macho Man" Savage passed away today at 58. He apparently had a heart attack while behind the wheel this morning. As one of my favorite wrestlers this hurt me that he is gone. The match between him and Ricky Steamboat at Wrestlemania is a classic, as well as his life long feud with Hulk Hogan. After wrestling he became even more famous with his role in Spiderman, and moreso for being the face of Slim Jim( SNAP INTO A SLIM JIM!!!)

When news broke my good friends over at History of Drinking( follow them on twittter @drinkinghistory ) posted a couple of Randy Savage cocktails to always have a piece of the Macho man with us always!! Check them out...

Randy Macho Man Savage Cocktail

1 1/2 oz Vodka

1 1/2 oz Rum
Coca Cola
Glass: Highball
Garnish: None
Build in an ice-filled Highball glass. Top with Coke. Sub out the coke for Root beer if you want to make a “Miss Elizabeth”. (Also an RIP to Miss Elizabeth, who passed away in 2003)


Slim Jim Shake

4 sticks of Slim Jim/pieces beef jerky

4 cups whole milk
2 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream
2 tablespoons a- 1 steak sauce
Glass: Highball or footed milk shake glass
Garnish: Slim Jim

blend all ingredients pour into glass, garnish and “enjoy”.

*** Recipes adapted from Food.com and Whattodrink.com***

So to all wrestling fans and sport entertainment fans all over the globe, Raise your glass one time and say "oooooooooooooooo yeaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh" one time for the Macho Man!! You will be missed!!

Until Next Time
Mr.Mixologist

Bartender of the Week for 4-7-11

HEY EVERYBODY!!!!

Trying something new with the blog. Along with reviews, drink recipes, and general blogging, I will be featuring a new bartender each week to profile. Ive done it in the past and had a few very colorful characters in the past, from Chicago's very own Fuzzy, to Atl's Mike, to Las Vegas own Poshly Chic cocktail service, and LaTonia Sanders.

So this week, since its coming back and needed a spark and new bartender, our feature will be the very sexy, and beautiful bartender/mixologist Erendida Harris.

All I can say upon initial talking to her is I would sit at her bar ALL NIGHT!!!! One word.......... Gorgeous!!!! But its alot more than just a pretty face to this bartender.... Erendida is a bartender at Vibe nightclub(Formerly Crobar) here in Chicago. But enough from me, Ill let Erendida tell you about her yourself.... Here's a brief Bio......

"I have always been in the service industry, I started working in a fast food restaurant at 14 in order to pay for me playing sports. As soon as I turned 21, I begged the manager to let me bartend or to let one of the bartenders show how to. But, since we already had "veterans" I wasn't given a chance until much later. But, I always watched how the bartenders bartended. It wasn't about "just making drinks", there was a science behind it and it intrigued me. It was more personal than waitressing and not as much work AND way more money... So when I was finally given my chance behind the bar, I soaked it all up. Tasting all the different liquors and wines we had was an eye opening experience because up to that point, all I knew was commercial brands of liquor. I looked forward to when beer, liquor or wine reps that would come in with new samples of products. I did some research on my own and taken a few of classes on spirits, but this is just one dimension of the whole bartending experience..."

Cant you see the passion she has for the industry.. I LOVE IT!!!!! But there is more to this beautiful ladies story...

"What I personally love about my job, is the freedom I have. I get to dress however I want, do my make-up however I want, and style my hair however I want. I get to dance all night and I talk to people who I would have never met on a regular basis. I get to make up new drinks and have my customers taste them (most love my lil concoctions). I work at night only a few nights a week and that is enough for me to pay all my bills  and then some.  I get to be invited to some pretty kick ass events... I could go on and on about all the perks. But what I really motivates me IS seeing people smile. I know, I know, It sounds soooo cheesy, but I know my role in your day. You come to the club for a release of everyday life. You want to escape from your constant reality and get lost in a moment. And as a bartender, all I can hope is that I want to be a positive experience for you. That's why I dance and sing all night. That is why you will always see me smiling or laughing. That's why I start up conversations with strangers at my bar. That is why I always want say Hi to everyone that I recognize.  That is why I do some cornball, goofy thing when I know your watching me... To make you smile. I like to think this is my small contribution to the world right now :)"

I asked Erendida what bartending meant to her, and this is her answer...(Honestly I love this answer as it embodies everything I feel a bartender should be)........

"I have met so many amazing people, I have had the pleasure to work with some of Chicago's best bartenders, I have heard so many amazing djs, I have seen some amazing performances... truly, it has been an amazing time.


I have such a different view on this industry and I love it. For a person like me, bartending has been an ideal job for where I am right now in my life. It has given me a different perspective on what I can be in this industry, and it's so cool, because I can be whatever I want and I actually get to use my degree (well kinda). I can be a bartender,, I can be a therapist (no license but I will lend on open ear), I can be a host, I can plan an event, I can manage the place, I can train people... it's truly is empowering.


Bartending has taken me to a place where I never thought I'd be and I look forward to see where it takes me..."
 
So when in the Chi and looking for a place to party and hang out have a good time enjoy some great drinks, stop by Vibe(1543 N. Kingsbury) and visit Erendida. I'm very sure,  considering how passionate she is about the industry, and the fact that she truly enjoys being a bartender, you will not be disappointed!!
 
You can also follow her on twitter at @Dida34
 
Hope you enjoyed this weeks featured bartender as she is Mr.Mixx approved!!!!!
 
If you are a bartender/Mixologist and would like to be featured, shoot me an email over to DrinksOnMeinc@gmail.com or tweet @MrMixologist or @DrinkxXxOnMeInc and we will get you featured in the coming weeks.
 
Until next Time
Mr.Mixologist