Raising The BaR A salute to those that pour so well

Iwas a bartender, once. It lasted three days, including the two days where I was in training and simply watched the real bartenders pump out the endless flow of beer, wine and cocktails. my first solo attempt took me a full 15 minutes to produce a house blended margarita with no salt to the only guy sitting at the bar. he sent it back saying it tasted like sour Gator-Aid, ordered a draught beer instead and rolled his eyes when the keg blew. my career was done.

A good bartender is hard to find. It’s more than the ability to craft a cocktail…you have to have some style, too… bit of wisdom, a bit of grace and lots of patience. A good bartender really is your friend and really does know your name. When your friend is behind the bar, you couldn’t be a better spouse…a better father, mother, golfer, business partner, human being. A good bartender says you’re smart and thinks your ideas are great, and if it wasn’t for this lousy economy, your stock picks and fantasy football roster would be right on the money, too. Where else in life can you get this much professional attention for the price of a well made cocktail? Never have so many people who enjoy cocktails owed so much to so few who can make them well; ever mindful that when life makes it a tad chilly at home or a shade too hot at the office, there’s always that special someone you can sit in front of and bare your soul. The following is a tip of the hat to some of Santa Barbara’s finest:

The Bartender: MiKe Mchugh

The Bar: harry’s

How did you make it to SB: I was born and raised in San diego. In 2001, I moved to Santa Barbara to attend UCSB

Favorite drink to make: margaritas and Sazeracs

Best cab service in town: Lucky Cab

What do you pour for a broken heart: Another round.

What do you say when you pour it: This will do wonders.

What do the liberals drink: The liberals ask for Greyhounds.

How about the conservatives: The conservatives ask for vodka and grapefruit juice.

Favorite sports team at his bar: Baseball with emphasis on the dodgers.

What do they drink: Strawberry daiquiris and Zimas. Go Padres!

Best business plan/idea over heard at the bar: I’ve heard hundreds over the years, most of them lacking one key element…money.

What were they dinking: Always on the rocks…Chopin on the rocks with a back of cranberry, Grey Goose on the rocks with one olive, and Tito’s on the rocks with a lemon twist.

Best bar argument defused: A married couple was arguing about their first date. The husband believed they came to harry’s on their first date while the wife was adamant it was the second. It became quite heated so I leaned in and asked how long they’ve been married. They replied, “50 Years.” I politely told them we’ve only been open for 46.

What were they drinking: They left before ordering.

What do you do when the shift is done: Typically, I have dinner with my wife followed by taking the dog for a walk. however, on fridays, we head over to the Tee- off and visit Tony for “ferdyn’s famous oldfashioned fridays.” his old-fashioned is the best!

The Bartender: ezRA

ATwiLL

The Bar: Lucky’s Steakhouse

How did you make it to SB: We moved here in 1984 to be near my Grandmother who already lived here in montecito. I graduated from SBhS, SBCC, and Sonoma State University with a degree in environmental Studies/energy management and design. When I returned after college, I worked for a solar electric company for a couple years, but I always had a bartending job, too. I soon decided I was making more bartending and I enjoyed it much more then sitting in an office all day long.

Favorite drink to make: The Lucky’s Lemon drop, everybody loves them!

Best cab service in town: Both Beachside Cab, (especially in montecito) and Lucky Cab are really good.

What do you pour for a broken heart: A stiff single malt Scotch. What do you say when you pour it: Would you like to meet michelle at the other end of the bar?

What do the liberals drink: White wine most often.

How about the conservatives: Belvedere Vodka martinis straight up with olives.

Favorite sports team at his bar: Well, it used to be the LA Lakers, but they haven’t been good for years. It could be the dodgers, but we don’t have a TV contract in Santa Barbara. (What’s up TY?!!) We’re not a big sports bar, though.

What do they drink: Beer…usually very slowly.

Best business plan/idea over heard at the bar: There’s too many to pick, but a montecito Piano bar or montecito dive bar were both interesting, and that can’t lose sport’s betting formula was also intriguing!

What were they dinking: Probably some Pinot Noir

Best bar argument defused: Been plenty over the years, the best one was probably when I had to throw a famous retired bounty hunter out of the bar who was really angry with another regular for no apparent reason that I saw. he may of had a couple too many. he always thanked me though every time he returned... Same Bounty hunter offered to train me and get me a license to carry a concealed firearm if I was interested. I never took him up on it, though.

What were they drinking: A bit too much.

What do you do when the shift is done: head down town for last call or lock myself in dark room depending on the night.

The Bartender:

wiLLie giLBeRT

The Bar: Pickle Room

How did you make it to SB: on a threemonth, 7,000 mile motorcycle road trip from ohio.

Favorite drink to make: Bottled beer

Best cab service in town: Richard from Lucky, Alex in the purple cab, and dave Clark. (Sorry-can’t remember the companies).

What do you pour for a broken heart: A shot of whiskey in a dirty glass.

What do you say when you pour it: o bla di.

What do the liberals drink: Chinese Cowboys (shot of Bourbon w/ a Tsing Tao back).

How about the conservatives: Scotch and Coke.

Favorite sports team at his bar: I guess the dodgers, although they don’t seem to be receiving much airtime these days.

What do they drink: Whatever they want.

Best business plan/idea over heard at the bar: To market a game that we invented in the bar that involved making wine corks stand straight up after dropping them.

What were they dinking: Vodka rocks.

Best bar argument defused: Arguments are not tolerated. Points of view are to be considered.

What were they drinking: Never gets that far. What do you do when the shift is done: head to home, sweet home!

The Bartender:

LeSLie fAgAN

The Bar: The Boathouse

How did you make it to SB: Like most people, I came to Santa Barbara for college, and like most people, I stayed!

Favorite drink to make: The Boathouse has a great specialty drink called a Lemon dropkick. It’s similar to a traditional lemon drop, but with the addition of watermelon and jalapeno. It’s a little sweet, a little sour, a little spicy – the perfect balance!

Best cab service in town: Absolute. The owners, Tom and Josh, are great!

What do you pour for a broken heart: Something strong…most likely a tall shot of tequila or whiskey.

What do you say when you pour it: I tell them to look over at the ocean and think of all the fish out there!

What do the liberals drink: When I’m behind the bar, I try to keep the political talk to a minimum. Nothing good ever comes of it!

How about the conservatives: Same Favorite sports team at his bar: Probably the dodgers or the Lakers

What do they drink: They all drink beer!

Best business plan/idea over heard at the bar: The beach isn’t the place for “back of the envelope” business plans. If anything, people are celebrating a job well done when their plan succeeds.

What were they dinking: They usually toast themselves with Champagne.

Best bar argument defused: A palm reader once told a woman that she should leave her fiancé. of course, she told her future husband of this advice, and understandably he took the news poorly. The two had words, which quickly escalated until their faces were inches apart! Luckily, the fiancé was a regular customer and was persuaded to walk away and cool off.

What were they drinking: didn’t even order. What do you do when the shift is done: The end of my shift starts the best part of my day. After I get off work, I can’t wait to go home –where the most adorable four-year old in the world is waiting for me!

The Bartender: TiM cooNey

The Bar: holdren’s

How did you make it to SB: I was born and raised in SB and I started bartending at The harbor Restaurant when I was 21.

Favorite drink to make: my favorite drink to make right now is the blood orange margarita. Using fresh squeezed sewer and sour…a twist on classic margarita, a great SB cocktail!

Best cab service in town: The best cab company in town is Lucky cab hands down. honest and reliable I’ve accidentally left my tips from the night in their cab before, only to have them call me at 4 am to return the $$$ to my house!!

What do you pour for a broken heart: for guys I pour something dirty…for the ladies, something stiff.

What do you say when you pour it: Cheers!

What do the liberals drink: Politics: I try not to get involved when I’m at the bar, but liberals seem to like a craft cocktail and a fine glass of wine with dinner.

How about the conservatives: They will start with classic martini and then finish with a fine glass of wine at dinner.

Favorite sports team at his bar: The biggest sports following at my bar would have to be the Lakers. football most people will root for their fantasy team, or team they bet on, basketball we have majority of Laker fans, might take a couple of years, but they’ll be back to greatness soon!!

What do they drink: Lots of beer.

Best business plan/idea over heard at the bar: A start up company called Simply

Cocktails. It is an off-site bar catering service that specializes in weddings & private parties! They’re AWeSome! Genius!

What were they dinking: Blood orange margarita.

Best bar argument defused: I remind everyone that the parking lot is the best place to be heard when you shout.

What were they drinking: They’re not.

What do you do when the shift is done: After my shift I like to go have a drink or two, and visit fellow bartenders at different bars around town.

The Bartender: MichAeL

fiTzgeRALD

The Bar: Arnoldi’s

How did you make it to SB: I migrated from New York in 96.

Favorite drink to make: Long Island. Iced Tea.

Best cab service in town: 966-5600.

What do you pour for a broken heart: Water.

What do you say when you pour it: Get out there and go for a bike ride.

What do the liberals drink: Who?

How about the conservatives: What?

Favorite sports team at his bar: Bocce ball and the Three Pickles guys.

What do they drink: What ever they want.

Best business plan/idea over heard at the bar: I wasn’t listening.

What were they dinking: I don’t recall.

Best bar argument defused: That’s not fun and there is no best.

What were they drinking: Always too much.

What do you do when the shift is done: Shoot a game of pool with my best friend and love of my life, Rachel, then we go home to our pets.

The Bartender: chRiS ReeDeR

The Bar: opal restaurant and bar How did you make it to SB: By way of malibu and the love of SB’s great outdoors!

Favorite drink to make: opal’s Blood orange Greyhound made with Tito’s American Vodka, Blood orange Puree & fresh Grapefruit Juice

Best cab service in town: There are many great cab services in town, but we like to recommend Absolute.

What do you pour for a broken heart: our Flirtini – with Ketel one Vodka, Pineapple Juice, Peach Schnapps and a Splash of Champagne, or our Cardamom Peach Bellini with fresh California White Peach Puree, Cardamom Simple Syrup, Lemon Juice, Peach Schnapps and Nino franco Prosecco. And then sometimes… it’s just Bourbon.

What do you say when you pour it: here’s to new Beginnings!

What do the liberals drink: Opal’s Moscow Mule -with Beluga Russian Vodka, fever Tree Ginger Beer, and fresh Lime Juice

How about the conservatives: The opal Old Fashioned – with maker’s mark, Caramelized orange, Luxardo maraschino Cherry, and fee Brother’s orange Bitters

Favorite sports team at his bar: despite their recent ups and downs, probably the Lakers.

What do they drink: Craft beers are very popular right now, and Tequila. With many Tequila based drinks on the menu there is a lot to choose from at opal

Best business plan/idea over heard at the bar: everything is Internet

–based these days and there are a lot of sharp technical people in Santa Barbara. one night I heard about a great cloud-based business plan in development. They swore me to secrecy but if it makes it big I will be free to say: I heard it first at opal.

What were they dinking: Actually one had a moscow mule and one had an opal old fashioned so it might be the best of both worlds.

Best bar argument defused: Which was best, the young elvis or the old elvis, and… is he still alive?

What were they drinking: Can’t remember.

What do you do when the shift is done: We often talk about how the evening went, which drinks were most popular and if there are any ideas for new cocktails.

The Bartender:

ToNy feRDyN

The Bar: The Tee- off

How did you make it to SB: In 1987 I chased a beautiful girl all the way from massachusetts to UCSB.

Favorite drink to make: The Tee off has an amazing whiskey collection. So I enjoy pouring something that people haven’t had before.

Best cab service in town: Absolute Cab, by far!

What do you pour for a broken heart: A Jack daniels with a few pieces of ice. It’s what Sinatra drank while pondering lost love and singing one for my Baby.

What do you say when you pour it: I quote Jerry Garcia, “Broken heart don’t feel so bad, ain’t got half of what you thought you had.”

What do the liberals drink: my liberal friends tend to experiment more. They are always eager to try different wines or a new whiskey. Local beers are also popular.

How about the conservatives: my conservative friends stick with their favorites. Budweiser and old classics like Jim Beam. And I never tire of reminding them that foreign corporations own both brands.

Favorite sports team at his bar: Being a golf themed bar we usually have golf on the TV…unless the Red Sox are on.

What do they drink: Golfers like a strong cocktail and baseball fans drink more beer.

Best business plan/idea over heard at the bar: I can’t remember ever hearing a really good idea, but I’ve heard plenty of bad ones.

What were they dinking: Too much!

Best bar argument defused: I told a couple who were arguing about their divorce that they were giving me a headache and they instantly calmed down and managed to be civil to each other for the rest of the night.

What were they drinking: Beer that they never touched.

What do you do when the shift is done: Go home and sit in my rose garden and sip a soothing whiskey.

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