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Hosting with Pride

Q&A for Faye Barretto: Pride Month Celebrations

We indulged in an up-close and candid chat with the travelling bartender Fay Barretto, who is the Founder of Mr. Bartender & Crew. Be it mixing cocktails and juggling from one city to another, this beverage connoisseur is always on the go.

 

  1. What inspired you to choose bartending as a profession and name that one bartender or mixologist, who has influenced your art of mixing?

 

It happened in 2010, when my friend asked me to pen down 5 things which I love the most and I wrote alcohol. That was the moment I realised my inclination to explore the liquid portfolio. Post this incident, in the same year, I started pursuing my course on beverages.

 

There is not one bartender or mixologist but quite a few of them like- Elini Bock, Santosh Kukreti, Abhishek George and Alex (Mahe).  

 

  1. Were there any challenges you faced while paving your path towards becoming a bartender?

 

Things are way better now! Women or alternate people did not represent bars back then, but today it’s opening up. 

 

  1. The rainbow flag today is a symbol of LGBTQ pride. If you were to create a cocktail using colours from the pride palette, which hues would you have picked, and what would be the reasoning behind it? And don’t forget to name your cocktail!

 

Actually, Ami Shroff and I are working on something called ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and for the cocktail I would choose - Red (Life of Why), Indigo Violette (Spirit of Harmony), Yellow (Here comes the sun) & Green (Grass of home)- All these colours together symbolise an ideal life for me. 

  1. What is the most memorable or interesting thing a customer has ever done for you at your workplace? Or what was that one compliment from a customer you’ll never forget?

 

At one of my workplaces, there used to one regular customer who would order one beer every time he visited the bar and bounce off, nobody spoke to him, and so, I would always make sure to greet him. But, one day he bought his family and left me a tip while mentioning to the team that, “I know you guys share your tips but this specially for Fay because no matter who came in or whether they had water or two glasses of beer, he has always been inviting and warm just like a good friend you would have come to meet. 

 

Another one was a bartender who would ask me to make a Gin cocktail every day and surprise her! She came to the bar regularly for 30 days and I think that is really memorable for me. It was in fact an experience - Getting to craft 29 variety of gin cocktails during a month.

 

 

  1. Do you have any message that you would like to share with our community, with our people?

 

Work is the only way out, does not matter how you look, what you wear, whom you pray to or what your sexual orientation is. Identify with your values and identify with your passion is what counts.

 

  1. Are there any more hidden talents that we may not know about? 

 

I sing and play the guitar a lot. In fact, I will be recording my second album very soon. 

 

7.  The first thing that comes to your mind. Be quick!

  • You’d probably quit bartending if this ingredient went extinct. *Touchwood* 
    • Jalapenos 
  • If not a bartender, then what? 
    • Professional Cuddler! Actually, work with Crypto so maybe formulate my own coin/token.
  • The weirdest Garnish a customer has ever asked for.
    • Parmesan Cheese to complete the cocktail because they felt it looked like a salad.
  • Your favourite House of Suntory spirit? 
    • Toki and Roku.

 

 

 

Q&A for Eeshaan Kashyap: Pride Month Celebrations

Here’s an inclusive and open conversation with Eeshaan Kashyap, the food and beverage curator & non-exclusive Partner at Pass Code Hospitality Pvt Ltd. New Delhi.

 

1.A positive impact that helped you push behind the challenges and made you reach where you are today?

I am a perfectionist and I keep pushing myself to excel. This along with the desire to learn new things has propelled me forward professionally. Also believing in my own ability and hard work, gives me strength to achieve more. I prefer to be more self-motivated and look inwards for pushing myself, than relying on others for support, but positive people have also definitely helped along the way - such as my family who is my biggest cheerleader. 

 

2. What is the most memorable or interesting thing a customer has ever done for you at your workplace? Or what was that one compliment from a customer that you’ll never forget?

I will never forget the time when one of my consumers made an announcement exclusively for me on a stage in front of 1500 people. The guest thanked me for creating magic with the bar and the curation at his wedding. 

 

3.The one secret mantra that keeps you get going with your creativity at your workplace?

Creativity is in my DNA, and I am inspired by everything around me. The one thing which keeps me going is never being shy to try out new ideas and making my work exciting each day. I believe in pushing my own boundaries.

 

4. Do you have any message that you would like to share with our community, with our people?

Believe in yourself, put in the hard work and the result will follow. Be kind to one another and be inclusive. Demand respect from others and don’t let anyone take you or your identity for granted. 

 

5. Are there any more hidden talents that we may not know about you? 

Abstract Painting 

 

6.  The first thing that comes to your mind. Be Quick! 

 

• If you were not managing a restaurant then what? – Designing shoes

• The weirdest request made by a customer ever – Paneer Sushi (#hellNO)

• What does it mean for you- world-class experience? – Quality, Innovation & Newness

• Western culinary or Indian coastal cuisine -choose one? – Both for sure

• Your favourite House of Suntory spirit? - Hibiki

 

Q&A for Arati Mestry: Pride Month Celebrations

Take a peek on the inspiration and creativity of the very versatile Indian bartender- Arati Mestry aka The Negroni Moron, who is the Bar Manager at 7 Rivers Brewing Co. at Taj MG Road, Bangalore. 

 

  1. What inspired you to choose bartending as a profession and name that one bartender or mixologist, who has influenced your art of mixing?

When I started my career, it was the passion what made me choose bartending as a profession, I used to sit in crossroads bookstore and read about cocktails and the recipes.

But as I progressed in my life, career and especially when I got familiar with the social world through Instagram, Amanda aka Bad Birdy inspired me a lot.

 

  1. Were there any challenges you faced while paving your path towards becoming a bartender?

There were many but they made me what I am today. From knowing the industry to getting known in the industry - it’s a self-made journey.

 

  1. The rainbow flag today is a symbol of LGBTQ pride. If you were to create a cocktail using colours from the pride palette, which hues would you have picked, and what would be the reasoning behind it? And don’t forget to name your cocktail!

I would like to use the hues of yellow, orange and red for my cocktail mix. And the name for this drink would would be androgyny.

 

  1. What is the most memorable or interesting thing a customer has ever done for you at your workplace? Or what was that one compliment from a customer you’ll never forget?

During a conversation with a guest, I once expressed about my love for a particular kind of coffee and collecting coffee mugs. So, the next time the customer visited the bar, he gifted me the same.

 

  1. Do you have any message that you would like to share with our community, with our people?

Do what you love, people are here to talk about it. So why not rather just do it and not regret about why didn’t you. Be yourself. Be you!

 

  1. Are there any more hidden talents that we may not know about?

Hahahaha. Few of them, I do have. But I don’t know whether to call them as talents because my indulgence is completely based on the passion and love for what I do.

 

 

  1. The first thing that comes to your mind. Be Quick!

 

  • You would probably quit bartending if this ingredient went extinct. *Touchwood*
  • I don’t think so – I am never going to do that- ever

 

  • If not a bartender, then what?
  • Owning a café. Serving and curating is what I do, out of passion

 

  • The weirdest Garnish a customer has ever asked for.
  • Chopped chillies and chili flakes

 

  • Your favourite House of Suntory spirit?
  • Roku ?

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