Chefs aren't the only ones affected by a new food safety law that bans culinary workers from touching certain foods with their bare hands. Like chefs, bartenders have to wear gloves or use other utensils to make their drinks. No touching ice, fruit garnishes or anything else that goes directly into your glass.
Changes to the California Retail Food Code that went into effect at the beginning of 2014 require disposable gloves or utensils such as tongs, paper or scoops to be used when handling "ready-to-eat" foods, which include sushi, bread, deli meats and fresh fruit and vegetables. Basically, nothing that won't be cooked or reheated before it goes out to diners can be touched with bare hands.
"Technically speaking, these rules do apply to bars," says Angelica Pappas, a spokeswoman for the California Restaurant Assn. "It’s been a common question we’ve heard ... so there may be more information to come on this in guidance documents from the health inspectors."
Bartender Matthew Biancaniello says he has experimented with gloves in the past. "I felt really suffocated by it," he says. Biancaniello uses so many ingredients, garnishes and cooking methods for his drinks that he has been referred to as a "cocktail chef."
"I'm always touching any kind of herbs from my garden, touching persimmons to feel for their plumpness or softness.
"But the gloves thing, even when I go to buffets and see it, I flinch a little and think 'hospital.'"
Assistant Director Tracy Zuluaga reports that the school's job placement database generally will have as many as 30 to 45 listings posted each week. Zuluaga says that they have students getting jobs, and as long as the grads listen to the school staff in how to go about getting a great bartending job, they will be successful.
Recent graduate Rachel Tygart knows this all very well. In a Facebook Recommendation for the school this week Rachel writes,
"This school is more than what anyone thinks. The instructors are great and the classes are fun. And after successfully completing the course, the doors are always open and inviting for you to keep coming back and practicing whenever you need to. I would (and have) recommended going to this school to anyone even remotely interested in bartending now or in the future. And as for job placement, if
you put in even just a little effort, it's not difficult in the slightest, with the schools help, to land a job. I had 2 interviews yesterday at 2 very established and popular clubs in Ybor City and with the things I learned from attending the school, I landed both jobs. Anyone can do this so go do it! What are you waiting for?"
Rachel is currently working at Club Prana, a very trendy posh nightclub that has become one of hottest two-story nightclubs in Tampa Bay.
She also is bartending at Club Underground a night club which features some of the biggest and hottest events that come to Tampa.
Joshua Poirier is also is a very happy graduate of the school as well. In a Facebook post for the school earlier this week Joshua writes,
"Moving to the keys sunday! Got a bartending job at the cheeca lodge & resort!"
Zuluaga responded,
"We love Josh Poirier! His first job was at the Magnuson Hotel Marina Cove in St Pete - from there he starting working at the Black Palm in St Pete and he came by my office yesterday to tell me he landed a job on the fabulous Isla Morada in the Keys - not only will he be bartending but housing is included and he will be living on the stunning Cheeca Lodge & Resort Isla Morada"
Congratulations to both Rachel & Joshua as they continue making a great career behind bars!
Randy Bullen - PBSA Inc.
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By Wayne Curtis - April 2012 The Atlantic Magazine
The original recipe for Benedictine liqueur was discovered in a 16th-century alchemist’s notebook—or so I was told by my tour guide at the Benedictine distillery in Fécamp, France. That notebook, in turn, had been associated with the Benedictine monks, who she said had helped devise the recipe. Any chance that I might glimpse this exalted tome? “No, it’s not here,” the guide said. Read More
]]>From a lounge in a renovated Las Vegas wedding chapel to a 19th-century-style saloon, America’s best bars celebrate the handmade, the historical and the locally sourced. Read More
Interested in a shot at the title, a trip to Chicago to demonstrate your skills at IWSB, plus $5,000? Read More
A Halifax hotel has renamed its lounge after a longtime bartender who has been working there for nearly five decades.
In 1963, Roy Clorey began pouring drinks at the Griffin lounge at Halifax's Nova Scotian Hotel.
Although the hotel is now called the Westin Nova Scotian and the lounge has moved from its original location — now home to the Sykea Salon and Spa — Clorey is still mixing his signature martinis.
"I enjoy what I do. To me, it's not a job. Some people come to work and they come to a job. For me, it's part of your life, when you've been in the business that long," he said Thursday.
"As long as I can do it. Like I said, I'll know when to quit."
Clorey said he felt honoured when officials at the Westin Nova Scotian surprised him at a staff Christmas party and told him the name of the hotel lobby bar would be changing from Eve to Roy's Lounge.
Earlier this week, they made it official.
"Usually I know everything that goes on in this hotel, through management or staff," Clorey said with a laugh.
"I was surprised. I was shocked."
Roberto de Armas, who has worked with Clorey at the hotel for five years, said he's learned a lot from his colleague.
"The professional things, the passion, the way he talks to the customers — he's always happy and he's still happy, so it's very nice for us," he said.
And Clorey knows how to keep a secret — like all the best bartenders.
"Most of the stories, you know what I mean, the only place you could put them would be in Frank Magazine," he said, laughing.
]]>If you are looking for a quality bartending school south of Cincinnati, OH and north of Knoxville, Tennessee, this is it! For more information on this great school, visit their page on the USA Bartending School Website.
Valerie Carcia sells trendy women's clothing as a retail sales manager by day.
By night, she's a bartender -- in Indianapolis.
And that happens to be a pretty good gig to have as the Super Bowl -- the nation's party weekend -- makes its way to the city.
"I've already been offered to do Playboy, Maxim parties and some of the Super Bowl (NFL-sanctioned) parties," said Carcia, 27, a regular bartender at Peppers in Broad Ripple. "There is a major need."
Bartending, perhaps more than any other temporary job, will be in high, if not desperate, demand.
Those in the event planning and catering business estimate thousands of bartenders will be needed in the days surrounding...... Read More
All managers, servers and bartenders who sell or serve alcohol are required by the state of Washington to have a MAST (Mandatory Alcohol Server Training) license.
The Class 12 permit is a mixologist permit for managers, bartenders and anyone else who mixes drinks with alcohol or draws from a tap, and is 21 years old. Anyone with a Class 12 permit is consumed on the premises must have at least one Class 12 permit holder on duty.
The Class 13 permit is a server permit for servers and ID checkers who are at least 18 years old and carry alcohol to customers or open beer and wine and pour it into a glass at the customer’s table. Class 13 permit holders cannot mix drinks or draw beer or wine from a tap.
For more information check out our website at http://www.washingtonclass12permit.com/
]]>Bartender Training Moves from Nice-to-have to Must-have Status
At bar after bar I’ve visited lately, I’ve observed a frightening trend: Patrons often know more about drinks, drink-making and ingredients than the bartenders and wait staff serving them. Knowing that your customer now embraces all things drink is a good thing — they’re more willing to explore and, as the economy improves, spend — but the fact that they may possess more knowledge than your staff doesn’t bode well for your business.Let’s face facts: The days of on-the-job training for bartenders are over. No more “just shadow Charlie over there, and he’ll show you what to do.” No matter how good Charlie is, he’ll likely pass along bad habits and ....Read More
]]>Bartender Salary: A Bartender Career Profile
Recently Britney Spears made the news, again, by inquiring about bartender jobs at a California hotel. Britney, or anyone who is interested in becoming a bartender, should read this Salary Story. We spoke to bartender Craig Hysell about bartender jobs, a bartender salary, bartending school and more. Many people wonder if they need to attend school to become a bartender. This interview provides the answer, plus insider info on what it takes to succeed as a career bartender. So pour yourself a cold one and keep reading!