Mark Maynard - a 26 year veteran of the Union Square Hospitality Group , Mark started the trail as host of Union Square Cafe. From there he rose to General Manager and then launched a string of the popular bbq joint Blue Smoke. Extensive visits to America’s south east inspired Porchlight bar. Now he’s the Director of Operations for all of USHG. Mark has also written a book The Next Frontier of Restaurant Management and is s regular lecturer at Cornell, NYU and, The Institute of Culinary Educatio...
Feb 13, 2019•51 min•Ep. 319
Our dear friend and favorite Francophile miss Franky Marshall ( @Drinking.Violet ) schools us all on Cognac, pineau de charentes and all things France. She also talks about the issues we all face being in the Hospitality field. She’s a force to be reckoned with and made mostly of determination and magic. Plus, friend to the show, Matt Friedlander took the co-host chair and he brought along the adorable @Sally.Puppy !! À votre santé! The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast....
Feb 06, 2019•48 min•Ep. 318
Tune In to hear how Angel achieves her dreams of traveling by using her camera to capture bartenders all over the world making cocktails. Her popular Instagram account has garnered over 200,000 followers. Follow her at @TheCocktailPortal and @BartendersPortal The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast....
Jan 30, 2019•45 min•Ep. 317
Simon Ford (@Simon_Tge86Co) is often credited with the creation of the spirits Brand Ambassador position as we know it. This week we talk to him about all things gin, his extensive world travels and, how to gracefully grow irrelevant. Special guest Ed Rudisell of the popular Shift Drink Podcast (@ShiftDrinkPodcast) in Indianapolis sits in to sip gin and tequila with us. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast .
Jan 23, 2019•54 min•Ep. 316
Amanda Whitt is a Brand Ambassador, Bartender, Barista, and all around liquid enthusiast. She talks to Damon and Sother about repping coffee all around the country. Plus, Damon shares his own spectacular barista experience. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast .
Jan 16, 2019•53 min•Ep. 315
Claire Sprouse has bartended across the United States' at some of the most well-known cocktail institutions, starting in Houston and most recently at ABV in San Francisco. In 2014, she co-founded Tin Roof Drink Community , a consulting and education company committed to exploring sustainability in hospitality spaces. For their teachings at the 2017 Tales of the Cocktail , Tin Roof was awarded the “Golden Spirit Award”. Claire will continue to explore green bar initiatives at her upcoming bar, Hu...
Dec 19, 2018•39 min•Ep. 314
This week, Damon and Sother report remotely from Blue Quarter in the East Village. Their guests are Jeff Bell and AK Hada of the legendary PDT. Hear all about hot dogs, clandestine entrances last min flights to Hong Kong and American brandy. But, Please Don’t Tell! The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast...
Dec 12, 2018•56 min•Ep. 313
Join us on the Speakeasy for a very festive holiday edition featuring the team from Miracle in Brooklyn. New father Jason Littrell, human Swiss Army knife Chris Bidmead and,ring-leader Dave O’Brien have overdecorated and stocked their bar to be a Christmas holiday wonderland. We also take potshots at our dear friend Giuseppe Gonzales with pumpkin spice coquito and we talk about Bartender Boxing. Ho ho ho! The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast...
Dec 05, 2018•51 min•Ep. 312
Jack Ferris is the US national brand ambassador & educator for Bushmills Irish Whiskey . He grew up in as small town called Coleraine in Co. Derry, which is located just 7 miles from where The Old Bushmills Distillery is located. From a young age, he has been passionate about Irish Whiskey. Jack started his whiskey career as bartender at the Bushmills Inn just down the street from the distillery. He then his found his way to a job with Bushmills as a Brand Home Associate where he ran the bar...
Nov 28, 2018•57 min•Ep. 311
This week on the Speakeasy, Damon and Sother host Eamon Rockey from the remote studio inside Blue Quarter. Eamon made his mark as a NYC bartender known for making clarified milk punch. Now he's got a bottled version on the market. He’s also helped develop a new generation of bar bag with the workwear brand Tilit as well as being in a leadership role in the newly created beverage program at the Institute of Culinary Education . The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast....
Nov 21, 2018•24 min•Ep. 310
Today on The Speakeasy, Damon and Sother talk to an activist, a trans woman and a female general manager to discuss hospitality in the new culture of gender fluidity, activism and the #metoo movement. Jackie Summers , Jesse Wohlers and Tyler Beebe . Powered by Simplecast...
Nov 14, 2018•1 hr•Ep. 309
Today on the Speakeasy, Damon and Sother talk to to Master Distiller Enrique De Colsa from tequila Don Julio. Powered by Simplecast https://simplecast.com [1]https://www.diageobaracademy.com/en_zz/training/meet_our_experts/industry-leaders/enrique_de_colsa/ [2]https://www.donjulio.com/ [3]http://imbibemagazine.com/interview-with-enrique-de-colsa/
Oct 31, 2018•56 min•Ep. 308
Today on the Speakeasy, Damon and Sother talk to Penelope Roussetzki, Stephen Hoppe, Chris Hoppe about beer, working in the food industry and more Powered by Simplecast https://simplecast.com/ [1]https://www.facebook.com/barpenultima/
Oct 24, 2018•54 min•Ep. 307
Damon and Sother get the opportunity to talk with Johnny Schuler, Master Distiller for Caravedo Pisco and all around Pisco advocate. He has dedicated much of his life to setting the standards for excellence in the Pisco industry. And, as Pisco’s ambassador, his travels have taken him throughout Peru, and around the globe, to educate spirits industry professionals and the public alike about the culture, heritage, and craftsmanship that makes Pisco so unique. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast...
Oct 17, 2018•54 min•Ep. 306
Today on The Speakeasy, we talk to Paul Finn and special guest William Pineapple. Paul started his career in music and movies, producing his first feature film at age 21 for Kevin Smith’s View Askew Productions. While working on the soundtrack for that film, “A Better Place”, he decided to re-focus on a career in the music industry both as an artist, touring with critically acclaimed bands The Kingsbury Manx and Spider Bags as well as working behind the scenes at the legendary Drag City and Merg...
Oct 10, 2018•47 min•Ep. 305
On Today's Speakeasy Damon talks with Kevin Beary, Beverage Director at Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago. Kevin Beary his first taste of bartending while shaking and pouring colorless liquid as a minor. His first official gig was aboard a Delaware River cruise in Philadelphia, where 500 thirsty passengers would board the ship most nights and drink tickets would start flying. Beary worked in restaurants while attending La Salle University and rose to beverage director of Hyatt at the Bellevue, wh...
Oct 03, 2018•55 min•Ep. 304
Rocky Yeh is the Gardien des Chais (keeper of the cellar) at Maison Ferrand and Danny Ronen is the proprietor of Academia in Austin and partner at Unlimited Liabilities. Tune in as Sother chats with these two about travel, New York Brandy Week, subscription cocktail boxes and getting educated at a bar. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast .
Sep 26, 2018•51 min•Ep. 303
Aaron Goldfarb is a writer who lives in Brooklyn. He’s written the novels “How to Fail: The Self-Hurt Guide” and “The Guide for a Single Man/Woman.” He writes about beer, whiskey, and drinks culture for places like Esquire, PUNCH, and VinePair. His latest book is “Hacking Whiskey.”
Sep 19, 2018•50 min•Ep. 302
This week, Damon sits down with Jeremy Allen, the GM of MiniBar in Hollywood, CA. Allen has done time under James Beard Award winning chefs in both LA and Mpls, and is a CMS Certified Somm with a Wine Spectator Award, but you wouldn't guess it by his sailor speak. More importantly, Jeremy has spent tons of time drinking in the best and worst bars and restaurants, backstages and backyards across the world. Tune in to hear them talk cold beer, warm gin, live jazz, and more! The Speakeasy is powere...
Sep 13, 2018•48 min•Ep. 301
The Speakeasy turns 300! Joining Damon and Sother to celebrate is Kara Newman, author of the forthcoming book NIGHTCAP: More Than 40 Cocktails to Close Out Any Evening. Tune in to hear them talk nightcaps, and drink a few (or several) themselves! The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast
Sep 05, 2018•50 min•Ep. 300
This autumn, Asbury Park resident Diana Pittet, who grew up in Atlantic Highlands, is teaching a pioneering, one-of-a-kind graduate seminar at New York University on “The History, Culture, and Politics of Drinking,” from the Neolithic period to the present day. That’s a time span of over 9,000 years of humans intentionally (as opposed to accidentally) making and consuming alcohol--all the while, having mixed feelings about it. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast...
Aug 29, 2018•58 min•Ep. 299
Your hosts travel to the southern shore of Lake Erie to investigate the hospitality scene in Cleveland. Guided by native Stefan Was of the Porco Lounge and Tiki Room, Damon and Sother zig zag across the City talking to some of Believeland's most beloved bartenders and restaurateurs. From Ohio City Provisions to the venerable Velvet Tango Room, Cleveland is making its mark on the nightlife landscape. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast...
Aug 28, 2018•2 hr 13 min
Sother went down to this year's Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, armed with a recorder and a dream...a dream to cover the entire festival in-depth. However, due to his jam-packed schedule, only this interview got recorded: a sit-down with Jabin Troth, founder of the world's largest craft cocktail Instagram account, Licensed to Distill. Tune in and give him a follow! The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast
Aug 27, 2018•7 min
On Today's show Damon and Sother talk with Charlotte Voisey, Director of Advocacy at William Grant & Sons USA . They discuss the rise of gin in America, respect for cucumbers, and travel tips. Plus, we get some surprise guests at the end of the episode! The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast.
Aug 15, 2018•52 min•Ep. 298
Rob Morton spent 17 years in the music business running marketing departments for record labels and Virgin Megastores, and 6 as a production manager for live action music videos and commercials, before going into bar ownership in 2010. He worked for Idle Hands from 2010-2015, Fools Gold from 2014-present, Voltaire as of 2018, and Paul’s Of Oak Island coming in 2019. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast
Aug 08, 2018•55 min•Ep. 297
This week Damon and Sother chat with Freddie Sarkis, Chief Cocktail Officer at Liquor Lab in NYC. They chat about his journey from coffee to cocktails, teaching the basics of bartending, and how to progress beyond Cocktails 101. But first, Damon and Sother give a quick review of their trip to Cleveland. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast .
Aug 01, 2018•53 min•Ep. 296
On this episode of The Speakeasy, Damon and Sother share their experiences of Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Then they welcome two NYC gatekeepers - Josh Polina, a doorman at Death & Company and Santi Dady, who handles reservations at Please Don't Tell . They talk about managing customers expectations, what customers shouldn't do in their quest for access, and their philosophies of hospitality. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast ....
Jul 25, 2018•50 min•Ep. 295
Today on The Speakeasy we're talking with Jesse Sheidlower , a lexicographer and bar manager of a very small, high-end cocktail bar in Brooklyn called Threesome Tollbooth . Before bartending he authored The F-Word, a detailed history of the word "fuck". We also can't forget that he's been named one of the 100 smartest people in New York by New York Magazine. We talk about immersive experiences, swear words, and much, much more. The Speakeasy is powered by Simplecast ....
Jul 18, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 294
Today on The Speakeasy we talk with Matt Kourie . He's a cocktail enthusiast, turned home bartender, turned guest bartender, who had turned his one bedroom Queens apartment into a speakeasy, home bar room. Kourie has been organizing successful events in hospitality since 2013. The New York native has brought together over 20k individuals since that time, through his NY Best Wings Festival championships to BBQ events, partnered events with Time Out New York Magazine, the New York Cocktail Expo an...
Jul 11, 2018•56 min•Ep. 293
Noah Rothbaum is the editor of The Daily Beast ’s Half Full section. He also hosts the podcast Life Behind Bars with legendary cocktail historian David Wondrich. In addition, Rothbaum is the author of the book The Art of American Whiskey: A Visual History of the Nation’s Most Storied Spirit , through 100 Iconic Labels and the associate editor of the forthcoming Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails . Rothbaum’s first book, The Business of Spirits: How Savvy Marketers, Innovative Distillers, ...
Jul 04, 2018•59 min•Ep. 292
