We chat with Kissa Tanto’s Europe-trained head bartender. —Siobhan Lidder
Q: How long have you been bartending?
A: Nine years. I started bartending at 18 in London at L’Oranger, a french fine dining restaurant in the heart of Mayfair. I was more like a glorified glass polisher than anything else, but I learned a great deal about wines during my time there.
Q: What drew you to the team at Kissa Tanto?
A: I was working at Bao Bei—our sister restaurant—I met James (general manager) and Wendy (former bar manager), and after working together for a couple of months, Wendy asked me if I wanted to be a part of the bar team. I never had the experience of being apart of an opening team and saw it as a great opportunity to learn.
Q: Any milestones or top highlights in your bartending career?
A: Being head bartender at one of the oldest members clubs in London was definitely a highlight.
Q: What has inspired your career?
A: I grew up surrounded by animals especially horses, and was competing all over France for thirteen years. I had a nasty knee injury and wasn’t able to compete anymore which affected me a lot and I basically didn’t know what to do with myself, so I decided to leave home and move to London. I gave myself a year, ended up staying there for seven, and grew a new passion for cocktails.
Q: Best piece of bartending advice you’ve ever received?
A: Steve Manktelow told me once; Shaking a martini does not bruise the gin, the only thing it bruises is the credibility of someone who believes this. I couldn’t agree more.
Q: Strangest request you’ve ever had from a guest?
A: Too inappropriate for this interview.
Q: If you were a cocktail ingredient, you’d be?
A: Tequila, nothing ever goes wrong with tequila! 😉
Q: At the end of the night, what drink do you pour for yourself?
A: A cold beer.
Q: Person you’d most like to see taking a seat at your bar?
A: Ernest Hemingway, obviously!
Q: What is your bartending/shift pump up song?
A: Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler, named a cocktail after it! A take on a Side Car, currently on the menu at Kissa Tanto.
Q: Coolest ingredient you’re playing with currently?
A: Marjoram.
Q: What’s a signature of yours?
A: The Jackson! The idea was to have a Sazerac, a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned in one drink. Come try it.
Q: What’s something that surprises people about you?
A: That I speak English fluently! And I also have a matching tattoo with James!
Q: Tell us a pro tip about Kissa Tanto?
A: You don’t need pro tips for Kissa Tanto, you’ll have a great time no matter what.
Q: What’s the coolest thing about being a bartender?
A: Being creative and meeting lots of awesome people!
Q: If you weren’t a bartender, what is your parallel life career?
A: Probably in the horse world back in France, maybe a horse riding instructor.
Kissa Tanto, 263 East Pender St., Vancouver. (778)-379-8078.
share:
Be the first to comment