Manhattan Cocktail Classic - Day 4

Cover and Classic, Closed. Photo: Moses Laboy

This final day of the Classic, I finally had no work! Oh wait..scratch that..I still had my shift at Bar Celona later that night. So I got myself out of bed and hurried down to the Astor Center to finally catch some seminars. Passing through the kitchen again, I was quite impressed with how organized Jeff, Don and the LUPEC ladies had gotten. We have all learned so much from running this event and being Montessori trained, I believe you have to DO in order to LEARN. And Boy, we did a lot this week. Some practical things I learned:

• You can kill two Kold Draft Machines in less than a day
• Be organized when cleaning out a room, slop buckets, wheeled racks
• Make the dishwasher not hate you and do the above, please
• People need water..and lots of it
• People need good food...and lots of it
• Follow through and complete a task
• When you are physically exhausted and possibly drunk, it is really hard to follow through and complete a task
• Its a huge waste to make full cocktails and maybe tasting cups should be in order...
• Then again...certain cocktail need certain glassware and plastic cups are a waste
• Presenters get really really nervous
• Cocktail competitors get really really nervous
• ALWAYS have a full Kitchen when doing an event.
• Surround yourself with people who will get the job done...these people may not be your friends
• Learn to delegate
• Just because a drink looks good, does not mean it tastes good
• Math skills are important for batching...but so is tasting.
• Rotate long shifts so no one feels stuck
• Then again, pick a job and stick to it
• Air Conditioning, bathrooms, lights...these are all important things
• Inventory is important. Make a list and check it twice!
• Its nice to get paid
• Take too many jobs with too many brands and you really can't do your best for yourself or the brand
• But then again, its nice to get paid
• Walk away when you feel like you cannot do any good
• Be ready to jump in when you are needed to do good
• Be very thankful and gracious
• Get some sleep!