Pt 4

Pt 3

The Tattoo Project pt 2

The Tattoo Project

Last year I was Lucky enough to be part of The Tattoo Project,showcasing Ink,Fine Art Photography.
It was a whole lot of fun,I learnt how to model and it helped me step up my shooting as well.

The Last Kalinga Tattooist

Kalinga Tattoos of the Philippines

Dog Brothers

This is what all the training comes down to,and what i spend my Sunday mornings on when my body allows it,the bruises are worth it

BassCoast

Flor de Cana Finals

I made the finals and will be competing for a trip to Nicaragua,and im up against 22 talented bartenders.
The 23 Competitors in the 2nd Annual CPBA Cocktail Challenge are:
(in no particular order)
Tarquin Melnyk – Global Wine Merchants / Lamplighter Pub?
Robert “H” Holl-Allen – Jules Bistro
Graham Racich – The Refinery
Tia Stonier – The Mix by Rics
Keenan Hood – The Keefer Bar
Jonathan Richard – The Vancouver Club
Jason Browne – Calabash Bistro
Arthur Wynne – The Cascade Room
Katie Sita – Cin Cin
Grant Sceney – Lobby Lounge Bar Fairmont Pacific Rim
Rob Scope – Calabash Bistro
Jon Smolensky – Hawksworth Restaurant
Evelyn Chick – Uva Wine Bar
Giovanni Giardino – Campagnolo
Joey Donnelly – Granville Room
Marc Smolinski – A Drinker’s Peace
Trevor Kallies – Donnelly Group
Joel Virginillo – The Refinery
Derek Vanderheide – Rosewood Hotel Georgia (1927 & Prohibition)
Justin Taylor – Yew Restaurant & Bar
Colin Macdougall – Blue Water Cafe
Gez McAlpine – The Keefer Bar
Marlo Panucci – The Market at Shagri-La

A year has passed

Its been a year out since i have left coffee and have gotten behind the stick and started to mix drinks again which had a few bumps along the way with re-learning specs of drinks and getting my rhythm back into being able to consistently make cocktails and serve without getting flustered.

It took a few months of re adjusting and the kick i needed to up my game finally got me back to speed.

In the year that has passed,I have entered quite a few comps,have one a couple and placed in a few.
The layout is similar to barista comps BUT its all compressed into 5-10 mins,depending on the comp,which at first was quite daunting but you got used to it,and going up against heavy hitters in the industry really got my skills honed probably better than what it was a decade ago when i left to travel to pursue coffee.

I really enjoyed Black Box comps,where you dont know what your getting till you open the box,it tested you out for creativity and originality.I also love the community and the way everyone encourages you push yourself at every drink you make.

I will be moving from The Cascade Room on Main St to our new bar that is opening up on Union St just off Main,and have been handed the helm to write up a cocktail menu for the new bar,which is pushing me to come up with some fun and tasty drinks.As soon as it opens i hopefully will have pics of the drinks and the recipes up as well.

http://scoutmagazine.ca/2011/09/29/diner-habit-cascade-folks-to-open-new-southeast-asian-restaurant-the-union/

Im also the second competitor for this months Bittered Sling Bistro Competition,which is an off shoot to The Cocktail Kitchen,which will be keeping me on my toes.

http://scoutmagazine.ca/2011/10/26/goods-kale-nori-launching-bittered-sling-bistro-cocktail-competition-series/