October 10th, 2007
Are you a parent? If so, you may recognize this situation. A friend of mine has taken to barhopping vicariously through drinkboston.com, given that she has a toddler and an infant and just moved to the ‘burbs. She wrote me an email recently with the subject, “You know you spend too much time at drinkboston.com when…” and a message that continued, “…your 3-year-old organizes a cocktail party in the play kitchen on his second day of pre-school and serves his classmates and teachers lemonade cocktails.”
Isn’t that cute?
Posted in Misc. | 2 Comments »
October 10th, 2007
The LUPEC Boston Tea Party, which took place on Sunday night, was such a blast that I’m guessing attendees are still cursing the Boston chapter of the Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails. Well, I can only say to them: thanks for helping us preserve those endangered cocktails — and supporting Jane Doe Inc. in the process. Don’t worry, your liver will bounce back in time for our next event. Promise.
Prohibition-era and other vintage cocktails included the Scoff Law, the Mother-in-Law and the Bronx. The ladies also created a new cocktail just for the party called the Flapper Jane (recipe below). They circulated through the crowd with silver pourers, topping up people’s teacups (you know, so the fuzz didn’t know we were drinking hooch). Miss Tess had the boat swinging with her modern-vintage singing, guitar playing and trombone blowing, accompanied by a standup bass.
Yes, I said “boat.” The shindig took place on the Merrimac Queen, a permanently docked riverboat in the North End’s Lewis Wharf. The Boston Sailing Center graciously lent it to us for the cause. In fact, many people in the spirits and food biz, plus several local businesses and friends, donated the goods and labor that made the whole thing possible. Read about them on the LUPEC Boston blog.
The Flapper Jane
1.75 oz Plymouth Gin
.5 oz fresh lemon juice
.75 oz Wu Wei tea-infused simple syrup
dash of Peychaud’s Bitters
Shake in a cocktail shaker, strain into a cocktail glass.
Posted in Cocktails, Events | 3 Comments »
October 5th, 2007
Bartender profile
Everyone seems to know Joe McGuirk. He has tended many a bar in this city for the last 16 years, including the B-Side Lounge, Chez Henri and Green Street. Currently, you can find him at Highland Kitchen. He freely admits to moving from bar to bar in order to “keep it fresh.” But, like Steve Martin or Alec Baldwin on Saturday Night Live, he returns to his past workplaces fairly regularly for guest appearances. “If you need a shift covered, call McGuirk,” he quips.
McGuirk’s an expert practitioner, as skilled at stirring up a perfect Negroni as he is at cracking open Coors Lights during a Red Sox rush. He has an unusual knack for being comfortable working just about anywhere and an attendant ability to satisfy patrons who range from bike messengers to Brahmins. McGuirk credits his own “Upstairs, Downstairs” life experiences for this. He’s a waitress’ and truck driver’s son who grew up in the genteel town of Concord. He started his own family right out of high school and worked as a line cook while studying English, history and political science at UMass. As if his ease with bar patrons of all stripes wasn’t enough, McGuirk has a good memory for names and details. He understands something a lot of bartenders don’t: “My real bosses are the customers.”
OK, that’s all pretty impressive. But I’m convinced the real reason McGuirk’s famous in his trade, the reason he’s gotten press both locally and beyond, is the Twinkle — that flicker in his eye that both sizes you up and hints at a whole ‘nother dialogue going on beyond the drink-for-cash transaction. Women often interpret it as flirtatiousness. Men might recognize it as a warning against oafish behavior. Whatever. It works wonders.
Hometown
Concord, MA.
Past bartending jobs
I have worked at many bars but the ones that stand out are Chez Henri, B-Side Lounge, Central Kitchen and the Enormous Room, Game On, and the Beehive.
Favorite bar in Boston other than your own
Favorite bar (that I have not worked at) is Eastern Standard.
Favorite bartender(s) in Boston
My favorite bartender of all time is Denny Lewis (retired). My favorite active bartender is Kevin Scott, the James Brown of bartenders. However, there are so many I love.
Most annoying myth about bartenders
That we sleep more than the average person. Friends call at 11:00 a.m. and are shocked to discover we are still in bed. Well, if I worked ’til 4:00 and got to bed by 5:00, then I am only in my sixth hour of sleep. Call after noon, and I promise to stop calling at 3:00 a.m.
The drink you most like to make
The Negroni is the prettiest drink when portions are corrrect, and if you burn the oils off of the orange peel, the smell is great too. But I am happiest when I introduce someone to a drink they have not had but really love. And that comes more from talking with my guests and trying to match them with a drink.
The drink you least like to make
After 3:00 p.m. the Bloody Mary is the most annoying drink. And a dirty martini is the silliest drink. You have to pay for a drink in which half of the spirit has been replaced by the brine of your garnish. Mind blowing.
The drink you most like to drink
Is Budweiser a drink?
If you weren’t a bartender, you’d be…
I probably would be a line cook if I didn’t tend bar. But I wanted to be a zoologist, college professor, sports announcer and the author of the Great American Novel.
Is Boston a good bar town? If so, why?
Boston is a great town for bars. Besides being home to some wonderful old bars and some beautiful new ones, the city has always celebrated its drinkers and the men and women who serve them. And although I am sure other cities do the same thing, it just seems that Boston is big enough to support a great bar scene, with wonderful variety; and small enough for most bars and their bartenders to get the recognition for their efforts. There is a fraternal feeling among the bartenders in this town, and although I might not know each one there is a very strong chance that if you have been doing this for a few years, we are destined to meet. And there is a very good chance that we know a bunch of people in common, whether they are patrons or peers. And the history … didn’t Paul Revere start his midnight ride from a tavern? And didn’t Ray Flynn personally poll his constituency at J.J. Foley’s? Not unlike Ken Reeves doing the same thing at the Green Street Grill?
After having tended bar in San Francisco, I know that Boston respects what we do, our trade, more than they do in SF. And while I like the hours, and I love what I do, it doesn’t hurt to have my community say what I do is a decent way to make a living.
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