Polite Provisions is San Diego’s latest addition to the "vintage" drink scene, serving tonics and elixirs prepared from a pharmacy-inspired bar. Situated on 30th avenue, this latest venue from the team behind Craft & Commerce, UnderBelly and Noble Experiment recruited the talent of San Francisco native, Erick Castro. With his direction, the new North Park venue hopes to form one of San Diego’s most innovative drink programs. Castro recently announced the line-up for his Bartender’s Chef Table Seminars— beverage workshops drawing a collaboration of some of the country’s most talented bartenders.
During the seminars, Castro will lead both tastings as well as instructional classes while guest mixologists will share personal anecdotes and insider information surrounding the progression of the industry. Castro said, “The concept was born from that fact that bartending has evolved into so much more than simply pouring a drink; it's a culture, a lifestyle, an experience.” The first seminar (March 19th) was led by Amanda “Lady Lillet” Boccato, formerly of Milk & Honey, Pegu Club, PDT and Dutch Kills. As the only U.S. representative for the French aperitif, Lillet, Boccato shared her extensive knowledge of the craft while also hosting an educational aperitif and Lillet tasting hour. Take a look below to see what other big name mixologists will be heading to Polite Provisions in the next few months. Dates have yet to be announced, so keep an eye out for an updated schedule:
Simon Ford: Co-founder of The 86 Company
Topic: Tequila Tasting w/ Cabeza Tequila
Based in: New York City
Industry veteran Simon Ford has spent years traveling the globe training mixologists and helping to popularize cocktails. He was named best international brand ambassador in 2007 and best US brand ambassador in 2009 at Tales of the Cocktail. He is a leading voice of the cocktail world and regularly conducts educational sessions, judges bartending competitions and speaks on seminar panels at food and spirits conferences throughout the world.
Don Lee: Designer & Educator at Cocktail Kingdom
Topic: The Science of the Cocktail
Based in: New York City
Don Lee, known as one of NYC's greatest cocktail slingers, helped to create one New York’s great secret institutions, Cocktail Kingdom, a temple to all things cocktail, including a vast selection of bartending tools and quite possibly the largest library of cocktail books in the world. The cocktail world also knows Lee from his work behind the bar as opening beverage director for PDT as well as developing the hard spirits program at Momofuku.
Marcos Tello: Tello Demarest Liquid Assets and Brand Ambassador for Bols Genever
Topic: Intro to Dutch Genever
Based in: Los Angeles
Marcos Tello is respected as one of the most accomplished bartenders and beverage consultants on the West Coast. As the second half of Tello Demarest Liquid Assets, a beverage program consultation firm, Marcos has successfully helped install classically inspired cocktail programs throughout Los Angeles including venues such as Seven Grand Whiskey Bar, The Edison, 1886, a recent recipient of Food & Wine’s Best Bars in America 2012—The Varnish and Tom Bergin’s Horseshoe Tavern.
Trevor Easter: West Coast brand ambassador for Beefeater and Plymouth Gin
Topic: The World of Juniper
Based in: San Francisco
Trevor Easter's roots lay in San Diego, but his bar tendering career led him to San Francisco where he made quite a name for himself behind the bar at spots like Rickhouse, Churchill, and Wilson & Wilson Detective Agency. Trevor currently works as the West Coast Brand Ambassador for Beefeater & Plymouth gin.
Lindsay Nader: Los Angeles Brand Advocate for La Maison Cointreau
Topic: The Beauty of the Orange Liqueur
Based in: Los Angeles
Lindsay Nader is a bartender, spirits professional and writer from Los Angeles, California. Her foundation behind the bar began at P.D.T. in NYC, and since then Nader has gone on to build cocktail programs at many of LA's finest establishments like Animal Restaurant, Son Of A Gun, Harvard & Stone, and Pour Vous. Nader is the co-founder of Elysium Craft Cocktail Services and served as the Deputy Cocktail Editor for Food & Wine Magazine’s 2011 Cocktail Book.
Brooke Arthur: Brand Ambassador for House Spirits Distillery
Topic: Happy Hour with House Spirits
Based in: San Francisco
Bar star Brooke Arthur has helped to build cocktail programs at many of of San Francisco's esteemed cocktail bars like the Range and Prospect, and is currently working with House Spirits Distillery.
