thePULSEToasts of the Town 2
Meet Worcester County’s favorite bartenders
This year, we again asked you to help us choose Worcester County’s Favorite Bartenders. Our mailbox and inbox were flooded with nominations. It was not an easy decision, but we’re excited to announce this year’s winners: Jared Brown of Foo Bar (you many remember Jared as our Best Bartender pouring contest winner in August at Foo Bar, too!) and Laura Archibald of Victory Bar & Cigar.
Join us as we toast your favorite bartenders!
“The Best of the Best The Best of the Best
Jared Brown and Laura Archibald arre tthe PULSE’’s 2005 Favorite Bartenders
Laid back, talkative, funny and polite, it’s easy to see why this bartender is so popular. He says he is at the bar for the same reason as are his customers, “I’m there to have fun, not just to work.” And he does have fun – over the past two years, many of his customers have become his friends.
bartender for nine and a half years and currently working at three different locations (he also tends bar at Red 1888 and J.J.’s Sports Bar), Jared is a seasoned bartender. He started off as a waiter for TGIFriday’s, begging that they give him a chance to bartend. They finally did let him behind the bar, where two of his co-workers taught him to flip bottles, amuse customers and make drinks.
Years later, Jared can definitely tell you the keys to being a successful bartender, from always being attentive to the customers to being able to take multiple drink orders simultaneously. Perhaps the most important thing in bartending is to know drinks – lots of drinks. When he first started out, Jared had to know 250 drinks, but now he can make about 500.
One of his favorite drinks to make is Skully Punch, a favorite among customers (mostly women) who come in and ask him to “…make me something fun and fruity.” The recipe came from a friend who went to Hawaii and returned with this drink recipe that calls for top shelf liquor. Jared is one of only five people in Massachusetts who knows how to make it!
When asked what’s in it, he smirks and says, “There’s a little bit of everything and a lot of love.” When asked what drink he would be, Jared says that it’s not the fun and fruity Skully Punch, it’s a Foo Bar body shot.
Jared, like all bartenders, has tons of interesting stories and great memories. One that stands out most for him happened in 1998 when his friend and co-bartender at Friday’s, Joe Periera, competed in and won the World Bartending Championship in Texas. All of the workers had gone down to cheer him on and it was a 3-day trip Jared will never forget.
There is a lot Jared likes about working at a bar, from the stress-free environment to the flexible hours to the relaxed atmosphere. But a much as he enjoys bartending, there are a few things he doesn’t like, too. Having to kick drunk people out or cut them off is never fun. And while bar brawls in the movies always look exciting, in real life they are a pain to break up.
When he’s not bartending, you can find Jared snowboarding, working out, or playing video games. He is also an excellent cook — one of his specialties is lobster ravioli in a balsamic cream sauce. Another thing you would not expect is that Jared is a self-proclaimed computer nerd. He builds and fixes computers and is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. The next time you’re looking for a place to drink and a great bartender to serve you, stop by The Foo Bar, Red 1888 or J.J.’s Sports Bar and get to know one of Worcester’s favorite bartenders.
Laura doesn’t find it strange working in the only bar in Worcester where smoking is allowed. “The smoke doesn’t bother me – it’s not really heavy and the cigars give the bar a nice aroma. Since the smoking ban it’s gotten a lot better, too – there are fewer cigarettes around. Plus, there’s the ventilation.”
What cigar would Laura recommend? “Rocky Patel,” she says. “It’s a mild cigar with a madero wrap. It has a good blend of a lot of flavors without heavy hints of any one – and it smells good. I always recommend it to customers and everyone who tries it loves it.”
She suggests cognac, brandy, or Scotch to go with the cigar. “But if someone asked me, I would tell them to get a well-aged Scotch. That’s a good staple drink to order.”
Fitting for the young bar, Laura is new to bartending, starting last November at the Victory Cigar in Sudbury. “I had just come back from university and was just looking for a part-time job to make some money,” she says. “I had never really planned on becoming a bartender, I just fell into it. But the people I work with are great – they make it easy to go to work.”
Originally from Montreal, Canada, Laura returned there to attend Concordia University ten years after her family had moved to Worcester. “That’s where I was born and I love it there,” she says. “When I had the chance to go back there for school I did.” Now living in Northborough, Laura has a daytime job working in sales and marketing. Although she wants to continue to build a career in marketing and loves bartending, her real passion is for charity work. “Even though I have my day job and I bartend at night, charity work is the one thing will always make more time for,” she says.
Currently, Laura is helping organize a charity race to benefit the Worcester Youth Center. Called the Race for Worcester Youth, the event will be held April 9 at the F-1 racetrack in Boston. “We’re getting twelve local businesses to sponsor cars, it’s going to be an endurance race.” For more information, go to www.victorycigarbar.com/race.htm.
When Laura gets a little time to her self she likes to snowboard, run, rollerblade and spend time at One Eleven Chophouse. If you catch her there, buy her her favorite drink, a margarita, and toast Worcester County’s favorite female bartender.
Erin WalshBar: Tammany Hall, Worcester
Favorite thing about bartending: “Going to work is like going to a party! It’s a good time all
the time.”Bar: Tammany Hall, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: “Going to work is like going to a party! It’s a good time allthe time.”If you were a drink, what would you be?: A Cosmo
Bar: Tammany Hall, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: “Going to work is like going to a party! It’s a good time allthe time.”If you were a drink, what would you be?: A Cosmo
Best pickup line: A guy once came into the bar and asked to buy her a drink. He then toasted her by saying, “This is to you being cute and to me being cute.”
What do you like to do when not bartending?: Erin enjoys going to see live music and goes to Northampton a lot. One of her favorite bands right now is Craig, who play at Tammany Hall on Wednesday nights and are always a good time. She is also a student at Worcester
State, majoring in Communications and Media.
Kim CasellaBar: Quarter Keg Pub, CharltonBar: Quarter Keg Pub, CharltonFavorite thing about bartending: Kim’s favorite thing is the people, especially her regulars. “If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be in the business. I’ve met a lot of my friends through working at the bar. Plus my boss is one of my best friends.”
Bar: Quarter Keg Pub, CharltonFavorite thing about bartending: Kim’s favorite thing is the people, especially her regulars. “If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be in the business. I’ve met a lot of my friends through working at the bar. Plus my boss is one of my best friends.”What’s your favorite drink?: Margaritas
Interesting fact: Kim sings Italian songs for her customers.
What do you like to do when not bartending?: Kim likes to play cards, especially poker.
Do you have another job?: Along with bartending, Kim paints the interiors of houses.
Harry RichardsonBar: Jeff’s, WorcesterBar: Jeff’s, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: “I would have to say constantly meeting new people. I just love the fast-paced social atmosphere”
Bar: Jeff’s, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: “I would have to say constantly meeting new people. I just love the fast-paced social atmosphere”If you were a drink, what would you be?: “I’d be a shot of tequila, ‘cuz you never know what you’re gonna get.”
What do you like to do when not bartending?: “Hang out in bars… Just kidding, I’m a big mountain biker.”
Do you have another job?: Harry is a full-time Budweiser salesman.
Anything you don’t like about bartending?: “Not being able to have a drink with my favorite customers.”
Hanh NguyenBar: Red 1888, WorcesterBar: Red 1888, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: “I’m always meeting interesting people.”
Bar: Red 1888, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: “I’m always meeting interesting people.”If you were a drink, what would you be?: Blue Kamikaze
Interesting Fact: In addition to being a bartender, Hanh is a full-time manicurist.
Best pickup line: “Can I be your friend? Will you call me?”
What do you like to do when not bartending?: When she’s not working, Hanh likes to go out with her friends.
Anything you don’t like about bartending?: “Dealing with people when they’re drunk.”
Kim GolenskiBar: Copper Fox, WorcesterBar: Copper Fox, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: “I’m a total people person, so I love the people.”
Bar: Copper Fox, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: “I’m a total people person, so I love the people.”If you were a drink, what would you be?: “Something fruity, but fizzy.”
Best pickup line: “I need a dime really bad, I gotta call heaven ‘cuz they lost an angel.”
What do you like to do when not bartending?: When she’s not working at the Copper Fox, Kim
likes to relax at home with her kids
What other job would you want if you weren’t bartending?: If she were ever to get into another field, Kim would be an attorney.
Fun story: One time a girl was dancing on the bar and she pulled the ceiling down. Kim had to have people hold the ceiling up until they could find someone to fix it.
Eric GodinBar: Lucky Dog Music Hall, WorcesterBar: Lucky Dog Music Hall, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: Eric enjoys the interesting people he gets to meet. “It’s nice to actually get to talk to everyone and be friends.”
Bar: Lucky Dog Music Hall, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: Eric enjoys the interesting people he gets to meet. “It’s nice to actually get to talk to everyone and be friends.”If you were a drink, what would you be?: “A nice Kentucky bourbon whisky, straight-up.”
What do you like to do when not bartending?: As one of the co-owners, Eric is at Lucky Dog Music Hall pretty much every day. When he’s not serving drinks at the bar or doing administrative work, he likes to work around his house.
What other job would you want if you weren’t bartending?: Eric would like to work more on his art. He also “…wouldn’t mind being a booking agent for a larger venue or national company.”
Anything you don’t like about bartending?: “Cleaning up at the end of the night!”
Kim RossiBar: The Lights Sports Pub, WorcesterBar: The Lights Sports Pub, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: Kim is very outgoing and enjoys the people she meets.
Bar: The Lights Sports Pub, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: Kim is very outgoing and enjoys the people she meets.If you were a drink, what would you be?: A Cosmopolitan
What do you like to do when not bartending?: When not working at The Lights Sports Pub, Kim enjoys scrap-booking.
Do you have another job?: Along with bartending, Kim is a creative memory consultant, which she says is so much fun.
Fun story: “With all the memories I have, it’s kind of hard.” One night that sticks out in her memory is when the Red Sox won the World Series.
Keith MahanBar: Rovezzi’s Ristorante, WorcesterBar: Rovezzi’s Ristorante, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: Keith loves to make drinks. And Rovezzi’s isn’t a beer and shot place, so there are always lots of fun drinks to make. He also loves interacting with the customers.
Bar: Rovezzi’s Ristorante, WorcesterFavorite thing about bartending: Keith loves to make drinks. And Rovezzi’s isn’t a beer and shot place, so there are always lots of fun drinks to make. He also loves interacting with the customers.If you were a drink, what would you be?: Rum and Coke
Interesting fact: “A lot of people don’t even know I have children and how important they are to me.” He also loves going to the gym.
What do you like to do when not bartending?: Keith works at the bar pretty much every night. But when he’s not working, he likes to spend as much time as possible with his kids.
What other job would you want if you weren’t bartending?: “If I weren’t bartending, I’d like to
be a personal trainer.”
