Month: March 2008

When Beretta opens (currently scheduled for April 1), cocktail fans will recognize many familiar faces behind the bar. Thad Vogler (Slanted Door, Jardiniere, Bourbon & Branch) is leading the bar program, and some of the people taking shifts there will be Jon Santer (Bruno’s, Range, Tres Agaves, B&B), Todd Smith (Cortez, B&B), Ryan Fitzgerald (Tres…

News from Bourbon & Branch: They’ve added classes on Cocktails 101, Rum, and Absinthe to the Beverage Academy Taking co-management positions after Todd Smith’s departure are Joel Baker and Yanni Kehagiaras (pictured) Russell’s Room, an additional private room built into the former barbershop next door, is scheduled to open in April. Labels: bars, education, SanFrancisco

Plymouth gin is the bartender’s favorite brand here in San Francisco. What’s nice is that the brand sponsors events to thank them for it. In the winter they offered a lecture on molecular mixology techniques, and earlier this week they flew in David Wondrich to lead a big group on a cocktail history tour of…

Big news in SF barland: Todd Smith has turned in his resignation at Bourbon & Branch. He’s been with them since long before they opened but said, “It’s time for me to move on and do another project.” He told me he plans to take some time off and work on some consulting gigs he’s…

The text of my Belgian beer bars story from San Francisco Magazine is now online here. And if you’re interested, my Aspen travel piece is here. Labels: beer, camper_clips, travel