Our Team

My Journey Behind the Bar: 20 Years of Shaking, Stirring, and Serving

They say if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. While I wouldn’t say bartending has ever been easy I can say I’ve loved every moment of my 20+ years behind the bar. From the adrenaline of a packed Saturday night to the quiet conversations with a regular at last call, this job has given me more than just a paycheck, it’s given me a purpose, a community, and some of the best stories you’ll ever hear.

The hardest part of bartending for me? Day shifts and losing my old-school regulars. Over the years, I’ve heard their stories, shared their laughter, and grown to love them. Watching those barstools slowly empty as time passes is heartbreaking. It’s a reminder of how short life is and how these so-called regulars become family.

How It All Began

Like many in this industry, I didn’t necessarily plan on becoming a bartender, I just fell into it. At 20 years old, I had my first daughter, Brooke, and knew I needed to make quick money as often as possible while still having a flexible schedule.

My first gig was at Uno’s Chicago Grill in Central Valley, where I met my best friends

People who are still my go-to’s, my ride-or-dies. They’ve seen me cry, laugh, fall apart, and put myself back together. I started as a server and quickly realized that bartending was where the action was. I loved the energy, the creativity of mixing drinks, and the way a great bartender can set the tone for an entire room. Before I knew it, I was hooked.

The Evolution of Bartending

A lot has changed since I first stepped behind the bar. Back then, there weren’t nearly as many beer or liquor options. And if you didn’t know how to make a drink, you couldn’t just pull out your phone and Google it. You had to dig through a 2,000-page textbook from 1968, flip to the index, and 14 minutes later finally have your cocktail recipe.

Now, bartending is as much about the experience as it is the drinks. Customers are more educated about spirits, craft cocktails have taken over, and even the technology, POS systems, mobile ordering has evolved. But at its core, bartending is still about people. It’s about reading the room, making someone’s day better, and knowing when to crack a joke or lend an open ear.

Lessons Learned & Favorite Moments

Over the years, I’ve seen it all—first dates, breakups, awkward drunken hookups, wild celebrations, and even a few bar fights. But beyond the stories, bartending has taught me patience, adaptability, and how to handle just about any situation thrown my way, with a smile… or at least a fake one.

Advice for New Bartenders

For anyone just starting out, here’s my best advice:

• Master the Basics – You don’t need to know 500 cocktails off the bat, but you do need to know how to make a solid Old Fashioned, Margarita, Long Island Iced Tea, and Martini. Know your pour counts. And even if you don’t know what you’re doing? Act like you do. Confidence is everything in this business.

• Be Fast, But Be Friendly – Speed matters, but so does personality. A great bartender isn’t just fast, they’re engaging and fun.

• Learn to Read the Room – Know when a customer wants to chat and when they just need a drink and some space.

• Take Care of Your Team – A good bar runs on teamwork. Help each other out, and you’ll always be set up for success. Your coworkers become the family you rely on.

Bartending isn’t just a job for me, it’s a passion. The fast pace, the people, the ever-changing atmosphere. There’s nothing quite like it. I’ve been lucky to work with amazing teams, serve incredible customers, and be a part of so many unforgettable nights.

To anyone who has ever sat at my bar, ordered a drink, or just shared a laugh, cheers to you . And to the next generation of bartenders: take care of your guests, take care of each other, and never forget to have fun.