February 19, 2012

Irish Car Bomb Domino

By eightysixem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While in Florence, Italy we stumbled upon a great pub called “The Lions Fountain.”  It’s a dark mahogany drenched Irish pub just a few blocks away from the Duomo.  This pub definitely caters to the english speaking tourists looking to wet their whistle as all the bartenders speak Italian and English and they will make drinks that are not native to Italy.  

As the party raged on, we decided to order a round of ten Irish Car Bombs.  For those of you that don’t know what an Irish Car Bomb is, It’s a 3/4 filled pint of Guinness and you drop a shot of 1/2 Bailey’s and 1/2 Jameson’s in it and you best chug quick because the combination while great going down the pipe will curdle if it is drank slow.  That is why this is usually a race with the winner slamming the (better be empty) pint on the bar first.  Don’t be scared it tastes like chocolate milk. 

The best part of these tasty treats at The Lion’s Fountain was the way they were served.  As you can see above the bartender set them up right in a row and balanced the shot in between the Guinness pints.  When all ten participants came to the bar ready to chug the bartender took two fingers, and like strumming across a piano, tapped the bottom of the shots which made them all perfectly fall into the glass.  As each fell, we one by one raced to get the drink down.  It all happened so perfectly and so entertainingly.  

If you are ever in Florence and find you need a pint after a great Italian meal, stop in the Lion’s Fountain.  You won’t regret it.

(My apologies to any Irish or English I’ve offended by calling it a Car Bomb.  I’ve been in an Irish bed and breakfast when a customer asked for an Irish Car Bomb, the bartender politely corrected him in his thick Irish accent: “In this establishment they are called Irish Lunch Boxes sir.  Do you know how many Irish die in car bombs during the fight for freedom? Now please, if you don’t mind, get the f@#* out.” )

 

© 2012 By Eighty Six’em.  All Content, Photos, Images and Text are the property of Eighty Six’em Unless Otherwise Credited. Nothing may be copied, Altered, or Reused in any way without prior written consent from Eighty Six’em or Drew David.

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January 23, 2012

The Spanish Pirate

By eightysixem

This is a very unlikely yet delicious recipe.  I was working the main bar at the hotel when a guy came to the bar and asked for a Captain and O.J.  I thought he was joking, did someone put him up to this?  He looked like the type that should be drinking bourbon on the rocks.  I asked if he was serious, and sure enough, he was dead serious.  Explaining how everyone always looks at him weird and gives him a hard time when he orders it, he got very serious about how good it is.  

I was intrigued, he seemed normal enough and really enjoyed the drink so I made one for straw tasting and it was surprisingly great.

 (For those that don’t know what straw tasting is, next time you are at a bar just watch, you will see bartenders and servers put a straw in a drink placed behind the bar, put a finger over the top of the straw and release the pressure to empty the contents of the straw into their mouth.  It’s a great way to drink when a manager is on duty that frowns upon employees indulging because we, of course, are just making sure the recipe and product is up to par.)

It tasted like a Dreamsicle or an Orange Julius.  For reasons I can’t explain it had a hint of a vanilla flavor and was smooth.  I then gave it the ultimate test, I shook it up and gave it to a group of annoying girls who ordered,  ”Four shots of something good, you know, like, something fruity but not strong?”  I added a shot of “Cuarenta y Tres,” a vanilla spanish liquor which took the edge off of it and brought it as close to perfection as it could be.  The ever hard to please group of up-talking young ladies enjoyed their shots along with the original creator who started ordering it with the Cuarenta y Tres.  

Cuarenta y Tres — or “Licor 43″ — is a very good addition when a sweetener is needed.  It is a staple at every bar in Spain, kind of the Grand Marnier of Spain, 63 proof and adds a vanilla flavor with hints of citrus fruits.   

This is my new go-to when not sure what to order or serve to an undecided customer.  Enjoy the recipe and let me know what you think.

Glass: rocks glass/tumbler, fill with ice.

1.5 oz Captain Morgan

.5 oz Cuarenta y Tres

Fill with Orange Juice

Orange Slice Garnish Optional

© 2012 By Eighty Six’em.  All Content, Photos, Images and Text are the property of Eighty Six’em Unless Otherwise Credited. Nothing may be copied, Altered, or Reused in any way without prior written consent from Eighty Six’em or Drew David.

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January 11, 2012

Fish Joke

By eightysixem

I love working during busy nights while good conversation is flowing at the bar.  As a bartender we get to listen in and add to conversations if we want.  The best is when the jokes start between customers at the bar.  Lucky them, they have time to spend telling great elaborate jokes but we bartenders must act quickly and still get a laugh while on the move.

So when busy feel free to drop this little nugget and I will personally guarantee a good laugh — well, at least a smirk.  It’s stupid enough that you can walk away and continue to work, then if the opportunity presents itself and you would like to tell another (funnier, dirtier, stupider) joke, the door has been opened.

This is my favorite joke right now it has all the elements of a good bar joke; quick, witty, dumb and kinda funny. Enjoy and have a good night.

Q:  “What did the fish say when it swam into the wall?”

(99% of customers will reply “ouch?” but no sir, the correct answer is………………….)

A:  “Damn.”

© 2011 By Eighty Six’em.  All Content, Photos, Images and Text are the property of Eighty Six’em Unless Otherwise Credited. Nothing may be copied, Altered, or Reused in any way without prior written consent from Eighty Six’em.

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January 5, 2012

We Have a Well?!?!

By eightysixem

The other night I was on the restaurant floor waiting tables and was the lucky one to train a new girl to be a server. I hate training and will be the first to admit that I’m terrible at it!  It’s not that I’m mean, I’m just really laid back, don’t like explaining things and feel that each person has their own style and should just go with it.  To make matters worse this poor girl had no experience in a restaurant — ZERO.  

I’m all for people getting opportunities in a restaurant but I also think a starting point is the hostess stand or as a server assistant.  However, she had hotel front desk experience, was really nice and our manager hired her as a server.

We hung out for a while and I showed her around introducing her to the co-workers as we started filling up for dinner quickly.  I was getting double-sat in my section and had to start working fast.  I explained that I’m going to start hustling so she should follow me and she should pre-bus tables, fill waters and just do anything to help.  It was kind of funny to see her eyes get big as we started running and she froze.  She didn’t do anything  for at least an hour but follow me, which was fine.  

Finally, after shadowing me (literally my shadow) she asks what she can do to help.  I was kind of frustrated but it was obvious that she didn’t know what pre-bussing or tending to tables was so I very kindly but kind of quickly say: “It would be great if you go to the well and grab a pitcher of water for table 32 which is that table right there.”

Her jaw dropped and dead serious she says, “WE HAVE A WELL WE GET WATER FROM?!?!?!?!”

I paused, trying to think of why it was such an outrageous question.  Then I realized she had never heard of a service well, she was thinking of a brick-and-bucket well!!!  I felt so bad because I stood there laughing for a good 15 seconds, then showed her where the service well was with running water, ice, a bartender, glasses and soda.  She was truly terrified and told me later she pictured in her head a brick-and-bucket well in the back of the kitchen for water and didn’t want to fall in.  

As much as I hate training, it was a great moment in the midst of frustrating craziness.  We had a good laugh about it as did everyone else because I sure as hell told everybody else.  I was in a great mood the rest of the night and even she couldn’t help but laugh which broke the tension and turned the night for the better.  Thank goodness for newbies to break up the craziness.  And yes, she has turned out to be a great server.

VS.

Copyright 2012 By Eighty Six’em.  All Content, Photos, Images and Text are the property of Eighty Six’em Unless Otherwise Credited. Nothing may be copied, Altered, or Reused in any way without prior written consent from Eighty Six’em.

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January 5, 2012

Sorry I’ve Been Away…….

By eightysixem

Hello Everybody,

Sorry I’ve been away but I got screwed, literally.  I broke my ankle playing basketball and needed a screw and two ligament anchors inserted into my leg/ankle.  To the right is a post surgery picture.  Needless to say, this put bartending on hold for a while and was quite painful.  Not being at the bar and in the industry has been hard and laying on my back with my leg elevated during recovery was even worse.  However, now that I am out of 

 

bed and able to make it to the desk and computer I am back with a clear mind to keep the Eighty Six’em blog rolling.  

Hope everyone had a happy and safe New Years and here’s to a Healthy 2012.

-Drew David


Eightysixem.com

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October 27, 2011

A Bartender In Need of a Reality Check

By eightysixem

This is a classic tale about a bartender’s ego and inflated self-esteem.  Yes, bartenders are on stage when working, but that doesn’t mean when people talk to you and look at you they are attracted to you.  Let’s just take a step back, serve some frosty cold drinks and strike up a good conversation.  If the opportunity presents itself to do a little flirting, by all means have some fun.  But please leave the ladies and gents that are with a significant other alone.  All it does is make an awkward scene for everyone.  Be respectful or your co-worker’s will Eighty Six you.

Sincerely,  Eighty Six’em

I was working swing shift at a bar in San Diego with this guy named D.  It was three o’clock and pretty dead. The bar is horseshoe and to the right is the dinning area, to the left is a lounge and in front is the bar area. There was a young couple eating to our right and D kept looking at them and murmuring to himself things like “oh man,” “yea,” and “what the hell?” He had a shitty grin on his face and finally I asked what his deal was and why he was acting so weird.  He said the guy at the table is pissed at him and keeps “mean-mugging” him. 

I was so confused, so I look at the couple eating and they were a hot Latino couple.  Both had olive skin, dark hair and dressed real nice.  She was hot as hell and this was a real good-looking guy to.“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked. “Dude, his girl keeps eye f***ing me!  And then he keeps looking over after she does,” he whispers.

Now, D is a tall lanky guy with big ears, shaggy hair and thinks he’s the coolest best looking thing in the world.  He is cocky all the time even though he is one ugly mug. However, because he plays guitar in a band and bartends he thinks he’s god’s gift to women.

So, Confused as ever, I glance at the couple and sure enough they are looking his way as he’s propped against the well feeling real good about himself.  I look further past him and there’s a freaking 60 inch plasma TV about 25 feet directly behind him in the lounge.  Fuel TV’s  big wave surfing competition is on and that’s what they both were watching!!!

I shook my head and started to explain that they were watching TV.  He cut me off and replied, “Yea, whatever man.”  What a loser! I still laugh, because he’s never pulled a hot chick from the bar and this was the best looking girl that’s come in in a long time.   Oh, and yup she’s eye f***ing you right next to her boyfriend who’s now pissed.  There’s no way that they’re not watching the sickest waves ever right behind you.  How delusional can one be?  This guy needs a reality check.

© 2011 By Eighty Six’em.  All Content, Photos, Images and Text are the property of Eighty Six’em Unless Otherwise Credited. Nothing may be copied, Altered, or Reused in any way without prior written consent from Eighty Six’em.

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October 11, 2011

Hallmark Holiday Amateur

By eightysixem

This story is where we got this site idea from.  My buddy was re-telling a story from St. Patrick’s Day and had us all laughing.  We call people like the guy in this story Amateurs – old men who can’t handle their liquor and only go out on Hallmark Holidays.  Idiots.  Here’s his story.  Enjoy our first post.                           - Eighty Six’em

I was bartending on St. Patrick’s and it was pretty slow at a local hotel bar when a skinny old-grey hair guy, and a younger lady sat down. They obviously both had been drinking and this d-bag was trying to impress her with his lame jokes and bar fodder.

“Hehe, hey barkeep, let me buy my daughter a drink!!!”

Shit, barkeep? I thought. I wanted to say, “I know you’re trying to impress her by acknowledging she’s younger, but you’re seriously trying to bang your daughter???”

Instead I was civil, “What’ll you have?”

“You know what? I think I’ll have a Guinness! It’s St. Patrick’s day and I’ve never had one!”

“You’ve never had a Guinness?”

“Nope!!! It’s St. Patrick’s day! Give me a Guinness!”

I already hate this guy, the other hotel guests are watching sports, its quiet, they are professional drinkers and everyone keeps glancing over at this guy and shaking their heads. So I get the lady some fruity martini, and the d-bag a Guinness.  He takes a sip and I hear, “Oh god!” All loud and annoying “This is terrible!!!!”

“What?” I said.

“Who drinks this? It tastes like burnt coffee!”

“I do,” I replied, “And the two guys at the bar right there do to.”

He takes another sip and his lady friend is now getting uneasy cause she notices that I’m getting annoyed.  After a sip he proclaims that it’s terrible again and now this freaking amateur has everyone in the bar annoyed so I turn to him and yell…..

“Hey!!! We get it, I remember my first beer to, it tasted like shit, BUT I WAS FIVE!”

Everyone is laughing at him, even the lady friend is laughing at him. So I go over and grab the Guinness from him. He starts whining…”No, no, no, I’ll finish it. Seriously, I was just joking.”

I’m not pissed, just cocky and I will not pass up this opportunity….  ”No you won’t, here’s a water, and I’m gonna need some I.D. if you want something else. Because I don’t think you’re 21.”   Oh, man!!!! I LOVE THESE MOMENTS, we have the power behind the bar and I’m just loving this moment and entertaining everyone!!!

Now he’s serious, “Come on, easy kid, I don’t have my I.D., just get me Miller Lite.”

What a perfect opportunity to harness my inner Tombstone:

“Hey… I ain’t easy and I ain’t your kid.”

I walked away and didn’t serve him.  His lady friend sat and enjoyed her $13 sugar water and every now and then he would ask for a beer, I would just chuckle and smile. He paid for her drink and left, man it felt good, I can’t stand loud, old, annoying amateurs.  The best part? I made good money from all the people at the bar for that. Got lots of laughs and compliments. –Now that’s how you Eighty Six’em!!!!!!!!!!

© 2011 By Eighty Six’em.  All Content, Photos, Images and Text are the property of Eighty Six’em Unless Otherwise Credited. Nothing may be copied, Altered, or Reused in any way without prior written consent from Eighty Six’em.

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