Janaki Viswanathan scours Mumbai's watering holes, speaks to restaurateurs and foodies, gets recommendations from top mixologists to bring you a final list of the city's 5 best shake-n-stir experts
Janaki Viswanathan scours Mumbai's watering holes, speaks to restaurateurs and foodies, gets recommendations from top mixologists to bring you a final list of the city's 5 best shake-n-stir expertsu00a0
Mr Meticulous >> Olson Pereira
Find him at: China House, Grand Hyatt, Santacruz (E), 10 pm onwards. Call: 66761086
He's methodical and hell-bent on getting it right; even if it's just a drink. Award-winning bartender Pereira takes as much care making the perfect cocktail as he does fashioning a chat with guests, even on a frenzied night when he's serving up as many as 22 China House signature Mojitos. The 24 year-old scours the Internet for trivia, so that he can keep up conversation with guests. His secret strength? Anticipation service. That's guessing what the guest would like to have before the order is placed.
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| Bartender Olson Pereira (right) engages in a spot of bottle-sword-fighting with mentor Manoj Jangid, assistant manager, China House Lounge . This is Pereira's first job, though the 24 year-old has already won a couple of national and international awards for his cocktail recipes.
Pic/Apoorva Guptay |
Make him make you: The Tahiti. Pomegranate juice, cinnamon-flavoured sugar syrup, lime juice, Bacardi and a ginger foam to top it up, along with a single orchid. This one's for the ladies.
God of quick drink >> Sukumar Bale
Find him at: Manchester United Pub, Palladium Mall, Lower Parel, 10 am to 3.30 am. Call: 43601111It's a non-match day at the pub; all is quiet and calm at the bar. Until there's an order. Bale spurs into action, one hand clasping the neck of a vodka bottle, tipping it deep into the glass, the other ejecting readymade soda into the same glass. In less than 40 seconds, the drink is ready. He can knock off cocktails in under a minute; neat drinks take just 30 seconds. "Guests expect their drinks first, before they can relax or even watch the match," says the 23 year-old, who has been a bartender for six years.
Pics/Shadab Khan & Pradip DhivarMake him make you: His signature
Blue Cosmopolitan. It's a tangy, sweet mix of lime juice, sugar syrup, blue curaco and much ice. He'll also make you a Mojito minus rum, with gin or vodka, and serve you the Red Devil (an 8-spirit knockout drink) anytime, though it's only served during matches.
Story man >> Babloo Khan
Find him at: Kino 108, JP Road, Andheri (W), 8.30 pm onwards. Call: 9820052222u00a0u00a0
The ready smile is endearing, as is his name. If you're sick of seeing matches on giant LCDs, Khan's chatter will keep you entertained. The polite and unassuming 22 year-old is from a devout Muslim home in Uttar Pradesh.
His family has just come around, managing to accept his profession. His stint as steward at Caf ufffd Leopold in Colaba taught him to "speak properly," he admits in lopsided English. One of the high points of his career: bumping into actress Aishwarya Rai at Colaba lounge Henry Tham. Drop by at Kino 108, and ask him about it.
Make him make you: The trademark
Lemongrass Martini. Muddled lemongrass mixed with Monin syrup, vodka, apple juice and white wine, all shaken up for a drink with a twist.
Trick or treat? >> Amit Naik
Find him at: Hard Rock Caf ufffd, Bombay Dyeing Mills, Parel, 6 pm to 1.30 am. Call: 66155959Just broken up, single and lonely at the bar? Ask for Naik. The 24 year-old will have you laughing in no time.
He'll break the ice by asking you whether it's your first time at HRC, what base spirit you prefer, impress you with a spot of flair, and before you know it, he'd have shared some serious magic tricks. The self-moving straws and the ink imprint trick he "learnt from David Blaine" he says innocently, before laughing out loud. Quite a ladies man too, according to the other stewards. Naik's favourite time behind the bar? Birthdays. That's when he gets to watch guests get cream on their faces.
Make him make you: The Hurricane; full of fruit juices, pineapple, mango, orange and Bacardi, amoretto and some good old rum. He'll force you to drink it.
The wall >> Mikhail Wagh
Find him at: AER Lounge & Bar, The Four Seasons, Worli, from 6 pm to 1.30 am. Call: 24818000Crowds? No problem. Tipsy guests? Not an issue. Wagh can take all the pressure, smiling. And you'll still get your drink. At 23, and at his first stint as bartender at Mumbai's highest rooftop bar, he admits that he doesn't enjoy drinking. But he loves spirits and pulling off stunts. Nothing can shake this guy, except this one time at a bachelorette party where all the women came dressed as bunnies. "They asked for Screaming Orgasm shots, over and over again. It was funny," he chuckles.
Make him make you: The Flaming B52. He'll layer it with Bailey's, amoretto and Kahlua, and a tower of glasses which he'll set fire to. Sip with straws as the blue flame billows in the dark.
