Lead Bartender at Chemin à la Mer, James O’Donnell, was launched to the hospitality business whereas attending college in Wilmington, N.C., There, he labored quite a few gigs starting from host and barista to server and bartender.
On the time, he didn’t thoughts the work as a result of it supplied a good means to get by amidst his research. It wasn’t till he returned house to Durham, N.C., that he grew passionate in regards to the discipline of labor. His affinity for craft cocktails and bartending sparked throughout his time on the high-end cocktail bar, Alley 26.
The remainder is historical past, as he has been in New Orleans 5 years now, blessed with the fortune of working with a number of greats within the business. He credit Abigail Gullo (Compere Lapin, Loa Bar) for taking him beneath her wing and serving to him hone his type.
Behind the bar, James is enthused by superior strategies like fat-washing and clarification. Nonetheless, what he finds most impactful is the hospitality and repair facet of the job.
“Making a heat and welcoming surroundings for the visitor is much extra vital to me than advanced cocktails. Enjoying a job within the fond recollections of those that recognize your craft makes it much more satisfying.”
Chef Donald Hyperlink’s newest enterprise, Chemin à la Mer, is the place O’Donnell at the moment flexes his mixing skills. The Purple Grackle Bar is the very first thing friends see once they arrive and units the tone for his or her expertise. Because it offers friends a spot to socialize and sip, it offers James a platform to create new cocktails that replicate his analysis, inspiration, and expertise.
The drink program zeroes in on elevating basic cocktails, such because the Ti Punch or an Outdated Usual, whereas incorporating some new, revolutionary sips. When creating new drinks, the Lead Bartender himself makes use of private experiences as inspiration. It permits him to formulate creations that transcend style and inform a narrative.
As an esteemed bartender, James stresses the significance of taking the time and power to put money into oneself. “Working behind a bar can wreak havoc in your physique and the emotional power may also be exhausting. Discovering wholesome shops and routines outdoors of labor is essential.”
