An distinctive visitor expertise and creating connections is what Demi Natoli, Beverage Director at Graduate Nashville, prides herself on, and it’s evident by her successes.
A Florida native and of Cuban American heritage, Natoli entered the hospitality trade at simply 12 years outdated, and whereas attending faculty to acquire a Nice Arts diploma in Attire and Textile Design, she bartended at a number of eating places, at which era she fell in love with working behind the bar, crafting cocktails, and making connections along with her friends. Subsequently, she grew to become a bartender full-time and accepted a place at a Chicago tiki bar, Misplaced Lake. In 2019, after being nominated for a number of awards, she relocated to Nashville and after a couple of gigs, discovered her approach to Graduate Nashville.
At Graduate Nashville, Demi implements strategic operations for his or her in-house bar and restaurant White Limozeen, and acts as advisor of the beverage applications for his or her different two ideas: Cross-Eyed Critters Watering Gap and Poindexter Espresso. Every idea brings with them a uniqueness that Natoli can capitalize on along with her creativity.
“At White Limozeen, ‘extra is extra’ in relation to garnishes, and pink, glitter, and Jell-O aren’t any strangers right here. We give attention to creating cocktails which might be nostalgic, with recent elements and playful flavors and we supply pure French wines to pair with our French-ish meals program. Our karaoke bar, Cross-Eyed Critters, has a menu that is stuffed with photographs and crushable drinks that one can get pleasure from proper earlier than you stand up on stage.”
Natoli apparently attracts inspiration from the music she is surrounded by day-to-day. “A number of my drink concepts are based mostly on no matter album is on repeat in my automotive. For instance, our present Margarita at White Limozeen known as Cherry Blossom Child, based mostly on one of many songs from Kacey Musgraves’ newest album. I’ll normally decide songs that skew slightly extra nation that I do know our friends will like, too. As a result of Cross-Eyed Critters is karaoke-focused, the drink names are all the time based mostly on songs. Genres can vary from disco to steel; my music style is slightly all over, nevertheless it’s all the time enjoyable when somebody acknowledges what music the drink is known as after.”
When advising right now’s bartenders on easy methods to advance of their area, Natoli believes real hospitality, crafting drinks your friends like, and involving your employees within the course of are the important thing. “Drink traits will fade, and fashionable bars come and go, however individuals who actually care about their friends and their experiences will all the time stand out!”
