Santé Cocktail Bar
14 Duggan Road, Toowoomba
santecocktailbar.com.au
Tucked away in a small laneway within the centre of Toowoomba one can find Santé Cocktail Bar. Step into this hidden gem to discover a heat welcome and a wonderful area designed to allow you to sit again, chill out and really feel proper at residence. This small and intimate area spills out into the atmospheric laneway lit by fairy lights, making it simply the appropriate dimension for a fast after-work cocktail or an evening out. Small tables and a no-bookings coverage are the best way of retaining the atmosphere welcoming and intimate, and making certain that everybody feels comfy.
Right here we chat to homeowners Alex Percy and Loic Mouchelin about how they ended up opening a cocktail bar in regional Queensland.
How did Sante, a cocktail bar in Toowoomba come to be?
Loic: We moved again from London in 2018 and the dream was a bar. We tossed up concepts of a wine bar, cocktails, a dive bar however once we discovered the area for Sante we knew it needed to be cocktails!
Alex: Cocktails are our past love so it suited us completely.
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How lengthy have you ever been open?
Loic: We opened fifth December 2019 simply earlier than the world modified with Covid. The local people, our suppliers & our buddies are the explanation we survived and if we are able to survive that every thing else appears potential!
What made you open a cocktail bar in regional Queensland?
Alex: After we moved again from London we deliberate to reside on the seashore. Toowoomba was a stopgap to spend time with household and discover our toes. We didn’t actually know Toowoomba however once we appeared round it gave the impression to be a rising place. We realised we might open a bar with simply our financial savings and construct one thing inside a neighborhood that was already rising and in search of new locations to exit and new experiences.
“The highlights are little issues in each shift! Assembly new individuals, listening to tales, just a few proposals, (some breakups). I believe listening to how a lot our little area means to individuals is at all times warming!”
What do you’re keen on about Toowoomba/ why ought to individuals go to?
Loic: It’s a rising and evolving metropolis! There are new bars, eating places, cafes, and outlets opening on a regular basis. It’s a melting pot of individuals shifting from out west to a metropolis and other people shifting from larger cities to a smaller, extra community-driven life-style. It’s additionally a wonderful metropolis with a number of parks & gardens to discover!
Alex: We’re each from small cities so regardless that neither of us had lived right here earlier than it felt acquainted.
What’s your hospitality background?
Loic: I began in hospitality in France at 14 finding out in a hospitality college with the purpose of being a chef. I’ve coated most elements of hospo; chef, bartending, entrance of home, housekeeping, accounting, occasion administration. I labored in superb eating eating places as a chef & bars in France, Germany, America then determined to maneuver to London the place I devoted myself to studying extra about bartending than cheffing. I labored in Be at One the place Alex & I met after which The Roadhouse in Covent Backyard earlier than shifting to Australia.
Alex: I’ve at all times been in & out of hospo. I studied Hospitality Administration in Sydney at ICMS, ran a espresso boat, labored in kitchens, bartended & waited tables. I moved to London for the journey & discovered a job within the bar I beloved ingesting in. I devoted myself to studying cocktails & that’s been the long run for me since.
Mentors or individuals that you simply admire?
Loic: That’s a tough one. There are too many individuals to call, everybody I’ve labored with or for have taught me one thing (good or dangerous) however I’ll positively point out the primary person who gave me an opportunity & taught me every thing they knew spending hours after shift speaking & coaching me within the fundamentals of every thing hospo and that’s Ricky. His actual identify is Mathieu, I don’t know why he’s known as Ricky! We labored collectively in north of France & now he runs his personal bar in France. He’s the one which inspired me to go & discover the world.
Alex: A particular point out to our Dads & Loic’s mum for being a continuing assist to us! We couldn’t have achieved any of this with out them!
Any highlights since opening your bar?
Each: The highlights are little issues in each shift! Assembly new individuals, listening to tales, just a few proposals, (some breakups). I believe listening to how a lot our little area means to individuals is at all times warming! Those who come to us for birthdays & anniversaries, to have fun or to cheer themselves up, Folks really feel at residence in our little world & make us really feel part of theirs which is fairly particular.
What have been among the challenges?
Alex: Covid is clearly the largest problem we confronted. Being solely 8 capability once we first opened & navigating all the principles & modifications. Past that I might say each problem has offered itself to even be a possibility & an opportunity to develop & be taught!
Loic: the largest problem I’ve realised is my whole lack of ability as a handyman. I nonetheless can’t put a shelf up or repair something & I’m lastly beginning to come to phrases with that!
The place do you see yourselves in 5 years?
Alex: We simply signed one other 3 years lease so right here for the perfect a part of it. The following dream is a bar that’s large enough for the two of us so I can get again behind the bar!
Loic: A protracted bar with bar stools solely & a bit of kitchen to prep & supply some bites.
What do you like to drink?
Alex: All the things! Wine, beer, cocktails (though we hardly ever drink them after shift as a result of every thing is already washed up!). We even have Moscato within the again fridge for Bella who works with us though she is growing a style for an Outdated Long-established so, like me, she drinks every thing.
Loic: Relies on my temper. My go-to is a beer, shot of Chartreuse or a daiquiri however I’m just about open to drink something. I additionally at all times want a wine with dinner (& lunch)!
Favorite bars?
Alex: So many!!! In Brisbane our go to is The Gresham, Bar Brutus, Alba & we at all times find yourself at King Lear’s Throne! In Toowoomba we love everybody & attempt to go to all of the hospo household as a lot as we are able to. In Sydney for bar week, we visited so many superb locations, most of which we keep in mind!
Loic: Worldwide I must say Swift in London which modified my concepts of what a bar could be. It at all times had superb drinks & service however by no means took itself too significantly which is how we attempt to be!
Ginache Martinez A easy drink, a twist on a basic, that didn’t require any particular preparation 30ml By no means By no means Ginache 30ml Autonomy Davo Plum aperitivo 10ml Maraschino Liqueur (we used Massenez Marasqual) 2 Sprint Price Bros Plum bitters 2 Sprint Angostura Orange Stir Down Serve in a Martini Glass Garnish with orange zest and maraschino cherry
