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| Bar Resto de Negotiants. Photographer Personal Collection |
Your Bar! That certain “Panache”.
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| Blue Bar. Created in a hall. Credit Alyssa Gautieri |
Being guided by my favorite interior designer, this story is now a two-part series on creating your bar and party planning more successfully.
What prompted me?
Two months in the past, Alyssa contacted me and asked if I had time to sit in on a Zoom call. I was quite delighted to have a Zoom conversation with Designers gathered by Alyssa Gautieri, among them Welsey Moon, K. Wilkinson, Cindy Witmer, Nicole Zarr, Charlotte Lucas, Laura Michaels, P. Bonis and myself f.1. . We spoke about the appearance of a bar, not just the function of the bar. But to what degree does your bar give a polished look and appeal to different senses? How, when you have gone through all this trouble, do you think you need a bar? Nevertheless, I listened in on the conversation by these talented designers. Following which I thought to myself -
I have this nice wet bar and a newly bought portable bar. So, what I can do to a jazz up my bar a bit more. One of the things I noticed with the bars I frequent - many of them have shelves with glassware displayed. They have of course their top shelf liquors, but from time to time you’ll see they do some decoration or interesting artifact on it, so I thought about what I might do with decorating my space. That led me to choose some things I have around my home.
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| A Personal Pub. Owner Photograph. |
Principles of Design.
My research led me to principles of design. More precisely concepts such as: Balance, Contrast, Emphasis, Color, Pattern, Movement, Rhythm, Unity. You can see where this goes.
Location, Location, Location -
It is not essential that you have a wet bar or a permanently dedicated space. I have seen many venues where someone has taken a table and carefully arranged the liquor bottles, wine bottles and glasses into a kind of self-serve area, or one that is friendly to the host from which to create a cocktail, but it is not a dedicated “bar“. Quite handsome. So, use your Imagination. Because you have time, you will not be entertaining people, more than three persons for the next year. Just trying to add a little humor here. So, sit back and consider, where am I going to place my bar supplies and equipment, and not on the kitchen table.
These principles apply to a full bar, or equally so to a wine tasting venue:
Techniques.
What is on Hand? -
Naturally, you have the basic tools, and you have some good glassware. Contemporary as well as some of those very exotic vintage cocktail glasses, a couple of Nick and Nora glasses, and if you can go the extra mile and live in Europe, you have some Bols Negroni “Red Light Bulbs “. Very recently I talked with two of the House of Bols staff in New York and Amsterdam. House of Bols has quite a few exotic barware that can add Panache. One thing that I will add at Christmas is a little black model truck that I have which has a large box of whiskey in the back of the truck with a little bow on it; it is a little miniature but is genuinely nice. Some other things - a little miniature bottle of Gun Powder Gin from Ireland, an interesting bottle which adds a little sparkle to my display. On my wish list, especially for Christmas – which I hope my girlfriend is paying attention to, is one of those KLM Airlines Dutch miniature houses that you get when you fly KLM Business Class.
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| KLM Mini Bottles House of Bols Amsterdam |
I think they are quaint and really add an item of interest to your bar display. I recall being at the quaint and charming bar “Zum Nußbaum” in Nikolakirche, just down from Alexander Platz in Berlin, just off the River Spree; the bar man was truly kind to give us a beer coaster holder with some of the coasters. This not only serves as a genuinely nice remembrance of the bar and the Plaza just off the River Spree, but also serves as a unique addition to the top of the bar or table. Or should I say, the bar table. Regularly, I pick up extra bar coasters from various bars I visit and use them when we have a cocktail party; it provides a bit more flair to your bar and for your guests when they see that you’ve been to the Little Red Door in Paris or the 1608 Bar in Quebec or the ever-famous Schumann’s in München. So for instance, do not be shy about asking to have a couple extra coasters of your own at Schumann's. Better yet, a menu from the Les Fleurs du Mal bar upstairs at Schumann’s.
Nevertheless, there are many things you may have or may come across in the future, such as a small Bar menu, or a unique card that is sometimes left on the table – which you can ask may you keep it – it may say, for instance "cover charge for tonight‘s jazz". So if you open your mind up a bit, I think you will find that you have several things around the house to add a little accent to your bar or that you may bring back from visits.
Lighting and Color.
I spoke with interior designer Lorraine who suggested, which I thought was very apropos (French meaning so very right), a focus on the lighting. Back lighting combined with mirrors and glass. Emphasizing the color of liquids in the bottles.
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| CampariSoda Chandelier. Ingo-Maurer |
I have given much thought to that, and the more I think about it, the more I am impressed with the concept of lighting your bar. For me, that means I would have to get a custom made “CampariSoda” mini bottles light fixture to sit on top of my bar. My girlfriend, of course, would be going "no way!”
Unity and Balance.
Consider the organization of your bottles. Bourbons together, Irish standing alone! Sizes? A little attention to detail can go a long way to give the impression to your friends that you are a professional in the party and liquor business. This concept of Unity and Balance is one of the keys, I believe.
So, let us see. Where are we?
What I am talking about here is making that extra effort, taking that next step to polish the presentation of your bar, whether it be stand alone or something impromptu. Perhaps a bar cart or small table as the only essentials desired. Taking the time to consider - as you reach to that art side of yourself - I may possibly add a small bouquet of flowers, an accent piece with great color, some matchbooks, an ashtray from La Floridita in Havana. Or a vintage lamp, a bar menu from an exotic location visited, or a small antique poster for SUZE liquor. Any of these speak to your guests that you wish not only to entertain them with tasty food and drink, but also to appeal to their senses and for them to recognize how talented you are.
So now I have given up all my secrets. Perhaps this will put you on your journey (French for entertaining), after we finish with this pandemic that is encompassing the universe.
I wish you good health. And to stay safe …
Bonjour mon amis et amies…
A Bientot
Boite -
Cocktail f.2.
Master Naturalist
Vodka
Crème de Cassis
Fresh lime juice
Ginger Beer
Consider this an experiment! I know you'll do well!
Appetizer - Emmentaler Cheese with fresh warmed Baguette
Music – Melody Gardot, “Baby I'm a Fool”
F.1. This is absolutely a false statement. He did not participate on this Zoom Conference. Maybe other Zoom Conferences, but absolutely not this one!
F.2. The Bar at Culture Café, a quaint restaurant in Williamsburg in the Commonwealth of Virginia – oui Étas-Unis d' Amérique.
Photographs by author unless otherwise so indicated.
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| A cautionary tale - Sometimes your bar display may crash. Be careful out there. |
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