Making the most of Tales
Posted on July 10, 2008
Filed Under Kevin Kelpe |
This is the first post from Kevin Kelpe, a bartender, restaurateur and amateur writer living in Boise, Idaho. He blogs at Save the Drinkers.
If I could sing by typing, I’d belt out a paragraph about my excitement for next week’s trip to New Orleans. I’d bust out my Broadway best and tell you first-timers of the drama and derelict behavior that awaits. I’d gayly dance about your web browser, tapping out my tips for a fine week of networking and hangover nursing. And by the end of the show, you’d have a playbill of preparation that would make any drunk old queen proud.
But, (fortunately for you,) this song/dance is only possible in person, and so I’ll offer you a few tips by typing in the regular, more boring way instead. If you’d like to hear the version in B-flat when we’re getting dizzy at the Carousel Bar next week, feel free to let me know… though I’m sure you’d prefer to spare yourself the buzz-kill.
Tip number one: Network! Meet as many people as you can. A good bar-full of the best cocktail minds take this week to come together and wax liquorsophical. If you want access to good ideas and good products, this is the place to get it! Bring business cards if you have them, or be ready with a blueberry or blacktooth or iFriend or tattoo gun for taking down contact info. Also, this is no time to go to bed early. Push yourself to catch every party you can, to have fun and make new friends, and to potentially embarrass yourself after hours.
Two: Although I enjoyed every session I attended last year, (who doesn’t love a Manhattan at 10 a.m.?) there’s a few speakers that you should try to catch at least once. Not only because the content of the sessions will be phenomenal, but because these are some very good teachers and engaging presenters. Individual sessions that I won’t miss are listed at the bottom of this post, but do your best to sneak into sessions with Robert Hess, Audrey Saunders, David Wondrich, and Eric Seed. Everything at this dog and pony show is worth catching, but these are some of my favorites.Three: Take notes! Yes, this is just like college. Except there will probably be fewer bong water spills and better attendance. Note-taking is especially important if you’re a manager or owner of a restaurant or bar. There is so much to learn and, let’s face it, your brain will probably be functioning on reserves after the first twenty-four hours. You’ll need all the help you can get!
Four: I won’t burn out my keyboard trying to tell you every great place to eat and drink in New Orleans, but I will give you three highlights from my trip last year: Have a Muffaletta Sandwich at Napoleon House, 500 Chartres Street. Just trust me and order it. Chase it down with a Pimm’s Cup, then head over to The Swizzle Stick Bar at Cafe Adelaide, 300 Poydras Street, and have yourself a Sazerac. They’re very good there, and finding a good Sazerac is not as easy as you may believe given that it’s now New Orleans’ official cocktail. (This is due mostly in part to the mass-market palate of the majority of tourists, or so I’ve been told.) And lastly, I enjoyed a fabulous meal at Iris Restaurant, 8115 Jeannette Street, which is off the path slightly, but worth the cab ride for the fresh and unique atmosphere and excellent food and drink.
And finally, tip number five: Do not close down the Carousel Bar stalking Audrey Saunders, then go to an after-hours party in the media suite where you consume copious and mischief-inducing amounts of Lucid, and then forage the hotel for free stuff before returning to your room to drink whatever is in the honor bar, and then attempt to wake at 8:30 for a guided town car tour of New Orleans. This will be memorable for the wrong reason, let me assure you…
Morning Glory Cocktails, Presented by The Museum of the American Cocktail
with Robert Hess
Saturday, July 19th, 10:30 a.m.
Café Adelaide, 300 Poydras Street
Get Tickets
Bartending Techniques 101 and Barware, Presented by St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Death and Co., and Martini Brands
with Robert Hess and David Wondrich
Sunday, July 20th, 10:30 a.m.
Hotel Monteleone, 214 Rue Royal
Get Tickets
Sensory Perception in Mixology/What Your Taste Buds Are Telling You, Presented by Bombay Sapphire
featuring Robert Hess and Audrey Saunders
Friday, July 18th, 4:30 p.m.
Hotel Monteleone, 214 Rue Royal
Get Tickets
Juniperlooza, Presented by Aviation Gin, Beefeater Gin, Bols, Martin Miller’s Gin, and Plymouth Gin
featuring Audrey Saunders
Thursday, July 17th, 12:30 p.m.
Hotel Monteleone, 214 Rue Royal
Get Tickets
The Scented Trail: Techniques on How to Develop Aroma in Your Cocktails, Presented by Stoli Vodka
featuring Audrey Saunders
Thursday, July 17, 2:30 p.m.
Hotel Monteleone, 214 Rue Royal
Get Tickets
Amore Amari: A Very Bitter History of Bitter Spirits in Aperitif Service and and Cocktails, Presented by Averna, Campari, and The Bitter Truth
led by Eric Seed, (featuring Toby Cecchini to boot!)
Friday, July 18th, 10:30 a.m.
Hotel Monteleone, 214 Rue Royal
Get Tickets
Spirited Dinner Series: Commander’s Palace
bar chefs Eric Seed and Ted Breaux
Thursday, July 17th in the evening
Commander’s Palace, 1403 Washington Avenue
Get Tickets
Thanks for the tips Kevin. As a Tales virgin who is about to dive in, the networking is crucial for me.
It would be nice if Tales could put a Twitter Feed on this here blog to make it easier to meet fellow Talesians both online and off.
As an amateur… well, everything… I’m not sure how this works. Paul?
Thanks Kevin, yeah technology emerges so rapidly that its definitely hard to keep up. I’m with you. Anyhoo…
This two minute video explains it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o
Twitter is basically a microblogging site that allows members to connect with other members and to keep track of everyone that member chooses to “connect” with in real time over instant messaging, on the web, or by text messaging. Messages must be under 140 characters and are called “tweets”, and can then be displayed on the twitter website, sent directly to “friends” on twitter or displayed on a feed through RSS on another website (in this case Tales Blog). Everyone’s true email address is protected and everyone can choose who sees what and when and who contacts them and when.
The beauty of it for conferences is that it allows people to instantly connect based on common interests and it encourages participation on the Tales blog by more than just writers of the blog, thus making the Tales community that much stronger. And although Twitterers are already finding each other by Google searches, having a feed on the Tales blog would be more proactive and welcoming to allowing other attendees to connect at the conference. Many conferences are now using it as par for the course (such as SxSW). An example would be:
“I just finished the bitters seminar and am standing outside the door. Anyone want to grab lunch, let me know”
or
“Ok, who sells the best Po-boys within walking distance of the Monteleone?”
or
“Chuck Taggart did a great post on the Tales Blog about best food around here. You can read it here: Link to Blog Post”
or
“I’m leaving for the airport in an hour, tweet me if you are up for sharing a cab from the Monteleone”
or
“wow, I can’t believe so-and-so from so-and-so at the so and so presentation said that blender drinks are out of style. My bar in Brooklyn, the Devil’s Advocate is making some off the hook blender drinks. The NY Times just wrote about us - check it out (link to article”
or
“Hey, we are launching a new product called cocksicles. cocktails and posicles together. Come by our booth at room 821 and let us know what you think”
“Hey, we are also doing popsickle cocktails at our bar. How much alcohol can you add that still gets them to freeze up?”
“Oh My God, the tequila greyhound with chili cocksicle was killer”
“I actually preferred the Manhattan cocksicle”
“Our New Tastes in Vodka presentation was over capacity. If you couldn’t get in but are interested in still seeing our material we have posted our PowerPoint presentation over at http://www.slideshare.com”
You get the idea. To see an example of a Twitter feed on a blog and a how to guide to putting it on a blog (although not one from a conference) here is one:http://www.travelinlibrarian.info/2008/04/how-to-create-twitter-conference-feed.html
Anyway, minor thing, and the Tales folks are doing such a kickbutt job, but I just thought Twitter might make it easier for attendees to connect and talk to each other both online and off.
Oh, and I don’t work for or have any vested interest in Twitter. I just find it really useful for connecting with people. Especially at conferences.
Oh, and I do look forward to meeting you. Do you ever make it to Portland, Oregon?