Rachel Wogier, bartender & owner, My Pub
Each week, we dive into the world of TLV bars and meet the drink-shaking players behind them. From the latest cocktailing trends to crazy stories on the job, these are the Bartender Tales of the White City.
How did you get into bartending?
I was in the restaurant business forever and I always promised myself that when I got old I'd open a bar. So now that I'm old, I did exactly that.
But you're not old!
Not in my soul, never in my soul, but on paper, yes.
What's your favorite thing about bartending?
The people. Especially the interactions with people. I'm more than a bar owner, I'm a life coach. I've been here three winters already and my customers keep coming back again and again. I can tell you one thing: no one stays a stranger at My Pub.
Have you noticed any trends in the cocktail industry lately?
I stick to the old school bar mentality. Over the past 10 years, the image of what used to be a pub has changed: bars became bigger, louder, more crowded – they've lost their intimacy. My goal is to preserve the traditional pub.
What's your biggest customer pet peeve?
When they come in already drunk. I don't need that. I know that there are places that don't care if you're drunk or not. Just come to me sober. I don't want you to drink somewhere else and come to throw up here. With all due respect, no one wants to clean that up.
Have any crazy bar stories?
Oh, there are so many stories. I prefer to maintain people's privacy though. Sometimes people come in in a really bad mood and when you make them happy, you've done your job. The job isn't only selling alcohol. Everyone can sell alcohol. And everyone can learn how to make cocktails at school, but you can't learn to be a listener. That's the key to being a true bartender in my opinion.
© Shoshana Rice