INDULGENCES mixology
How long have you been a bartender? I have been bartending for seven months, so I’m pretty new. Bourbon Street is the first bar where I’ve bartended. What was it about bartending that interested you in pursuing it as a job? Let’s see...good hours, cash everyday, meet a lot of people, fast-paced and fun.
I kind of fell into it—it wasn’t something I was really looking for, but it happened and it’s great. You sometimes hear that the bartending profession can be akin to that of a psychologist with people discussing their lives—has this ever been the case for you? Yeah, people come in a lot and discuss a lot of things, but I typically pretend
that I’m listening (laughs). I don’t
know...maybe that’s what psychologists do, too? Not to break bartender/client confidentiality code—what has been the most interesting thing that a customer has ever said to you? Nobody has said anything too crazy…oh yeah, this is not really crazy. But, one
guy told me I really needed to work on my ass, and I was like, “What?!! Excuse me, my jeans are just baggy, it’s not because my ass is small!” It wasn’t the craziest thing, but I was like, “Really? You really said that to me right now.” Hold on, you don’t just say that to someone! It was so out there. What is your signature drink? My signature drink is called the “LemonAbe.” I can’t tell you the ingredients, I made it up myself, I don’t tell anyone what’s in it. But, I will tell you that it’s got a lot of alcohol, it’s really good and it’s got my name on it—so really, what more could you ask for in a drink? If you were stranded on a desert island with only one choice of alcohol to drink, what would it be and why? It would probably be tequila, ’cause it’s all-natural from a plant and it’s got no
calories. So, I will still be lookin’ good when they come and rescue me. Which days and nights do you work at Bourbon Street? I’m there Wednesday night, Thursday during the day shift, Friday night and sometimes Saturday during the day; sometimes Saturday night and sometimes on Sunday. What is the most rewarding part of being a mixologist? The most rewarding part is getting to meet a lot of different people, because
even if it’s really busy and you’re just helping that customer really quickly, and you’re on to the next one, a lot of those customers come back to you and you get to know them. I’ve actually become good friends with a few of my regular customers. What word best describes Bourbon Street for you? Eclectic—you’ve got everything there. Whatever type of person that you are,
whatever your scene is, whether you’re gay or straight...or like to dance or you just like to hang at your neighborhood bar...we’ve got it all there. And what sets it apart from other bars and restaurants in the area? When you walk in, you’ve got that neighborhood bar right up front. We serve
food during the day. Then you walk in the back and you’ve got a big patio area and you’re outside. Later on at night, we get the DJ in, get the dance floor open and it gives it that club feel. So, it has all types of different bars rolled into one. Do you have a favorite food item off of the grill menu? Definitely the Bourbon Bleu Burger.
How long have you lived in San Diego? 7 ½ months, I moved here from Arizona.
Tell me about your ideal day off. Wake up early, get to the beach early, have breakfast there and hang out at the
water all day. Come back, hit the gym, relax, pop in a movie and chill. Just have a nice, relaxed, chill day.
Bourbon Street Bar and Grill Located at 4612 Park Blvd. in University Heights
Bourbon Street’s
ABE CHAMI
is a people person by brad shaw
64 RAGE monthly | FEBRUARY 2011
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