Tag: Desert Trip

Cocktail Hour Bartenders, Uncategorized

La Quinta Cocktail Party

shakennotstirredinla
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La Quinta Rental home across from Desert Trip

Sunday I got a last minute call to bartend a cocktail party in La Quinta. The call came at 10 am and they wanted me there by 1pm – La Quinta is 150 miles from my house. I told him I could be there by two. I put on my mobile bartender suit, loaded my cooler and bar kit and drove out there. Desert Trip, the three day music festival was going on just across the road from where I was bartending and 90,000 people were in town for that.

My job was simple, set up my portable bar by the pool and serve cocktails for an hour or two, and then serve wine at dinner. There were ten guests in from Maryland to attend the Desert Trip show and I was to serve them drinks before the show. I served Moscow Mules, Mexican Mules, and Kentucky Mules. The people that hired me were somehow connected to the Desert Trip promoters, and the guests I was serving were VIPS, also somehow connected to the promoters.

This was the second time Shaken Not Stirred went out to the Coachella Valley in two weeks. I go out there, when it is worth my while, and I always enjoy the area. The dramatic landscape just makes me feel good for some reason, and it is always nice to get a reprieve from LA. The group I was serving were all very nice and I made them all a couple of drinks a piece. This was a typical intimate cocktail party.

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Tequila shots at La Quinta cocktail party

Cocktail Party Procedure

  • Serve specialty drinks
  • Craft cocktails
  • Use appropriate glassware
  • Serve drinks on a tray

After the guests had a couple of cocktails, they all moved inside for dinner. A private chef was there and she prepared a fantastic four course dinner. She didn’t have a card and said she would email me her info, but has not done so yet. The meal included a rabbit pate appetizer, wild King Salmon filets, roasted chicken, and various fresh roasted vegetables. I served the wine and cleared the plates. I have alot of experience doing this and enjoy doing it for groups like this.

After dinner, the guests quickly left to attend the third night of Desert Trip. The Who and Rodger Waters were playing. I packed up and finished just in time to take in the presidential debate. On Wednesday I will be driving to Orange County to bartend an event for some of my best clients, and then on Saturday, I will be staying close to home and doing a birthday party in Woodland Hills.

bachelorette party bartender, Birthday Party Bartender, Uncategorized

Two Coachella Valley Events in One Day

shakennotstirredinla
ranchom2
Boat drinks

On Saturday Shaken Not Stirred drove east of LA to provide bartending services at two Coachella Valley events on the same day. The first event started at noon and was a bachelorette/pool party in Rancho Mirage. The second event was a 40th birthday/dinner party at a beautiful condo in La Quinta.

I have done a few bachelorette parties in the Palm Springs area. I couldn’t help but thinking how differently females act at their bachelorette parties, than males do at bachelor parties. I have not bartended at any bachelor parties, but I have attended them. Of course, men tend to like raunchy, debaucherous activities at bachelor parties, while the females it seems, just enjoy hanging out and chatting, and enjoying a few drinks.

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The “Bride Tribe”

At this bachelorette party, I served many blended drinks, including the Miami Vice, Margaritas, and Pina Colladas. I also took advantage of the fruit trees in the back yard and made Margaritas with oranges from the tree, and Palomas from the grapefruits. The girls had fun beating the hell out of a pinata filled with candy and lottery tickets.

Coachella Valley Events

  • Coachella Music Festival
  • Stagecoach
  • Desert Trip
  • Palm Springs Pride
  • Dinah Shore Weekend
  • Various birthday parties, pool parties, etc…

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    La Quinta Condo

I had one hour to drive from Rancho Mirage to La Quinta to get to the second party. I worried about that all morning. I hate being late, and in my book if I am not fifteen minutes early, I am late. My GPS said it was a 37 minute drive, but it had me taking some hair brained route back to the 10 freeway, and thankfully I knew better. I drove my own route and it took me 25 minutes. Ravel’s Bolero was playing on the FM station and ended just as I drove up to the guard gate for the second party.

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Grande shots!

The house that second party was held at was on the golf course and was pretty stunning. The party was a celebration of a man’s 40th birthday with several of his closest friends. I made vodka martinis and manhattans using real glassware, which is always nice. Fabulous Food Alchemy of Palm Springs provided the catering and he made an excellent spread of appetizers for the cocktail hour. Afterwards, everyone sat at the fabulous dining table for a three course meal. I served wine to the guests during dinner, and I know how to do that because I have fine dining experience as a server.

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La Quinta Dinner Party

Both events went off without a hitch, and I had a large baptism party going in La Canada simultaneously that was manned by my son and one of my other bartenders, Kelly. I was worried that they were going to have problems and not be able to reach me, because I was getting no cell service in the La Quinta condo. Everything went fine, however, and the client said my other bartenders were “phenomenal”. I also have a Palm Springs Yelp page, that I have not yet received any reviews on, if anyone is so inclined. 

I just booked a September wedding in the remote location of New Cayuma in Santa Barbara County. I also just booked my first Christmas party of 2016 on December 10th. The year is just flying by.