Hawaiian themed – Shaken Not Stirred in LA

npb2 — View from Newport Beach Clubhouse

Last Saturday Shaken Not Stirred traveled to Newport Beach to bartend a post wedding reception at a condo association club house. The couple was married earlier in Hawaii and most of their family and friends couldn’t be there, so they held a reception in Newport Beach for that reason.

Many of these condo communities and apartment complexes have club houses where the residents can hold parties. This particular club house was very nice and it overlooked Newport Beach with an ocean view. It had a kitchen and a built in bar. The reception was Hawaiian themed and I served Pina Coladas and Mai Tais. They catered in Hawaiian food.

Like any wedding reception, family member and friends made speeches. One of the groom’s sons made a memorable speech when he said something to the effect that “his dad seems much happier since he met his new wife.” I talked to the groom and he said he had been single for 15 years since his last divorce, and never thought he would be married again. I guess there is hope for me too. I think everyone had fun at the reception and I served a bunch of shots.

Corporate Events

I have done a bunch of corporate events recently. I did a grand opening at a warehouse in Santa Fe Springs where they demonstrated new new products. I served beer and they hired a caterer to grill steaks. I talked quite a bit to the caterer and hope to work with him again. He has lived and worked all over the world and is a master at many different cuisines. I hope to work with him again. He is Christopher at First Place Cuisine.

Tomorrow I will be doing two corporate events at retail stores on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, and then again on Friday. On Saturday I will be bartending an all night Halloween party in San Bernardino. Next week I have events scheduled in mid city Los Angeles, Westlake Village, and Coachella. Follow us on Instagram.

Party Bartenders, Special Event Bartenders

Venice Post-Wedding Luau

October 5, 2014 shakennotstirredinla

Shaken Not Stirred performed bartending services for the second event of a three event weekend at a Venice, California post wedding luau.

The couple was married earlier in the year, but had family in from out of the country and decided to throw a Hawaiian themed event in their backyard for their friends and family. They really spent a lot of time decorating and had a time and place tunnel that guests had to walk through when entering the party that takes them to “Hawaii”.

When I arrived the whole backyard was already full of people. I panicked, thinking I was late and had the times mixed up. The host informed me I wasn’t late. I have never been late to an event yet, and don’t want to break my record. Even though I was on time, I was thrown right into the fire. Guests started lining up at the bar right away and I had to start making Pina Colladas, Mai Tais, and Blue Hawaiians right away. These are the standard drinks at all Luaus and there are different variations of them.

They had a Hawaiian trio, Lei Aloha, performing music and the food was provided by King’s Hawaiian Bakery. They had some of the best Hawaiian pork I have ever tasted. When the sun went down, the temperature cooled down nicely and I continued to make tropical drinks. The hosts had purchased some plastic coconut cups that were kind of fun. Many of the guests at the party were visiting from Holland and it was nice meeting and talking to all of them. I have a good friend in Holland, Big Pete, who is a successful musician, and I will give him a shout out here.

I have history in this particular neighborhood in Venice. I used to hang out with a girl and we would dog sit some dogs just down the street from where the party was held. We used to walk the dogs in that neighborhood and admire all of the cute houses in the area, fantasizing that we would someday own one of them. I recognized the address when I booked the party.

The highlight of the party was a performance at the end of the evening by some traditional Hawaiian dancers, Tausala Polynesia. They got the guests involved for a couple numbers, and then did a traditional fire show as their finale. Tonight, I do it again as I bartend a Christening here in the San Fernando Valley, in Porter Ranch. Two very successful events down this weekend, one to go.

Mobile Bartenders, Party Bartenders

June Birthday Parties

July 2, 2013July 2, 2013 shakennotstirredinla

The last two weeks in June I bartended two birthday parties – a 40^th birthday bash in Valley Glen, and a 90^th Hawaiian themed birthday party in Newberry Park, Ventura County. Both were virtually last minute requests which I was happy to oblige. The host of the 40^th birthday party called me the day of, and the party was literally three blocks from my house. The 90^th birthday party was hosted by the celebrant’s daughter and she contacted me three days in advance. It does not take months to hire a bartender and host a successful party – if I am available I can help you make a shopping list and I show up, simple as that.

The 4oth birthday party in Valley Glen was a raucous affair and we went through 6 large bottles of Grey Goose, three bottle of Johnny Walker Black, and four bottles of tequila for a party of fifty, plus a whole lot of beer. I brought my blender and made blended margaritas. Chilled tequila and vodka shots were also popular. Heineken was the beer of choice. Catering was provided by Familia Perez, (213) 321-7229, and they put out an excellent spread of tacos, quesadillas, and burritos made to order. I arrived at 5 and was done by midnight.

I had never done a 90^th birthday party before and didn’t know what to expect. The host was the birthday girl’s daughter and wanted to do something special for her mom. They had invited around thirty guests and the host didn’t want to to spend the entire time making drinks. She had never hired a bartender before and was reluctant. I made Mai Tais from a recipe she gave me and they were a hit at the Hawaiian themed party. Long Board beer was the beer of choice. The Poi Pounders (310) 534-1404 provided Hawaiian music, and really made it special for the birthday girl. I have never seen a ninety year old lady so happy. In the end, I think the host was very glad that she hired me, because she and her husband were able to relax and mingle with guests as I made the drinks.

I have three dates booked in July – two big weddings and another Hawaiian themed party. I am still open for the Forth of July. Remember, Shaken Not Stirred will also do Sunday pool parties, Friday night parties, and events on the weeknights. Don’t hesitate to call – if I can’t accommodate you, I can probably recommend somebody.