Rancho Mirage – Shaken Not Stirred in LA

feb1 — Beautiful Day in the Coachella Valley

This weekend, Shaken not Stirred provided bartending services at two Coachella Valley events. On Friday night, I traveled to Indio to bartend a wedding rehearsal dinner, and then on Saturday I bartended a backyard wedding in Palm Springs. I really like doing these parties in the Palm Springs area, because many of these rental houses have very nice backyard bars, and that was the case at both of these events.

The house in Indio was just blocks away from where the annual music festival at Coachella is held. It had a very nice backyard bar. I was serving to 150 people by myself. The way that was done is that I made a big batch of margaritas and set it out in a beverage dispenser, along with ice, limes, cups and oranges, and the guests self served. They also self served beer. I made a few other cocktails and it worked out great. I will remember that, when somebody wants one bartender for a large group like that.

The future groom was from Maine, and many of his family members had traveled all the way across the country to attend the wedding. For them, the weather in Palm Springs was a treat. It is always nice meeting people from different parts of the world and country. Everyone has their different tradtions when it comes to cocktails. In this case – the Maine Margarita featured tequila, margarita mix, fresh oranges, and Coors Light.

Coachella Valley Events

Palm Springs
Indio
Palm Desert
La Quinta
Indian Wells
Coachella
Cathedral City
Rancho Mirage

On Saturday, I went to a house in Palm Springs to bartend the backyard wedding. Many of these guests had either traveled from Phoenix or Oregon to attend. This was a smaller group of 60 people , which is the perfect size for one bartender. I made Moscow Mules, and Old Fashioneds. Goodfella’s Tacos provided catering, and that was the second time in a month I ran in top them. I must say, their fish tacos are out of this world. I have a new Palm Springs Yelp page and I need to get some reviews on there from my Coachella Valley events.

feb7 — Goodfella’s Tacos doing their thing

feb4 — The bride displays food and drink

Today the Academy Awards take place in Hollywood. I have bartended Oscar parties before, but have nothing booked for today. If something comes up last minute, I will do it. Next weekend I am going to Santa Clarita to bartend a 60^th birthday party with a James Bond them, and then the following weekend will be doing two events in Santa Barbara.

Cocktail Hour Bartenders, Corporate Event, Party Bartenders, Uncategorized

December Bar Catering Begins

December 8, 2015 shakennotstirredinla

December bar catering kicked of for Shaken Not Stirred last month with two big events in Rancho Mirage and Valley Village. On Thursday I traveled to one of my favorite places – Rancho Mirage to bartend a company holiday party at Desert Periodontics, and then on Saturday, I bartended a holiday party at a private home in Valley Village, only a mile and a half from my home. These were both repeat clients, which I love getting because I don’t have to work so hard to generate new business.

I have done several events for Desert Peridontics. They have ongoing education for other dentists in the area, and host events for dental products suppliers. They usually have food and host a bar. I set up my portable bar and table for a cocktail hour before the presentation. For this party I served spiked eggnog, White Russians, and Jalapeno Margaritas. It was a very mellow party and there were approximately 50 guests.

Bar Catering Duties

Plan drink menu and shopping list
Develop cocktail ideas
Setup and breakdown
Portable bar
Cleanup
Light food service
Make and serve cocktails
Beer and wine service
Non alcoholic drinks

On Saturday, I returned to a San Fernando Valley home in Valley Village for a repeat holiday party. I set up my portable bar and table in the back yard, just as I had a year prior. I remember last year it was much colder. This year, I served two specialty drinks, the Cranberry Old Fashioned, and the Moscow Mule. Those two drinks are perfect for Christmas parties. There 80 guests at the party, and everyone seemed to enjoy the drinks.

Tomorrow, I will bartend a company holiday party in Hollywood for a television production company. This is another repeat client. I will be taking my daughter with me to help out, as there are supposed to be over 100 guests. This weekend I have two more parties scheduled – one in San Gabriel, and one in the Hollywood Hills. I still have Saturday, December 26th available, and several weekdays open for parties, if you have not yet booked someone.

Birthday Party Bartender, Uncategorized

Reseda 40th Birthday Party

November 23, 2015 shakennotstirredinla

IMG_20151121_190036 — Half keg at Reseda party

On Saturday Shaken Not Stirred was the bartending service present at a 40th birthday party in Reseda. It was a warn November night in the San Fernando Valley and the weather is still pleasant enough to have back yard parties in SoCal. I bartended for about thirty guests and it was a nice evening.

I do many 40th birthday parties, because it is an important milestone in a person’s life. I have said it time and again, that anybody who has an adult birthday party put on for them by friends and family members is truly blessed. I worked with the birthday girl’s two sisters to plan the party and develop a drink menu and shopping list.

The birthday girl’s favorite drink is the Mojito, and I make a good Mojito. I have made so many Mojitos in my bartending career that I can almost make them in my sleep. I remember the first time I ever made one I was petrified, and would shudder anytime someone ordered one. It is not hard at all once you have it down. I also made Pina Colladas, which are a cinch.

IMG_20151121_211617 — The birthday girl poses for a photo

The host bought a half keg of Modelo, and that served as the beer. I usually don’t recommend kegs because they are problematic. The biggest problem is that sometimes they are foamy for the first several gallons. They are also sometimes hard to keep cold, and they slow down service. The pump up taps can be problematic also. This particular keg worked pretty well, and didn’t cause any problems.

El Taco Llama (661) 255-7035, of Newhall provided the catering. They had the whole taco cart, but they also made burritos, which not all of them do. I had a killer burrito and everyone seemed to be happy with the food and drink.

IMG_20151121_195910 — Guests enjoy 40th birthday party

If you, or someone you know is planning a 40th birthday party, please call me for your bartending needs. I am bartending a cocktail party tonight in Westwood, but have no event scheduled this Thanksgiving weekend. I am not available the night of Thanksgiving, but am still available anywhere in Southern California on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Then on December 3rd, I will travel to Rancho Mirage to bartend a company holiday party, and that kicks off the December season of holiday parties, which will be very busy.

Birthday Party Bartender, Corporate Event

Two Rancho Mirage Events

October 11, 2015 shakennotstirredinla

Shaken Not Stirred does events in Rancho Mirage and bartended two great parties this weekend. On Thursday I returned to Desert Periodontics on Bob Hope Drive to help with a seminar for area dentists. This is the second time I have done events there, and am scheduled for another in December. Then on Saturday , I bartended a 30^th birthday party at a private home in Rancho Mirage.

The corporate event at Desert Periodontics was typical for many corporate events I do. I served beer, wine, soft drinks, and water. The guests usually drink one or two drinks. I am there to be of service, keep the area clean, and help serve food when needed. At this particular event they had a sit down dinner of 40 people and I helped with that. I will be returning in December to help with the company Christmas party.

I stayed in Palm Springs on Friday rather than drive back to LA. I stay at the Knight’s Inn in Palm Springs. The pictures online don’t make the place look very good, but it is really much nicer than the pictures. It is reasonably priced and clean. The staff there is very nice and treat me great. I also get rewards points from the Wyndham Rewards Program. It is a very good program and covers several hotel chains. I highly recommend it.

On Saturday, I bartended a 30^th birthday party at a Rancho Mirage home. There were about 40 guests in attendance, and the specialty drink was the Moscow mule. When I arrived, many of the guests were already there, so I had to set up on the fly. Once I got set up, it settled down and it was a very nice evening. The house had a sunken bar and guests sat at the bar like it was in a real bar or restaurant.

Today I am driving back toward LA, but am stopping in Diamond Bar to bartend a large wedding at the Diamond Bar Center. This is my second event at the Diamond Bar Center, and this is big one with 350 guests. I have two more bartenders joining me. Next weekend I have two events in Los Angeles, so I get to stay close to home.

Corporate Event

Rancho Mirage Grand Opening Barbeque

March 27, 2015March 27, 2015 shakennotstirredinla

Desert Periodontics of Rancho Mirage celebrated the grand opening of their dental education center and hosted a barbeque for approximately 60 people. Shaken Not Stirred was on hand to provide bartending service. CV Barbeque of Palm Springs provided the catering and served tri tip and other goodies. Overall, I think it was a very nice event.

This kicked off the first event of three this weekend for Shaken Not Stirred. I will be bartending a wedding rehearsal dinner tonight at a hotel in Palm Springs, then traveling all the way to Santa Ynez, on the opposite end of Southern California to bartend at a wedding reception. All three of these events have required much advanced planning.

For last night’s event in Rancho Mirage, Pina Colladas were the number one drink o choice. I also served traditional margaritas, and pomegranate margaritas. It was a warm night in the desert and we went through two cases of Corona and Heineken as well. By the end the event we were almost out of everything, which worked out nicely. Less stuff for the hosts to pack home.

I wasn’t able to take any good pictures at the event, because unfortunately my phone died. This was the second event I have done for these clients and I hope to do many more. Their facility in Rancho Mirage is top notch, and I’m sure they will provide a great service to the community with their dental education center. I have recently undergone extensive dental work myself and finally realize how important good dental care is.

Tonight’s event is at the Korakia Pensione Hotel in Palm springs, and will be held poolside. I have heard great things about the hotel, and am excited to be working that venue. Let’s hope for another successful event for Shaken Not Stirred. Preparation is the key to a successful event.

Tag: Rancho Mirage

Two Coachella Valley Events