Riverside County – Shaken Not Stirred in LA

Beaumont Cocktail Party

September 6, 2016 shakennotstirredinla

beaumont3 — Goodfellas standing by in Beaumont with their brand new taco cart

Thursday Shaken Not Stirred was called out to Beaumont in Riverside County to provide bartending service for a mid-week cocktail party. I was hired through a catering company I have seen at many events, Goodfella’s Tacos, and I hope to return the favor and get them some business, though they are very busy already, and provide great service. The party was held out a new subdivision south of the 10 freeway called the Four Seasons, and it is a very nice development.

The host told me that the party was actually a celebration of her wedding anniversary. Her husband had unexpectedly died less than a year ago, just shortly after they moved into the new Beaumont house. She said that she wanted to have a party rather than sitting around feeling sad on that day. She believed that is what her husband would have wanted, and I’m sure she is right. At least 60 of her friends showed up, and anytime you are able to get 60 people to come out on a weeknight in Southern California, means that you have done something right.

beaumont1 — Cocktail party in Beaumont warming up

Cocktail Party Ideas

Hire a bartender
Choose a theme
Create specialty cocktails
Hire a caterer
Choose entertainment

I served blended Margaritas, and Margaritas on the rocks. I also served some Daiquiris and a lot of beers. It was an older crowd of mostly retirees and I felt that we had way too many supplies for this cocktail party, but we went through plenty. The host hired a Mariachi band to perform and that was fun for everybody. The Goodfellas served their great tacos, and there was another dessert person that provided the sweets. The host and several of her friends wrapped up the party playing a dice game.

beaumont2 — Mariachis perform at Beaumont cocktail party

That was the first event of a busy traveling weekend for Shaken Not Stirred. On Saturday I had to drive to New Cuyama in Santa Barbara County for a wedding, and then turn right around and drive to Acton for a Labor Day party. Needless to say, I was quite tired on Monday – actual Labor Day, and was kind of glad I didn’t have an event that day.

Birthday Party Bartender, Uncategorized

Hollywood Hills Birthday Party

August 29, 2016 shakennotstirredinla

hollyhills2 — The Taco Guy setting up taco bar

Friday night Shaken Not Stirred provided bartending services at a birthday party in the Hollywood Hills home. The event was held in the courtyard of a historic Hollywood home in the hills above the Hollywood Bowl. The weather was perfect for late August and it even cooled down to jacket temperature when the sun went down.

I setup my portable bar in the courtyard and served Cadillac Margaritas and spicy Jalapeno Margaritas to approximately 50 guests. The host works for a wine distributor, so she had some very nice white and red wine on hand. She planned the party for her husband’s birthday and she hired me for the bartending and a taco cart for the food. The Taco Guy Catering did the tacos.

hollyhills1 — Late summer sunlight in the Hollywood Hills

Why Hire a Bartender?

Impress guests with consistent high quality cocktails
Prevent guests from over serving themselves
Continuous cleanup
Host can spend more time mingling
Help with shopping list

Many people I work for have never hired a bartender before, but they are almost always glad they did afterwards. Having a bartender frees up the host to mingle with the guests and also is much better than letting the guests mix their own drinks. That often becomes a free for all, and a disaster. Hiring a taco cart is also a good idea, and is usually quite reasonable in price. I see on the the taco guy website that they can do catering for 50 people for under $500. You can hardly beat that!

hollyhills3 — Guests mingle after sundown

The Hollywood Hills birthday party seemed to be a quite a success and it was a great group of people. I always like doing Friday night parties, and especially when they are this close to home. This coming week I am bartending an event in Beaumont in Riverside County on Thursday night, a 300 person wedding in New Cayama in Santa Barbara County on Saturday, and then a pool party in Acton on Sunday. That’s what I call a mobile bartender.

Uncategorized, Wedding Bartender

Perris, California Wedding Party

May 15, 2016 shakennotstirredinla

perris5b — Amazing property in Perris, California

Shaken Not Stirred traveled all the way to Perris, California to bartend a wedding party on Saturday. This wedding was held at a house hidden high in the hills of Riverside County, miles away from any Starbucks or In and Out. If you are holding a party out there, you had better not forget to bring anything, because you will travel twenty miles of winding roads to get a bag of ice. Maybe I’m exaggerating a little.

It was a perfect Southern California day for a wedding – the weather was perfect, not too hot, and clear skies with a gentle breeze. 100 guests blew in to celebrate this wedding, which happened early at 3pm, and then the festivities began. Some friends of the family provided the catering and I provided bartending service. I kept pretty busy pouring vodka drinks and margaritas. Fireball and Patron were the shots of choice.

perris4b — Guests socialize at wedding party

Wedding Party Traditions

Hire a bartender
Bride and groom’s first dance
Tossing of the garter and bouquet
Celebratory shots!
Family portrait

The property was really quite amazing and the couple that owned it were in attendance. The man was a ship captain from England and had retired and built the rancho in Perris from scratch. The place was big enough to hold a party for 300 people and he said he had parties like that. I may bartend for him again when he throws a going away party in a few weeks. He has sold the house and is moving to Argentina.

I had two other bartenders doing graduation parties in Chino Hills, and Castaic as I was doing the one in Perris. I haven’t heard from the clients, but according to the bartenders the other parties went well. Maybe I should hire some “secret shoppers” to check up on those bartenders!

Today, I am bartending a baptism party in Granada Hills. Next weekend I will travel to Palm Springs to bartend a bachelorette party in the daytime and formal cocktail party at night. I will have two other bartenders doing a large baptism party in La Canada.

Graduation Party Bartender, Uncategorized

Burbank Graduation Party

May 9, 2016 shakennotstirredinla

burb1 — Guests socializing at Burbank graduation party

Saturday night Shaken Not Stirred provided bartending service for a graduation party in Burbank. The guest of honor certainly deserved a graduation party because she graduated at the very top of her class and completed nursing school at a four year university. I know from friends of mine that have attended nursing school that it is a grueling program, and not everyone makes it, let alone graduates at the top of their class. I salute her, and am sure she will have a very promising career.

This year the demand for graduation parties has increased dramatically. I have had so many calls for graduation party bartenders that I have had to turn down many of them. Next weekend I have two bartenders going out to bartend two different graduation parties, while I will be bartending a wedding in Perris. Next month there are several graduation parties as well.

burb2 — Family and friends at graduation party

Graduation Party Ideas

Hire a bartender
Hire a caterer
Rent tables and chairs for backyard
Hire a DJ

The Burbank graduation party took place in the backyard of an uncle. The grandparents had emigrated from Cuba just after the revolution. I always like talking to Cuban immigrants because they know the devastation that Communism causes. I know this is not a political blog, but I am extremely anti-socialist/communist. I got that from my ex wife who was from Chile. She told me what happened when a socialist, Salvador Allende was elected as president of her country and was a puppet of the communists in Cuba and the Soviet Union. In two years, the economy was destroyed, all in the name of “redistribution”. Now, people in this country think socialism is the way to go here. How ignorant of them. I will probably lose business over this, but I don’t care. It burns me up anytime I see someone wearing a Che Guevara shirt. They have no idea who he really was – a mass murderer.

Che_Guevara — Pisses me off when I see people glorifying this culito!

Anyway, back to the party. I served margaritas and vodka drinks. We served completely out of beer and they had to go get more tequila. The guests came to party. I set up my portable bar in the back yard, the taco man from Paulina’s Catering set up right next to me. I always enjoy watching the catering people do their job. He was very efficient and made it look easy serving 60 people.

burb3 — Preparing tacos for Burbank Graduation party

Next weekend I am headed to Perris in Riverside County to bartend a wedding, while my other bartenders are doing graduation parties in Castaic and Chino Hills. Later this month will be in Palm Springs for a bachelorette party and a cocktail party later that night. Then, I will close out the month for a wedding in downtown LA.

Birthday Party Bartender, Mobile Bartenders

Los Angles Party Bartender Covers Three Socal Counties

April 13, 2015April 13, 2015 shakennotstirredinla

Shaken Not Stirred, the Los Angles party bartender service covered three different counties in southern California last weekend. The weekend started in Eagle Rock, moved to Santa Ana, and ended on Sunday in Lake Elsinore.

Friday night Shaken Not Stirred was on hand to bartend a cocktail party and impromptu concert by a Los Angeles based trio. The host set up a small, well stocked bar by the pool for me, and I served Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and other classic cocktails in real glassware. The hosts were both accomplished photographers in the food and beverage industry, so presentation was important.

The trio played for an hour or two and approximately forty guests sipped wine and had appetizers. The House was on a hill that had views of Griffith Park off to west, and a very well landscaped back yard perfect for entertaining. It was a nice mellow party and great way to start off the weekend, and the third of forth nice event I have done in Eagle Rock. It seems to be a really happening neighborhood in Los Angeles.

Saturday night I traveled to Orange County to the city of Santa Ana to bartend a birthday party. The host requested a server and I took my friend, Alex to help me. He has extensive fine dining and catering experience. He is one of several experienced assistants I have available. This was a larger party than the one in eagle Rock and about 80 guests were in attendance.

I quickly discovered that the host was of Chilean descent. There were many Chilenos in attendance, and they like to party. My ex wife was Chilean and I love the culture and the people. When Chileans are at a party, they usually drink a lot of wine, and that was the case here too. I want to do Pisco Sours at some party and have yet to find any takers. I also served a lot of Jack Daniels and Marker’s Mark (I think that is an Orange County thing). I booked another party for May while at the event, and I always love doing that. This was my third event in Santa Ana.

Sunday, I traveled to Lake Elsinore in Riverside County to bartend a surprise birthday party. This was my first party in Lake Elsinore and I really liked the area. The hosts had just recently moved into the house and I think it was their first party there. They had a nice backyard and pool for entertaining. I set up my portable bar and served a boatload of Modelos, Bay breezes, and Mojitos, and a few frozen Margaritas.

I had an event scheduled for Apple Valley next weekend, but unfortunately they had to cancel, so as I write this, I am still available for April 18. The Los Angles party bartender may end up anywhere in Southern California on that weekend, and I know I am getting a lot of calls and have to turn many jobs down. I am grateful for every job I get.

Engagement Parties

Need a Bartender for Your Engagement Party?

June 14, 2012June 21, 2012 shakennotstirredinla

tables — Tables set up for formal engagement party in Encino

Guests enjoy traditional Persian cuisine at Encino party.

Encino Party 1 — Rob bartending at Encino engagement party.

Recently, I have bartended at two engagement parties in the Los Angeles area. I worked a Mexican American engagement party in Norwalk last month and I worked a Persian American engagement party in Encino two weeks ago. It is nice to see families honoring their children and throwing formal engagement parties for the families to get acquainted before the wedding. Both events where held in back yards and included catering and live entertainment.

The Norwalk engagement party hosted approximately 50 people and featured Mariachis, barbequed goat meat, chicken, and beef. The most popular drink was the Cadillac Margarita with a salt rim, with Jack and Coke coming in second. Corona and Pacifico were the beers of choice. The party wound down at 11 pm and was attended by grand parents, grand children, and everyone in between. This was a non-formal event, done very nicely and great fun seemed to be had by all.

The Encino event was held in the backyard of the the future bride’s parents. It was a semi formal event catering, white table cloths, and live traditional Persian entertainment. The engagement party had nearly one hundred invitees in attendance. I was hustling bartending for that many people – (I recommend a barback or second bartender for maximum service for parties that large). The drink of the night was the Pomegranate Cosmo, with Scotch and Soda coming in second. The guests dined on chicken kabobs and rice and enjoyed traditional Persian dancing. I didn’t leave the party until nearly two AM.

Summer is the season for a myriad of celebrations – including engagement parties, quincineras, weddings, and all kinds of ethnic events. Shaken Not Stirred realizes that LA’s culture is widely diverse and looks forward to serving all kinds of people and cultural events. We also do pool parties, barbeques, corporate parties, grand openings, art shows, screening events, and after parties. Shaken Not Stirred serves the entire LA area including Los Angeles, Orange,Ventura, and Riverside Counties. Please call us at (310) 280-6103 to let us help you plan your next event.