Bar Stories Podcast

Amanda is regarded as one of the top golf instructors in Sonoma County and the Bay area. After launching her career with The First Tee of Memphis and then of The North Bay in Healdsburg, Amanda became the Teaching Pro at Healdsburg Golf Club where today she offers private and group lessons, playing lessons, clinics, and organized golf trips. Amanda also works closely with Garden Society. A Chef inspired company creating low dose cannabis confections. Crafted from locally grown, organic ingredients and responsibly farmed cannabis.

Dave Pew is a local Healdsburg Ca farmer. He has created some of the best organic produce we have ever tasted. Check out his awesome farm Russian River Organics.

Steve Ausburne’s first attempt at actual stand up comedy ended with him getting a lifetime ban from a church in Grant’s Pass, Oregon. Launched by that successful start, Steve now peddles his comedic wares throughout California’s Bay Area and beyond. Steve performs regularly at the San Francisco Punch Line, SF Sketchfest, has competed in the San Francisco Comedy Competition, and is allergic to cats.

PETE is a well-rounded entertainer in both music and film. Performing as a country artist has been a passion of PETE’s for many years. He has songs on the radio across the nation, and over 150 song placements in Hollywood. He’s a songwriter, a producer and performs with passion and enthusiasm, coupled with a never ending drive that has propelled him with success in the industry…and he’s just getting warmed up.

Douglas Keane is a world-renowned chef from Michigan. He has had many accomplishments over the years, including being crowned winner of Top Chef Masters (Season 5) and earning two Michelin stars for his restaurant, Cyrus, in Healdsburg, Calif. In his spare time, he enjoys other passions including working in dog rescue and rehab. He lives happily in Healdsburg with his wife, Lael, along with their eight dogs, two pigs, and three goats.

This week, Kasey Drady is a guest host alongside James and they review the 1989 film "Road House" starring Patrick Swayze as a bouncer in a newly refurbished roadside bar. Grab some popcorn and a beer, sit back, and enjoy as they cover the ridiculous plot of this classic bar flick.

John Troia is the co-founder of Tempus Fugit Spirits, which began its mission in 2007 to bring historically produced absinthes to the US market after being banned for almost 90 years. As an absinthe historian, John has conducted numerous educational seminars on the authentic history and development of one of the most storied and misunderstood spirits of the 19th and 20th Centuries.

Recognizing the absence of other historically produced cocktail modifiers such as crèmes, bitters, and liqueurs that were commonly used in the earliest days of the cocktail evolution of the 19th Century, John turned his research and focus towards uncovering authentic 19th Century recipes for some of the most important spirits used in many of the legendary cocktail recipes. These spirits were developed from extensive research for historical accuracy and crafted using the highest quality natural ingredients and produced using historic protocols.

Tempus Fugit Spirits is now widely regarded as the producer of some of the finest and most historically authentic spirits from the 19th Century, which can be found gracing the shelves of the best cocktail bars in the US and worldwide.

Widely regarded as an expert on historic spirits, John Troia has been cited in a variety of cocktail publications and has conducted seminars with numerous US Bartender Guild chapters, along with other industry venues and is in regular demand as a speaker on the history of 19th Century spirits.

Born the son of the Town Plumber in a small village in NH. ( yes it was a shotgun wedding). Charles began his hospitality career hauling food and trays at the early age of 16...Moved onto Portand Me., Boston and PTown Mass. San Francisco and Santa Cruz Ca. and ended up in Napa Ca as the Maitre D of Press St Helena. Healdsburg is now home with a daily commute to Napa. The stories are many and very discreet.

Bryan Bergman, former child star and legendary wine country waiter. After working in popular Atlanta hot spots He came out to nor-cal in the turbulent 90’s to learn more about wine and cooking. He’s opened his own restaurant, helped open Pinot blanc, martini house, and Cindy’s in Napa, migrated to Sonoma in 2005 and was part of the amazing Cyrus restaurant from beginning to end. Since then he’s been part of the Parish Cafe in healdsburg! He is awesome!

Maître d’ Nick Peyton

Nick Peyton has spent his entire fifty-year working career in the hospitality industry performing every possible position from dishwasher through owner, but the front of house has always been his principal focus. His first major management job was at the Fairmont Hotel’s Squire Room. From 1978 through 1987 the Squire won the most prestigious awards of that day. Then from 1987 to 1991 he was at the helm of Masa’s, acknowledged during those years as the greatest restaurant in the Bay Area.

Moving to the Ritz Carton Dining Room in 1991 he guided it to the same lofty position, leading him to partner with the Dining Room Chef Gary Danko at his eponymous restaurant in 1999.

In 2001 Douglas Keane invited Nick to join him in creating a dining destination in Healdsburg, Sonoma County. Their partnership, tested by the challenges of independent restaurant ownership, has persevered the past 17 years to great success; first with Market Restaurant in St Helena, through the Two Michelin Star Cyrus, the classic “burger joint” Healdsburg Bar and Grill and now Two Birds One Stone.

After all those years have flown by; each time stepping onto the restaurant floor brings him renewed excitement and a passion for creating special dining experiences for every guest.