The Open Bar Experience Podcast

Greg Perez is a bar operator/owner who has been making the best of a truly bad situation since Covid19. His bar Monkey's Tail was doing as good anybody can possibly want. It was busy, awards, great news coverage then all of the sudden we all got the notice that all service is to stop in order to prevent a pandemic from devastating our hospitals, our economy, our entire population. Well, in Texas we have been on the process of reopening and it's not looking good. However, for Greg, his partners and his staff there's always good work to be done.

We are at a crossroads in this country of ours. The United States is as divided as it was prior to the civil war and that has got to be the saddest thing I can think of. Yet, we have been rolling on this road for some time and very few people have paid any attention at all. The past few weeks we have seen protest all around the nation and the world for police accountability.

Social Contract explained by Kimberly Jones

Social justice is ow we maintain a peaceful prosperous society. The murder of George Floyd has sparked protest and consequent riots that have been too easy to condemn while forgetting the brutality of killing a man in broad daylight while being filmed by bystanders. It is a brutal reality for many of our fellow citizens and it breaches The Social Contract the we all have agreed to.

In addition to my commentary on our current social shock after COVID19. I speak with Ryan Baker a personal trainer and project manager who sheds some light on some ways to keep fit with simple solutions.

LINKS:

David Daquiri TV on YouTube

Ryan Baker

TRX

George Floyd

Chris Cuomo

Spoke with Chef Chris Williams from Lucille’s Southern Cuisine restaurant, and he shared with us his experience realizing and adjusting to the new normal. Lucille’s is a restaurant carving itself a place in Houston food culture. Given its Southern origins, the food is full of flavour but not always heavy. Rich but not overly filling. Definitely a must destination if you are in town.

I also spend sometime elaborating on the Manhattan cocktail and the group of variations that allow for much more efficient back bar as well as a way for the home bar keep to start buying ingredients with multiple uses.

Manhattan variation

Manhattan ingredients

Business owners in Texas have been grappling with the safest way to reopen. Most, not all. Bars, in particular, appear to be left out of the conversation. Guidance to help bar owners prepare for reopening has been little to none. So all we have left now is to defy the state and city orders to stay shut then battle it out in court. That is a recipe for disaster and playing with peoples’ health. As the date for Phase 2 of reopening approaches little is know of how what and who.

If you want to give your dog a delicious, healthy treat go over to Brew Chew and order some!

Here are some fun videos!

Funny Funnier Funniest Gabriel Iglesias

Crypto

Bitcoin Wallet:37BKGddPBT8j1NENxBgJkQEwEBcogGUHUk

Politicizing a medical emergency is irresponsible. Medical professionals that study public policy are trained to better asses the dangers a pandemic has on large population-based on may factors. Therefore, we should be listening to their recommendations instead of the recommendation of politicians. Let’s break some of the bar rules and talk politics in the age of coronavirus.

Just the same, restaurant owners (business owners in general) are not qualified to make decisions regarding public health other than to default to the safest methods available. Giving into public pressure that puts staff and their families at risk is irresponsible.

My YouTube Channel

Some fun stuff from YouTube: American Masculinity also Preparing for the end of the world

What we know of COVID19 so far

Who is behind the protest to prematurely open businesses

Hillstone Restaurant Group forbids staff to wear face masks

Photo by Celyn Kang

During this down time you should be working on developing a sustainable program for your bar. The ginnie is out of the bottle and it is blatently exposed that restaurants and bars operate on a tight margin.

Worst of is the employees that have been left out in the cold because big government prefers to take care of the big companies OR some of those small businesses that make up the back bone of America are providing fraudulent tax recipients to the state and federal government to pay lower taxes, while denying workers of their benefits.

As history inevitably repeats itself, we find ourselves back in the 20s. Big business, lots of credit, anti immigrant sentiment, weak worker rights, and a pandemic to expose all that is wrong with the world.

TED Talk on a sustainable bar

TWC Unemployment Claim

LABOR

Brew Chew Treats

Having a lot of time on your hands is both a blessing and a curse. During the down time of the pandemic of 2020 many on FB have taken to spreading conspiracy theories about the pandemic and it origin along with many other wild ideas. Instead we should look at the destruction of Labor Unions, extreme poverty and the lack of mental health as a right, and the revolving door of corporate executive to politician and back as the true conspiracies of existence. That said, TAKE A WALK. Enjoy your day buy slowing it down to the things you always say you have little to no time for.

Here are some resources to help you navigate the CARES ACT passed by congress to provide relief to small business and labor alike.

SBA

Restaurant Owner Magazine

Zoom has been getting hacked by prankster as well as dangerous people.

J Matini Services

PHOTO BY Photo by Xavier Coiffic

In a time of need good people get involved. However, there is never a shortage of terrible people looking to make things worst. For hospitality professionals getting involved to help others is simple a reflex. That said, there are some that find it more pleasing to make matters worst by biting the hand ready to help in a time of crisis.

Here are some of the resources that will help in finding the help you need during a difficult time for all of us.

Houston Food Finder

Paycheck Protection Program

Relief for Restaurant Workers

Restaurant Worker Relief Program

Normally we don’t have time for anything! As of last week, we have time for everything. Given the shift that is occurring in our industry, we have to prepared for big changes. One way to do that is to learn a new skill while in hiatus mode. It is important to keep you ming occur[pied in the healthiest way possible and with as much enthusiasm as available.

The COVID-19 response in the United States has been slow and inadequate given the enormous impact on our economy, in particular, the restaurant, bar and hotel industry. Government intervention is important as well as your own measures to better position yourself should the worst-case scenario happen.

Hospitality Resources

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