![]() They can now work the sous vide machine, give you a lowdown on the ingredients of a fine gimlet and dirty martini, and even suggest the ideal glass pairing for each cocktail. “At the academy, the skills one can acquire are at par with those you would learn at international-standard bartending and mixology schools,” adds Barretto, who is not only bringing the most up-to-date equipment but also teaching a lesson or two on communication skills to liaise with a customer.įor students like Lakshmi and Soniya, two street vendors from Mumbai’s Rangsharda slum colony, who Barretto took under his wing earlier this year, these months at the virtual academy have been transformative. ![]() I was in a hotel room when some friends told me how difficult it was for them to find work at that time, and that’s when I decided that I’d train them to work with me,” says Barretto, who identifies as a trans man and has worked behind the bars at restaurants like Qualia (Mumbai) and Mahé (Goa).ĭaria Arya, Rosemary Fernandes, Paula De Belchoir, Kayne DaCosta, Vani Gouda, Kirtana aka Citta, Nolan Lewis, Shweta Luna aka Satsuki Mofire, Shruti Modi, Deborah Gomes and Kezia Fernandes, all of whom Barretto has trained, are some of the names who comprise the 16-member core team, and will soon play facilitators and teachers at the academy, once they open a physical space in Mumbai and Goa post- lockdown. “I was trying to stay afloat by doing premixed cocktails when I got a chance to work with chef Shilarna Vaze and Chris in Goa, and ended up staying there for six months. #Female bartender series#First came the premixed cocktails for takeouts and delivery, before he started swapping his nightly constitutionals with Instagram ( where he continues to host virtual bar nights and cocktail masterclasses as part of the ongoing #BehindBars series that explores the power of social media in the times of social distancing. Last year, when the music stopped and the footfalls of barflies began to plummet, the 34-year-old bartender from Mumbai, like many others from his profession, started trying different strategies to fill in the hours. As far as Fay Barretto can remember, his life has embodied the art of staying out all night. ![]()
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