Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Vancouver. Mostly on the East Side.

What did you do before you were a bartender?

I had a brief stint in retail before getting into sales at A & B Sound. I sold home theatre equipment for a couple years before getting bored. When I went back to school for Kinesiology, bartending seemed like a good way to make money while studying.

How long have you been in the industry?

How old is Chambar? That was essentially my first job in the restaurant business.

What would you be doing if you weren't bartending?

Place kicking for the Lions. I've been saying this for years. Give me a tryout!

What is your bartending pet peeve? What might happen at work that really grinds your gears?

I'll try and limit this to just the first couple that come to mind. a) When people ask you for the bill, wait for you to walk across the room and back, without looking at the bill hand you a credit card. If you aren't going to look then save me the trip! b) When people order drinks from other restaurants and think we're bad at our jobs for not knowing them. I pride myself in not knowing what goes in a Wu Tangtini or whatever other stupid shot you want.

Do you have a go-to cocktail or beverage for at home? Tell us a bit about your favorite personal recipe.

I don't drink much at home; if I do, it's usually just something boring like a peaty scotch or glass of red.

What do you drink when you go out? What's your usual order?

Depending on the bar, I may order a cocktail out of respect, but then on to whiskey and beer. Not a fancy drinker usually.

We keep hearing that Gastown is such a great place to be a bartender right now. Why is that?

There's a lot of us who take what we do very seriously and are prideful in our work. We're all pretty close and work hard to create a decent (grownup) drinking culture. In that sense, it is rewarding to make more cocktails than vodka sodas.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you read the following: "BCLDB"?

Disappointment.

What are some of the most unlikely ingredients you have used in making a cocktail?

There used to be a drink at Chambar that used Amaretto. Never again. Thanks Mark.

If we pressed play on your iPod right now, what would we hear?

The Cave Singers.

And if we opened up your web browser history, what page would we be on?

ESPN, Scout Magazine, Uncrate, Devour.com, Punchfork. Lately a lot of sites dedicated to seating (for the new spot).

What is a must-have on your food menu?

Charcuterie and good pickles. Always good when you're drinking.

If you could pick anyone to be your bartender wingman/woman for one night, dead or alive, who would it be?

The Kid. AKA Geoff Robinson. Not a creative answer, but the most fun I've had behind the bar.

Name something every great bartender should own?

A big ol' slice of humble pie. The best bartenders don't take themselves too seriously to have fun.

Favorite bar to sit at in Gastown besides your own?

L'Abattoir. The slanty shelves make me feel like everything is ok.

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