#30, Ivan Villegas, Spanish Bartender in London (now Mountain, ex-NoMad London, ex-Davies & Brook, ex-Swift) & CAP

The Philip Duff Show

I've known Ivan since 2013, when, still a fulltime photojournalist, he moonlighted bartending at the seminal O'Clock bar in Madrid (90 gins & 7 tonic waters - in 2013!) and became a finalist in the G'Vine Gin Connoisseur Program contest which I organised, so we got to hang out for a week at the world finals in Cognac, France.
Ivan then moved to London to be a full-time bartender (and I moved to New York), so we don't get to hang out as much as I'd like, therefore this was a sprawling three-hour catch-up over mezcal and whiskey, touching on, among other topics:
- All the fun of the Feria in Spain
- Pros and cons of guest bartending and takeovers
- Why people hiring bartenders should check references
- Being a CAP (Cocktail APprentice) at the Tales of the Cocktail festival
- Striving for excellence in bar programs and restaurants
- Why some of the best bars really only sparkle 1 night out of 30
...and a whole bunch more!
(PS, Mountain, where Ivan works, is the new place from chef Tomos Parry (of restaurant Brat), and it's getting rave reviews - so next time you're in London.....)
Ivan on IG: https://instagram.com/ivanivan?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Ivan on FB: facebook.com

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Chapters

1. Weather, Seasons, and Travel (00:00:00)

2. Bartender Journey and Career Transition (00:13:11)

3. Contests and Brand Ambassadors (00:28:26)

4. Accusations, Theft, and the Consequences (00:43:01)

5. Hospitality Industry Experiences and Career Growth (00:57:18)

6. Culture's Impact on Hospitality Training (01:08:46)

7. Evolution and Adaptation in Bar Management (01:19:16)

8. Bartending to Restaurant With Drinks Transition (01:25:23)

9. Ambitions and Fear in Hospitality (01:32:40)

10. Hospitality Industry Challenges and Changes (01:43:30)

11. Appreciating Curiosity and Adapting to Change (02:00:35)

12. The Importance of Curiosity and Engagement (02:08:45)

13. Challenges of Bartending in Expensive Cities (02:23:35)

14. Advice and Future Plans With Ivan (02:39:08)