Bartending in Paris: Agathe Potel on Navigating International Tastes

Bartenders in Bars with Booze

Welcome back to 'Bartenders in Bars with Booze' with your host, Jordan Bushell. This time, from the beautiful city of Paris!

In this conversation, we dive right into the evolving French cocktail scene, where Agathe Potel shares her bold take on the classic vesper, teasing us with the idea of a hibiscus-infused spin to tantalize the French palate. We ponder over cultural preferences, as Agathe discusses the unique challenges she faced with her first cocktail menu and the quest to align the Vesper bar's offerings with French tastes, including an intriguing story about a cucumber and dill Vesper that didn't quite mix well with local clientele.

As if running one establishment wasn't enough, Agathe is stirring up the Parisian culinary scene with plans to open not one but two new bistronomic cuisine spots. She pours out insights on juggling the pressures of hospitality management, while also providing a delightful splash of advice for those looking to navigate the vibrant but demanding world of bartending and hospitality.

We'll uncover the layers of Agathe's journey into hospitality without a family background in the industry, her international experiences, and how the pandemic led her to find the right blend of work and personal life back in France. We'll also get a taste of the lesser-known French spirits that are ripe for cocktail innovation.

And for those who like to know where the locals go, Agathe will share her preferred spots in Paris for a nightcap and the art of enjoying the city's charms minus the tourist traps.

So, pour yourself a glass, listeners, and settle in for an episode rich with the spirit of hospitality, as Agathe Potel from Paris's Vesper bar joins us for a fascinating chat.