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European bartender school new york1/14/2024 ![]() ![]() ![]() If you're not mentally prepared, it will eat you up and spit you out." Jack and partner Sean Muldoon somewhat embody the American dream, having arrived with an idea and little else. Some people expect it to be the same as London but it's a monster. There's a difficulty with integrating into New York City, becoming a small fish in the biggest of ponds. Jack's move to America was a tumultuous experience "The first two years of being here were the toughest of my life. New York doesn't give two hoots about your history. You're starting from scratch." Jack McGarry, co-founder of The Dead Rabbit, agrees, "If you come over expecting things to fall in your lap because of a job you had in Europe, you're going to be disappointed. "There's a big chance that those who you work with (or for) won't care about your past experiences, work or otherwise. Tom Walker, formerly of The American Bar at the Savoy in London, came to NYC shortly after his Bacardi Legacy victory to join the Attaboy team before moving to Fresh Kills. "If you move to New York fuckin' City there's a fair chance you may never live anywhere else for the rest of your life." You've been warned. Four decades and four years later, I'm still here." He's also won three Spirited Awards and has been published in over 15 countries. "I was fully intending to spend two years bartending in The Big Apple before heading back to sunny Lancashire to start 'a real job' of some sort" he explains "New Yorkers told me if you last two years, you'll never leave. You'd be forgiven for thinking that Gary Regan discovered America, seeing as he moved here in 1973. Garnishes aren't really a thing, the metric system is out, the milk lasts forever (weird) and there's air conditioning on the Subway. People will accost you in the street (just to say hello) and whilst they will fawn over your accent, you might find yourself adopting an American twang just to avoid attention. The teeth are whiter, brighter and straighter, there's sugar in the bread and most of your colloquialisms will be met with a dead stare. Whether you're chasing your name on a Tales plate, stealing intelligence for your hometown or attempting to take down the opposition, the move to New York requires one thing: preparation. ![]() Hospitality has long been a trade that affords us the luxury of travel, but what about relocating? From visas to vocabulary, subways to service we spoke to bartenders, bar owners, consultants, an immigration lawyer and a property broker to compile the guide we wish we'd been given before crossing the pond. In spite of the current political climate, bartenders are on the move. The rivalry between the world’s two greatest two cocktail capitals is steeped in history, widely documented and far from over, making The Big Apple an alluring prospect and an appealing learning experience for those intrigued by the late nights, big tips and the 118,000 licensed premises of NYC. Frank Sinatra sang about it, Salinger wrote about it, Jay Z rapped about it and as far as bars go, it’s London’s biggest antagonist. ![]()
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