They Said She Didn't Have "The Look." Now Elaine bartends at NYC's Top Bars.

What does it take to survive in New York City when you have nothing but a dream? This is the unflinching story of Elaine Romero.
Born in Brooklyn but raised in Puebla, Mexico, Elaine returned to NYC at 18, alone, to pursue an education. Instead, she was without support, leading to three years in a shelter. This is a story that begins not behind a bar, but with a fight for survival.
In this episode of Bar Talking Talking Bar, we trace Elaine's incredible ascent fueled by pure resilience. From a job at McDonald's to breaking into the hospitality industry, she faced discrimination for her identity, her accent, and for not having the industry's "look." Yet, her hunger for self-improvement and an unbreakable work ethic saw her rise from busser to barback to a sought-after bartender at exclusive venues like The Raines Law Room and The Bedford.

This episode is a testament to the human spirit and a must-watch for anyone who has ever been told they can't.
If you’re into hospitality industry insights,  this episode is for you!


🔔 Subscribe for more powerful stories from the world behind the bar.
👍Like this video to support stories of resilience!
💬Comment below: Tag a mentor who made a difference in your life.

Follow Elaine's journey:
Instagram: @ELAINEROMEROMIX_

Follow Our Podcast 👇🏽
IG @bartalkingtalkingbarnyc
TikTok @bttbnycpodcast
🌎 https://bartalkingtalkingbarnyc.com

🚨 SUBSCRIBE TO HELP US GROW🚨
LIKE & SHARE & COMMENT  to boost engagenment, increase reach, and build community!
🎧 🔊 📻 Listen to the full  episode,We're on every platform. Seriously.

SUPPORT  THE  SHOW  🫶🏼 DONATIONS 💳💰 👇🏽
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/support
https://buymeacoffee.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc
Every donation makes a difference and keeps this project thriving.

Inquiries please reach out to Nury Robles at:
📧 bartalkingtalkingbar@gmail.com

This podcast is designed for listeners aged 21 and over, or where the legal drinking age permits.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:05

On the current list, an admin relative, and these states of bar sulfating solidity bars. The access to the heartbeat of New York City's bar and hospitality teams. Whether it's the art of bartending, the costly high hospitality, or the wildest bartels, expect raw conversations and cocktails.

SPEAKER_00 0:32

Listen to the people or your favorite cocktails and keep the denial alive.

SPEAKER_03 0:36

If you love bars, it's great. And the stories that bring them to life, follow us, and subscribe to keep the conversations flowing.

SPEAKER_00 0:56

Welcome back to another episode of February Podcast Bar Talking Talking Bar. I'm a guy analyst.

SPEAKER_03 1:02

And I'm Nudi Robles.

SPEAKER_05 1:04

And I'm Elaine Romero. Welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_03 1:17

Today I ate a little bit of tacos, so my belly is a little uh out. No, I'm just kidding. We're expecting a baby, and I hope you uh everybody that showing your love. Oh. Uh, we appreciate it. Uh, baby is also very happy.

SPEAKER_00 1:33

And why don't we start by welcoming uh Elaine? Elaine, thank you so much for coming. Uh thank you. We love the fact that you're here. Uh first of all, I also want to say uh to the audience, uh we're gonna be talking uh in Spanglish. So if you guys want to turn in on YouTube on the channel, as you guys can uh follow our subtitles just in case we get off English and Spanish and probably some Chinese, why not? Well why not, you know? Since we're here, New York, whatever.

SPEAKER_03 2:02

Whatever.

SPEAKER_00 2:03

Uh but yeah, thank you so much for coming. Thank you so much for being here. Do you have a question, baby?

SPEAKER_03 2:07

Um no, I just want to say thank you, Elaine. It's it's been like a little bit that we wanna we want to have you here and uh definitely taking your time to be with us. It's it's a big, big, big two thumbs up.

SPEAKER_05 2:20

First thing, Latin, thank you for being part of this. This is nice, and I appreciate you considering me.

SPEAKER_03 2:25

Of course.

SPEAKER_05 2:26

And congratulations for that baby coming in.

SPEAKER_03 2:30

Yeah, so we have a say that um obviously there's a lot of people that uh they know you, but probably there are a couple that they don't. So we always ask the guest if you want to introduce yourself to the audience, these are the cabinets for you. Sure.

SPEAKER_05 2:46

Um my name is Elaine Romero. I work at Bedford in a Rains Lab room.

unknown 2:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 2:52

Soon coming to Pacha too. Oh really?

SPEAKER_03 2:54

Oh, yeah. Really? That's so cool. Now I know who called.

SPEAKER_05 3:01

Yeah, so if you guys want to come, you know where to find me. All right, that's a good one. Really happy for it.

SPEAKER_03 3:08

So people um some people they don't know what is Pacha. I know the old old school Pacha, which was in midtown. It was a Latin place, and I love it. And also, I mean it was like a it's a club, but now it's a difference.

SPEAKER_05 3:22

Yes, it's part of Visa, so it's just common um basically Pacha is just a performance uh audience for like electronic music, and um it's um Brooklyn Warehouse, which is used to be um this place. What is it called? Miracle? Brooklyn Mirage. The Brooklyn? Brooklyn Mirage. Um so now it's gonna be Pacha and it's gonna be seasonal for the summer. So I'm gonna be there for doing a party.

SPEAKER_00 3:52

Well, I mean, uh I'm happy because she's gonna be have her last party after.

SPEAKER_03 3:55

My my last summer is uh as a single, I mean not single, but like one person. Yeah, I'm gonna dance and Leo is gonna dance too. But anyway. Uh so let's go back, back, back. Um you are from Mexico, right?

SPEAKER_05 4:09

I'm from Mexico. I'm from Puebla, uh, a small town that's called Atencingo.

SPEAKER_00 4:14

I love that you say you're from Puebla, but just say you were you were born in New York.

SPEAKER_03 4:18

Yeah, I was gonna say that. Yes. Sorry, I what was my mistake? But I consider you Mexican. I mean, I consider my myself Mexican too.

SPEAKER_04 4:26

Like every single time they're asking me where you're from, I'm like, from Puebla.

SPEAKER_00 4:30

You know, cool. So tell us a little bit about your uh um if you can tell us a little about your about your childhood, uh, how what?

SPEAKER_03 4:38

Because it's it's weird. Like everybody's like, like us, we're from Mexico, we moved to New York, and you were for to New York and you moved to Mexico, right?

SPEAKER_05 4:45

Yeah, I was there. Yeah, I was the opposite, you know, like um my mom had me in Brooklyn, Sunse Park, and she's a teacher. So she was like, I have to go back because I still um to have to finish like whatever is in Mexico. So she got back with me. And I basically have my whole life in Mexico until I was 18 years um old. So after that I came back to New York without knowledge of English or like anything about it. Like this is it was for me like a new step.

SPEAKER_00 5:20

And I and I think that's what makes uh this story very incredible that you know, uh, and a lot of people can relate because uh a lot of people not only from Mexico but from different parts of the world, they move to different countries and they come back. Uh, and you learn the different culture. So when you come back at 18 years old here to New York, what was the like the first impression? Like it was it shocking? Was it like, uh am I like something you wanted to get to know?

SPEAKER_05 5:46

Well, first anything is the people, the expectation of people, because I mentioned it to Nouveau. It's like um they were asking me, how do you have a social, how do you have a certified that you born here if you don't speak English, you know? And it was kind of rude, and in a way I was like, okay, like that was a different story for me. But I do feel like immigrant because I mean a paper say that I'm born here, but I never was here before. So for me it was a new uh expectations and a new language, a new everything that it was um was a little scary for for everything, and more than anything, it was just like if I'm gonna be okay for it, um if I get the expectation of people is gonna be like good.

SPEAKER_00 6:30

Especially at 18 years old, you know, like you you still basically kind of like growing up, you're learning your thing. You're learning things in so many different uh aspects of life and moving into a different country, uh, it's uh different different world first, you know.

SPEAKER_03 6:44

And I think also it's it's very challenging because at 18 in Mexico you're considering an adult.

SPEAKER_05 6:50

Yeah, that was another part too. I was 18 and I'm like finally I can drink with my you know ID. I have uh, you know, my 18 is just like you are an adult. But when I got I was here when I moved to New York, um everything was different because they were asking me, How old are you? And I'm like 18. Okay, you have to take do you have to have 21 years old to be um present to be an adult. So once again, I have to repeat the whole like childhood kind of be like started for like I guess from the bottom now we're here.

SPEAKER_03 7:26

It's also crazy because even though you're 21 here and you are allowed to drink, when you get sick and you go to the hospital, they you can't make any uh No no no, but you have to go to paediatrics because they are considered adult in hospitals until you are 27. Oh wow. So it's crazy. But anyway, so 27. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:49

I thought it was 21.

SPEAKER_03 7:50

No, in the hospital, even though, for example, if you're under your dad's or parents' taxes, you are uh you can be in your dad's taxes until you're 26. Oh wow. Yeah. If you're not married, obviously. Anyway, I'm not a legal assistant, but uh yeah. So you move here and um because you wanna know the city or you wanna have a different life.

SPEAKER_05 8:19

Well, first than anything, um my mom had me when she was like 42, so she's older enough to like give me like the way to give me like the study for like go to college, which was like the money, um, the traveling. So she talked to me about like, look, um I don't think so I can help you with your college. You have to do whatever is around us. So it was like uh agricultural, which is not not bad about it. But when I know that I have uh papers and I can like move to New York, I'm like, you know what, let me just explore, try something different. And it was the first chapter that I'm like, you know what, I'm just gonna move to New York. I don't know no one, I don't have no one, but I'm just gonna try. Um I mean I have the priorities to like have the papers. Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_00 9:14

But you know that that's very gutsy, especially at that age. And and you know, uh you have to take your hat off and and honestly like really like admire that. And I know like people that's that's one of the things that you know this podcast is all about is to like relate with people who's out there seeing it and listening to it. Uh because we have done it, like you have done it. Um and I think uh what I'm trying to say is uh somebody somebody who has done that, it's scary, you know, because you have like you mentioned you have nobody. Uh second, you all you want to explore, you want to learn so many things at the same time, but you don't know what or where or or when, you know, because if you have no one, you basically rely on on on strangers. Uh and you know that's it's it's uh it's also scary because you know, coming from to us to a city where you don't know anybody, uh who do you rely into like to if if something happens, you know?

SPEAKER_02 10:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:12

So how was how were your first years here? Or your first year though?

SPEAKER_05 10:18

Well, first of all, um I moved to New York, I don't have no one, so I have to look for like help. So I went to a shelter, it's called called Covenant House. It's in uh around 42nd in Times Square. So first of all, together it was a whole uh challenge because it's Times Square, it's too big, it's too much people, it's just like I have um my Google Maps in that moment, but I didn't know the streets. I was just like, you get scared for like the whole, you know, lights and everything. So big, right? It's a big city, like you n I never was in a city like New York. So for me, the experience it was like beautiful, but in the same way it was scary. So yeah, I I went to these places called Coming in a House, and they introduced me to like people who wanted to help me to like grow. So more than anything, it was like first, let's go to take class for English. Second, it's like let's find out what you're gonna do after this so you can go to like to work. Um where I was living there, it was not easy also. Like I have to share a room with other four people. Um also like have to like sleep and like be aware about my phone or my stuff because most of like I it happened to me once that I was sleeping and I put my phone next to me and the next day it was not there. And these little moments that you like scare about the people around you, plus you don't understand the English. Like I remember like translating everything and like uh Google to like the person who was my roommate, and like please can you do this or like back and forth, you know?

SPEAKER_03 11:58

And I guess your room is also females.

SPEAKER_05 12:01

Yeah, all it was a group of females and it was a separate for males. Um but yeah, it was like a rotation for like different types of persons from Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, for either like immigrants, um most than anyone, it was just like people who have problems at home and that they're like looking for a place to live. And I was one one of them.

SPEAKER_00 12:25

Wow, that's impressive.

SPEAKER_03 12:27

That's uh that's I mean, that's very brave. And also, I mean, obviously I I believe that going through that process is something that you feel like, yeah, it could be scary, it's challenging, but that's all I have, right? And you have to deal with it.

SPEAKER_05 12:41

Yeah, I mean it was it was rules, you know, you have to get uh certainly time to get in. If not, you have to like make sure what you got late. So they just like teach you to be responsible, the place that you live in, but also like to know what are you looking for your life, you know, because they just teaching you for like be a better person. And I appreciate them because they helped me a lot to like process many things. Um one of them they was like uh take me to the train, they help me up to go to the school because I was not even know how to do it. You didn't know how to go management. Like it was everything new for me. I was like, what if the GPS helped me to do that, but then you don't have the sign and I was lost.

SPEAKER_03 13:27

And that time I guess you already have like MetroCards, right? Yeah because when I moved to New York, we still have tokens. Tokens? Oh really? Yeah, when I moved to it. So I I guess uh I mean obviously I don't guess, but we know that shelters they have the goal is helping people, right? The goal is like getting your own apartment, a job, and have you situated, right? But also you get in contact with a lot of like people with different backgrounds, with different social life. And many we know that they they have addiction problems. And sometimes people in you know, especially young people vulnerable, you get tempted to do those things, right?

SPEAKER_05 14:13

Yeah so how is your situation of like I'm not gonna do this because Well, I feel like I was tempted since I born, you know, like like in Mexico I was tempted too many things to do, and um when I was here I would like use more focus and what I wanted to do for myself. And because it was too many tensions around me, I was scary to tempt any of it. So I didn't use I in that moment I was just like scary to socialize with people that I don't know because I was scared to like someone put something on my drink or like they give me something to smoke that it it may affect me for the future and like never go back to the normal person. Um that little like scare parts it helped me out to not go down and try all of it. Obviously, after all, like I know people and I try stuff, but I feel like it was with the right people. Okay. Because it was a little more slow.

SPEAKER_00 15:17

And also the situation might have been different, you know, because uh it's hard. It's hard to to to be in that environment and and not be tempted to do uh. I don't do it, right? Yeah, but uh but that I mean I think that talks about your level of um you know commitment also because you can say no and and you move move up with your life and I mean education is one thing you're looking for and you went to school, uh, you started doing all these things. And so when was the moment where you saw like, okay, I'm moving out of here or I'm still here, or how many years do you where would you stay in there?

SPEAKER_05 15:56

When you're 18, you are available to move when you turn 21. So I was there for three years. That three years I went to school for um English. I went to school to certify to have a job, like anything that it can be um around of my level education. And then uh they asked me to save money, so I was not paying rent, but I was giving like a type of rent that it was gonna help me in the end to like whenever I turn 21, move off and look for apartment. And that would be my savings because I also get here without money. So I was not having no money to like eat or do anything that I wanted to, you know. So I was just waiting for them to um eat something, the schedules about like food and help and like metro cars so I can move around. So I have to prove that I also go to school so they can continue helping me with that. So yeah, it was like um more than anything to have um like to have the plus the tools to do whatever you wanted to, but it was more about like what I want to do, you know.

SPEAKER_00 17:16

Wow, that's really encouraging, honestly. Like what you're saying is um very fucking crazy.

SPEAKER_03 17:22

You did it, girl.

SPEAKER_00 17:25

So what did you do when you turned 21?

SPEAKER_05 17:28

So um well, before I turned 21, I I found a job. I was just mentioning that I started working at McDonald's, I saved some money. I was just like try to pay my bills uh so I can get out from that place and find an apartment. So after that, I moved out with a friend. Um she also was looking for an apartment. So we bought from McDonald's or from other No, it's for the same place that I come from, which is Atencingo. Um Puebla. Atencingo Puebla. And then she was like, look, I'm looking for an apartment too. If you're looking for an apartment, we just can put money together and find a place. So that was the first apartment that we have. Um that was in Baybridge, beautiful place, super calm. Um I mean, we take care of each other because we were friends since Mexico. So she's just like having the same as I, but the difference is like she was not having the possibility to go back and forth. But on the other side, I was just myself putting any like um documents to like do the lease because most of the people they're asking you like, how old are you? Um I'm not sure if I can like rent you a room because you're too young. You don't have to.

SPEAKER_03 18:47

People they don't trust, young people.

SPEAKER_05 18:49

So I it was so difficult to find an apartment. Um also that I have papers and everything, like your credit, you um, you know, like how much you make, like are you gonna be available to pay all of this? So it was a challenge, but we made it. Um thanks to also the coming in the house, um, she used like write a document to like make impress that I was available to do it. So that helped me a lot to like grow in that position to find a place and yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:21

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 19:22

And so then you set it up and then you feel like okay, finally I'm I'm at home, right? Yeah. So how how's your big uh I mean I I guess you start working also in hospitality or do you find another job?

SPEAKER_05 19:37

Yeah, well, my first hospitality was McDonald's. Um, not easy because my money was Spanish, and when she had the interview with me, I was like, well, I'm happy to be here and see a Mexican person. And she's like, no. Uh not because I'm Latina and I'm from Mexico, I'm gonna help you. Everyone has to win and you know, like grow. So don't expect anything from me. So from that moment to now.

unknown 20:07

Me?

SPEAKER_05 20:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:09

I mean, you know what?

SPEAKER_03 20:11

Uh I mean nigger is like that. So I feel like we like everyone finds situations like that, but I think it's your character that makes you like, you know, okay, I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

But like you just mentioned, it's your character, but also she doesn't know what like your life. And people who don't know uh or can relate to other lives because they've never been into those shoes, you know. Right.

SPEAKER_03 20:33

Yeah, and and I think one of the things that we also say is that in hospitality and not just because we work there, because we want to work in hospitality, it's like always be kind because you never know what person is.

SPEAKER_00 20:47

Yeah, the other person won't work next to you, you don't know what they're going through, you know? And and that's fucking that's crazy.

SPEAKER_03 20:53

And how long did you stay at McDonald's?

SPEAKER_05 20:56

I was there for a year, and then I find a place it's called Tannerin. They um I have a cousin for my dad that I know him for like now, because I was not knowing him. So I text the people that I know and I'm like, I'm looking for a job. So he um told me like, oh, they're looking for bar backs or runners or bass boys. So I was like, I don't know nothing of it. Like whatever you have.

SPEAKER_03 21:22

So were you doing it at McDonald's?

SPEAKER_05 21:24

At McDonald's, I was doing like the prep more than anything. I was in the morning schedule, so I was the opener. So I was like waking up at seven to be there at eight, and I was all like college students to once like pick it up with stuff, so it was like fast.

SPEAKER_00 21:41

Oh yeah, every morning is always like a fast thing.

SPEAKER_05 21:44

And I remember I have like a bad dream, just like the noise of the like the food that's ready, like the the bread or like the meat, the like. So all of that yeah, all of that sounds. I remember that I have a bad dream about it. Like my dreams. They would like have like a bunch of tickets, so nightmares, traumatic moments.

SPEAKER_03 22:07

And uh so you then pass to the place that you cast in Africa. So this place is called Tannerin.

SPEAKER_05 22:15

It's been very rich, it was a beautiful place, but also like the owner of the place. It was like, I remember you, I'm always like when I see people Latinos, it's like, hey, how are you? Like a must ask. And one day she's like, I don't like people speak Spanish in here. Okay, can you do that? And I'm here like, okay. So yeah, for me it was also a challenge because I just wanted to talk to the people that I know that is from Mexico and like feel like when you see another person that is Latino, like you feel home back. Yeah. You know, you feel like, oh, yo te conozco, vamos hablar, you know what I mean? So yeah, after that, um I applied to these places called Fonda. In uh Park Slope. Okay. Um and after that, well, I started growing. That was my first place that I that I keep it for six years.

SPEAKER_03 23:06

But at the first place, Tandari, did you work there?

SPEAKER_05 23:10

I worked there for a year. I worked there for a year in McDonald's after I moved to Tannerine. And what did you do in Tannerine? I was a bass boy. Okay. Yeah. But I don't know, like I was making money, everything was good. It was the problem was for me to have an allergy because the food it was um Palestinian, so one of the like seasonals they they use, it was like give me like rashes.

SPEAKER_00 23:34

Oh, the seasoning is fine.

SPEAKER_05 23:35

So one day I was like home and I'm like, I'm rushing myself, and I'm like, what the fuck is happening? I take a shower. I remember I put some blush on my skin and I'm and I went to a doctor and they asked, they told me like, what do you be doing? And then when I mentioned that I work in this place, they're like, maybe you're allergic to some of the seasonals.

SPEAKER_03 23:54

And do you find that one or no?

SPEAKER_05 23:56

Yeah, I find out that it was part of air. Okay. So that's another part that I moved to another place to work because it was a little irritated. When I was working, I have like long sleeves, and I'm like, Yeah, no, it's uncomfortable though. Um so it was difficult. Plus, the the owner of the place, um, it was not like kind. Obviously, everyone has their own way to go forward. But then I I find this place is called Fonda, it's a Mexican restaurant in Park Slope. And Roberto Saltivañez is the one who found the place, but he was the one who opened Rosa Mexicana. So for me, like, I don't know nothing. Like people just like talk to me about like, oh, you don't know Rosa Mexicana, and I'm like, I don't know nothing. What are you talking about? So, like, oh, it was so famous back in the days. This place is amazing. And yeah, it was a good place. I grew up there as a I was doing guacamole. So I was the guacamolera girl.

SPEAKER_03 24:54

They used to do it uh uh by the table. By the table.

SPEAKER_05 24:57

But because the place was really small, I have a station. So I was doing the guacamoles and bring the whole molca head to a table. I have some avocados that are yeah, for me it was funny because I'm like, I never use a molca head in Mexico, and here I'm doing uh like old school exactly. So yeah, it was a whole challenge. I'm like, oh shit, because it was heavy. Yeah and then you have to like give it to a table and whatever explain what you put it in. Um so I started the guacamolera, then I moved to um Bass Boy. Then um one of the runners, he was like calling out all the time. So I was looking all the time what he's doing.

SPEAKER_02 25:43

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 25:43

So the first time that he called out and talked to my money, then I'm like, I'm ready, I can do it. But running, it was not easy because it was heavy. They have like a pollo norteño, and it was the skills that you like, it was really hard. And heavy and heavy. So I remember like every single time I have like marks in my my arm for like the skills of it. And then I asked the bartender, like I told him, I want to be a bartender. And he's like, Well, I can give you a chance to be bar back. So I started being bar backing. But you know, that type of places you have to do your own lime use and this type of user, like the old school user? Yeah, the old school. So it was a challenge. But every like with my arm every two years, like I move to the steps that I like know better. And obviously, most of the people that are surrounded, like, ah, they're not gonna give you a chance to be a server. I try, and I'm like, well, maybe you try, but I haven't tried. So I push myself to learn to like talk the guests the most that I can because obviously the language was a challenge. And I didn't. I became a server. And that's when I was like, I want to move to a bar. Now is the time. And it was challenging, you know, because I remember when I was a runner, one of the persons who it was behind the kitchen used to to do the like plates and the hat is uh like stuff, used to like take it and pour myself.

SPEAKER_00 27:18

Oh damn.

SPEAKER_05 27:19

Yeah, like people like that. It's just you know, you find it in every single industry, but you find that simple type of persons. They're miserable and they want to make you like Yeah, I mean, I think he was in love with me, but he don't explain how. When you're like in school and like that you like, try kick him in the uh shins.

SPEAKER_00 27:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 27:37

It was crazy. I mean, uh I passed by uh many people who try to like talk to me, but not in a nice way, you know. Um I had to challenge like um the chef to also like it was like assaulting like the people who was in the kitchen.

SPEAKER_03 27:56

When what year was that? Do you remember?

SPEAKER_05 28:00

Like it was I get here with 2018, maybe and no 2013, so it was like 20014, 15, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 28:11

I mean that was like the time still, like people.

SPEAKER_00 28:13

Yeah, the church was still like going crazy. Nowadays you can't do that. I mean, now that you can't do it, like it's not fucking right. It's not like a human thing to do. If you're working with somebody alone alone next to somebody, you should be watching my back. I shouldn't be fucking hurting you for no reason. Uh and I should be like, I should be empowering you to work to to to like grow. I would I I don't want to put you down. But the thing is like these mentalities were very different back in the day. And I'm saying back in the day because a lot of us like uh I've been working in the service industry for like at least 15, 20 years, probably more or less. Uh when I started working in the service industry, it was very different. It wasn't like nowadays, like, oh, this this community, there's this happening, oh come here, this is like it was like no, you do your thing, I'm doing my thing.

SPEAKER_03 28:59

Uh you know, with the language. Now, I mean, I always saw like my English, I is still broken, but people encourage you to to talk, right? Or they correct you but in a nice way, right? Um back in the day, you they would be like, speak English, right? Making fun of you or like, you know, bullying you and it's you know, humans they tend to be uh bad when also they they see other people doing bad and they applaud them. But what we we're talking like if we stop normalizing bad things and we normalize things that really matter, uh that's why we are changing and that's why we change a lot in the industry too.

SPEAKER_00 29:40

Yeah, and also one thing I've learned throughout the years is that if if you don't want somebody else to grow, it's because you don't you don't grow. Like growth, uh it's personal. And if somebody wants to do it, you know, ha applaud them. Like, yes, do it. If you want to stay in your comfort zone, it's fine too. But just because somebody else wants to grow, don't pull them back.

SPEAKER_03 30:02

You know, like and also I think like I I think like Latinos especially, we have done a lot or we gain a lot during the past 15 years. That I feel like if someone is, you know, um growing and having success, and then you see other people also having success, instead of being, you know, selfish and don't uh support them, you should be also happy for them because there is another Latino opening the doors for other Latinos, right?

SPEAKER_00 30:34

Yeah, and people have done it for like plus 20 years. And the people open the doors for for for for all kinds, you know. And from from every part of the country, from every part of the world. Like Latinos, yes, but you know, because we're Latinos or we're Mexican. Uh but people who came from China and Thai, Thailand, and and and and Russia, and like everyone, really. Like, you know, and and we don't really see that because we don't we live in a like uh a lot a lot of us live in a bubble and we don't want to come out of that bubble. And and when you start getting out of like other conference on like, you know, like you mentioned, you started moving up, you started wanting to know more, learning more. I think that that's also good, and I've always applauded that because uh growth is very personal, but it's also like if people see you, they want to do the same thing, you know? And like you mentioned earlier, like I've seen people, I want to help them too. I wanna say hi to to to somebody, I hear somebody speaking Spanish, and if they they can speak Spanish uh English, uh I'm here to help you. You know, I'll translate for you. Like this is the kind of person you have to be. But another person are like, no, I don't want to talk to you because you speak Spanish. Don't talk to that person. Hey, what if I spoke Chinese, you know? Oh, don't speak to me in Chinese, speak to me in English. No, it's the same thing, right? Yeah, like the whole thing is it depends. But I'm so happy that we're talking about this because it a lot of this uh parts of the history of your history, personal history, we don't say it, but I know a lot of people relate because I can personally relate with that. Because when I came to the States, I didn't speak any English either. So, you know, it's like kicking doors. It's it's very similar. But you you have something.

SPEAKER_03 32:07

Yeah, uh so coming to that point that you know trying to be a server, you became a server, then you wanna work at the bar. Did you work at the bar?

SPEAKER_05 32:18

No. They don't give me the chance because it was um not look as the bartenders they wanted to be.

SPEAKER_00 32:24

Um not a bar back there.

SPEAKER_05 32:27

It was a bar back. But when I tried to be a bartender because I was taking orders, I was already being I was my schedule it was one day server, one day bar back, and one day runner. And I was doing three and one, and whenever they call out, they used me, you know, like, oh, Elaine, we need you. And I'm like, I'm I'm there. Like I always been like um workaholic. So whenever they're asking me to work, I'm there. Like, no matter what, like I I help. Um so I was doing like three different shifts and three and all week. And when I asked them, um the manager told me like, well, um, this is not the place that we're looking for bartender right now, and I don't think so. Like the owner's looking for like some someone like you right now because you need more experience. And I'm like, okay, you're gonna tell me about experience, but you're not gonna give me the opportunity to experiment so I can have experience, and it's all of the same thing, you know? And I was lucky because one day in summer Alex Valencia came into Fonda and we have a small little patio, and I remember my co-worker went to break and I was a server, and we were busy. It was uh brunch bottomless. So I was like, because I was doing New York City brunch bottomless because I know how to like clean tables since I was a barback and I'm sorry, a um bastard and serving, so I was like serving, picking up plates, easy, busy, everything. So he looked at me and he was just went to a bathroom and he has like, Hey, can I talk to you for a second? I'm like, Yeah, sure. Is everything okay? Something is wrong with your table, and he's like, No, I see you working, you work so well. And I opened a place in um West Village. West Village, which was like Contenta West. And I'm looking for like a team. So I find you like a really good person to work with us. He gave me the car, and the first thing I talked to him is like, look, um, I want to be a bartender. If you give me the chance to be a bartender, I do whatever you want. Like, I really want to be a bartender. He's like, okay, I got you. But for that moment I don't know, I didn't know who was Alex Valencia. Um and when I realized that Alex Valencia was the first like bartender Mexican with Pulque, with Mezcal, the La Contenta or the Loburi Side was the most popular, that like the industry was looking for him. Like the everyone wanted to work there too. I was like, whoa, I'm lucky then.

SPEAKER_03 35:07

Yeah, Alex Valencia is a it's a staple also in New York City, guys. Um he's one of, like you say, Mexican that he also worked a lot to put like um Mexican spirits, talk about Mexican spirits, teaching about Mexican spirits. And um, you know, he also was like adventurous that opened a Mexican restaurant in the Lower Side. You know, it's a tiny place, but it was when they opened, I remember it was very cool because I remember it was the the first place that I tried Raiciya, Bacanora, Soto, and I was like, what is this guy?

SPEAKER_00 35:43

You know, so we talked about a very long time ago. Yeah, actually one of my first memories about Alex Valencia before I actually meet Alex Valencia was when I read a book. I was wearing uh reading a book about whiskey, and uh the his name comes in. Um and I was like, who's Alex Valencia? And I see a picture of him, and I was like, and I can show you later. Uh and I was like, when I met Alex Valencia, I was like, wow, I didn't know who Alex Valencia was. And I met Alex Valencia like on Tenta when I went to uh a long time ago. I went to have a drink and some uh you know whack and chips.

SPEAKER_03 36:16

And the best Michelada, Pepina Michelada, Michelada. Michelada is really good. So you were like Yeah, I was like the light.

SPEAKER_05 36:28

So you you so you went to Alex's spa and what so I started working in Alex Spa, so I was doing mornings because they're doing like lunches and brunches. So I was like, you know what, give me the morning so I can have the night and fonda. So try to like find out whether it was the good money because I was also like making money. So I'm like not trying not try to move out from Fonda.

SPEAKER_00 36:50

This point you like kind of figure out what works for you too. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 36:53

Um but yeah, like the most that I learned from La Contenta and like Alex, it was always like give me the tools, like, oh, why do you think the Coca-Cola is better here and in Mexico? And like he always gave me like these type of like ask questions. And I questioned myself that I like I don't know nothing. So that's why like he was like a big person in my history and a mentor because he was like the one that look, you have to find this book, you have to read this, you have to do this, you have to like talk to me about the book, so I can like start, you know, like teaching you how to make a cocktail, because if you don't know the history, how are you gonna make a cocktail? So I was like, okay. So yes, I buy a book, um, the Bible, the one that the bartender's bible, that was the first one. I remember that I opened it too, and I'm like, damn it, everything in English and the history, and like I was taking a picture and translator and my Google Translator and read it and again, and that was the way how it studied.

SPEAKER_00 37:55

But that means that that's the airport too, right? That you have to put in.

SPEAKER_03 37:57

But you never thought like, oh I didn't know that we can read books about this. Because I'm not saying that my experience is, you know, but sometimes when you don't have experience in hospitality and you come and work here in New York, you always hear someone like, oh, let's work in a restaurant because you make money. It's barely people tell you that you're gonna work in hospitality because you're gonna make a career, right? So it's always about the money. Uh sometimes when you're young. But then when you go there, you realize that even putting water is a system. Like cleaning the table is a system, and and that system comes from also schools. There's people that they go to school that they teach you that, right?

SPEAKER_05 38:41

Yeah, I have the opportunity when I was little, my grandfather had a deposito. So I always be around like alcohol in a way that I have to like sell it. So I was helping them. Um and then I went to school for tourism. So it was part of my one of my last periods to learn how to make cocktails.

SPEAKER_02 39:04

Okay, that's cool.

SPEAKER_05 39:05

So I was like having an idea like how much you have to put in a cocktail, um, what is the names of the years of the shake and how to use it. So I have the basic idea in Mexico.

SPEAKER_03 39:17

And for people who don't know what a depositor is, it's uh like a mini store where you usually people have a lot of like beer cases only, right? So you go and buy more than one be beer, right?

SPEAKER_00 39:30

Or like a like a wholesale.

SPEAKER_03 39:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:32

But there's a like a beer wholesale. Yeah, okay. And then uh also I don't know what that is. No?

SPEAKER_03 39:39

Yeah, in Mexico are popular in like because here, for example, if I have a store, like a you have a licensed liquor, right? A beer and wine. If you order from, I don't know, one of the it's a big, big, big, but in Mexico sometimes you don't have that and it's a person that has that license to sell wholesale to the stores.

SPEAKER_00 40:00

And then people go in there and be or whatever. Oh, that's pretty cool. And um, so you started working with Alex Alex Valencia and and um what was it thought behind the bar? Like like once you started bartending and and doing all this uh being behind action, because basically when you build the experience is being in action, being in service and servicing, you know, people uh making the cocktails for the people and interacting with people because bartending is not just like I'm gonna be here, make a cocktail, and I'm uh I'm a robot, right? I'm just like doing this, pour, shake, uh, go. It's like this interaction. If it you have to be multitasking. So as you are growing and experiencing all this and having more um of these um uh you know experiences, what are your thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_05 40:50

Well, for first it was uh not easy, um, but also like the same industry like pushing me to speak more fluently. One, it was like the bullying that I have around because I was just going back and I'm like, they're asking me for uh and I forgot and it was just a silver word. You know what I mean? Yeah, and they were like ah and you the Mexican people is like always bullying each other. I normalize it, I don't take it like personally, bad because I laugh as well, but also like part of me is like no I can do it. So I have to learn more, I have to do this. It was a challenge. Um so I worked with him in La Contenta US for six months, and then he told me like it's an open space in Lower East. Um, and I can give you the chance to be behind the bar because brunches is like one bartender and server that you're basically gonna do the both of like you know, um skills or job. So I move up to Lower East, and that's when I start doing brunches. And I start getting more trained about like how to do uh mimosa and pour and like a spoon so the bubbles go down, um, how to serve a beer and like the foam not go up, um, how to make a margarita, like whatever it was the most easy basis cocktails in the brunch menu. And that was my my first goal. Like he gave me the chance to be bartender, but I also have to be my barback, my bass boy, my server, my bartender because I was by myself.

SPEAKER_03 42:23

Which also helps because in La Content and the Laurent side it's a small place. Yeah. So you have kind of the opportunity and people also see it because they have, I guess, like four tables inside the bar. So people notice that you are alone, so they it's not like rush rough.

SPEAKER_00 42:40

Yeah, but also you have a uh better control. Right. Because if it's one or two people, uh they know more. Rather, there's a group of 20, you know, like when it's a group of 20, it has to be like more structured and it's a little lines of communication. But when it's two or one, uh it's only you and the guest, and then you'll do an everything. But that's a really good experience, but show you uh speed, it shows you patience, it shows you how to like connect with the guests while you're making cocktails, going back, while you're cleaning tables, while you're doing all these things, like running food, like it's and breathe. Yeah, and also uh yeah, it's a lot of uh but that's a great, a great, great way uh to learn also.

SPEAKER_05 43:20

Yeah, I mean, I was I was young to like run and do whatever is needed. Um I have the energy. I also um was happy to have the chance to be behind the bar. So I'm like, whatever is needed. I made it happen. And as you mentioned, it's small, so it was nice because the people know that it was you, it was the whole money for me as well. So I'm like happy to make my money to do bartending. Yeah and experiment because I was also by myself. I mean, they got checked me out, they were like, Oh, how's everything? But I'm like, Okay, let me see if I put this and this, and you know, yeah. It was a whole like uh experience.

SPEAKER_03 43:57

How did you feel in your first if you remember your first? Friendship as a dream being bartender?

SPEAKER_05 44:03

Taking pictures. I'm like, I'm the bartender today. Come visit me. Um trying cocktails with the customer. Like, do you like it? What do you think? It's my first day. Yeah. Oh my god. Like, do you notice?

SPEAKER_03 44:19

Uh so back in the day also, have you spoken with your mom about it?

SPEAKER_05 44:26

Uh yeah, for sure. Like every single time that I have the chance to talk to my mom, I I like show in everything that I do. And whenever I have the chance that she comes to visit me, like I show the places that I was working. And she knows she knows the places because I she come visit me and I'm like, oh look, this is the place that I started. And it's beautiful because they know me always as like my family. They you know how it's like content that like a small little team they so we're like, hey, bienvenida. They like give you a hug, and they're like, oh, it's got my mom here, and they're like, okay, so trail a la mamma. Yeah, they treat you very well. So it's it's that type of family that you find back on like in the days, you know, and in your growing position. So one of my first family was La Contenta because they opened the the doors for me to be bartending, but also like they used like was really nice for me to like have a team and people around me. Yeah. They also speak Spanish. They also like they don't tell me like, oh, don't speak Spanish, or like they was teaching me as well, not like, oh, um, you say something wrong but in a nice way.

SPEAKER_02 45:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 45:35

So it was really nice for that moment to have them um because you also know that that that they're like more training hospitality. Yeah. Because like these guys have been doing it for years. I mean, not only Alex, but also Rigo and and and and and the Rafa and all the team, uh you know that they have it's it's different kinds of hospitality, that's what we always say, you know. Like what you mentioned earlier, like somebody who has a restaurant but he's focused on other things, you know. Well, his uh some places are more focused on making money than uh in hospitality. Now knowing that when you treat your guests and you and you custom, I mean not the guest, but also your your staff with respect, it it's a it's a win-win. You know, you make money because you're the house, but you you make your staff make money. But also your staff if it's confident it's the the whole team wins, right? Um and and we we we say this uh uh you know in the in the previous episode, uh, that if you don't take care of your staff, uh basically you're not doing this for for for the love of hospitality. You just want to make a profit.

SPEAKER_03 46:38

And and uh sorry, but I feel like uh there is people that it could be love or it could be passion, it could be you know respect, I guess. Um but if you don't uh use hospitality, uh always is gonna feel like you go some places and the the way they treat you is like maybe their food could be good, but you don't want to go back there. Yeah. Right? And and we always say that if you have a good server, a good bartender, good hospitality, sometimes the b the food can be bad, but you won't go back because everything else works out. Um but yeah, so coming back to your story that you were a part of the La Contenta, what was the next move?

SPEAKER_05 47:28

Well, first of all, it was not many like women presented behind the bar. I remember the first person I know it was Elisa La Loba, mexicana. That was my first like interaction for like a like woman presented behind the bar. So like for me it was like wow, where? Ah, La Contenta. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 47:48

Okay, she meant she mentioned she worked a la contenta.

SPEAKER_05 47:51

So yeah, it was my first um I will say crush and a nice way not to in love, but then the crush is like, oh wow, I want to be like you. Like, wow, you're so kind, nice, and behind the bar as a female. It's beautiful. So um yeah, it was my first interaction with the first person that I know um behind the bar as a female. And that impulsed me to do more than that. Also, like I changed my view because I cut my hair like for a kind of way I was like, oh, if I cut my hair, I'm I'm gonna have more respect and my might be a bartender because also like the other place they don't give me a chance. And it's like, what because I'm a female, or because I don't look like good for you guys, be behind the bar. So that like scary moments of me to like do a person to want like to be part of the bar, but like also how to be part of the bar concept. And the way you look, the way you act, the way you like know. So that was also like my challenge of myself be like changing my style, uh knowing my more myself, and like learning about this career, no?

SPEAKER_03 49:08

And uh when you talk about knowing yourself, uh you know, when you came came to the States, you were young. And you I think everybody doesn't know everything, but I feel like at that age you knew yourself, but then did you space and you start you know becoming more adult, having more responsibilities, and then when you say you cut your hair and try to be part of something, do you feel like you were losing also yourself?

SPEAKER_05 49:40

No, I feel like I was funding more myself because I was doing whatever I was not able to do when I was in Mexico. First, because it's scary to bring one part of you that like people don't know and they're just gonna judge you. For part of my family, they were like a really um support. Um my man was like, I love you, whatever you like sexuality or like whatever you like. But for other parts of it, like, but just be careful because the place that we live is um not open mind to have you as a lesbian around the community. They will look at you differently and I don't want you it happened to you. So I feel like I never like opened myself until I came to New York and I started knowing more people. I started notice like I was excited when I see someone like come in and they were like hugging or like um having like the like hands each other so dates.

SPEAKER_03 50:39

When when you're talking about like uh like gay people gay couples, yes.

SPEAKER_05 50:45

So for me it's it was exciting, they were like, oh a gay couple, ay qué bonitos, you know, like because I was wanna be part of it. And I was not knowing about how to do it because I was experimenting, I was growing. So part of it, it was like I'm gonna just do myself. And when I start cutting myself, I I remember like I do short and I'm like no, I want to do more shorter. And I remember it was too short and a second, and they I have like a big hip, so I'm like, okay.

SPEAKER_00 51:13

You went to like Dominic Torretto short already.

SPEAKER_05 51:22

So yeah, like for me it was like okay. I like it, but it was not my style. So I was like trying to find what it was for me. And also it was a challenge, you know, it was a challenge for myself to like know what I'm like I like it or what I am not liking.

SPEAKER_00 51:37

So But that's good because you're discovering yourself. Yes. And then once you have this, you know, presence of yourself, which you like you hair short or however you want to cut it, um, it's it's freaking amazing because also taking these small steps for your persona uh in your own changes, yeah, uh it makes you uh uplifting and being part of something, you know. Like you say and mentioned uh being seeing a couple that it's there, you know, having a good time, regardless of where they come from, what the background, what the sexuality is. Uh I think you know, uh as humans we see that, right?

SPEAKER_03 52:13

And you know, yeah, yeah. But I I I have a question for you because I feel like, you know, sometimes when we live in in a society that always rules as a you know male and females, and you know, you're saying I feel encouraged to see Elisa as a like my first female back then that I really look up. How is your experience as a as a as a lesbian, like saying like I don't see lesbians, you see lesbians, uh how is it?

SPEAKER_05 52:46

Well, when I met her, she had a short hair, she have like a rock style.

SPEAKER_00 52:50

Oh yeah, she had like a shape half of the hair.

SPEAKER_05 52:53

So for me, it was like, well, I want to cut my hair too. Um I use like I like it because I like my long hair, but I would like I wanted to experiment something different. Also, like be behind the bar it give me like a power to show myself because I was like, okay, I can do this. I find out to be here. Now I'm I'm here. So they give me that like power to like I can do whatever I want in this moment. And plus I was in New York, like New York is open, you know, like everything is different. You know people, um, and you start to realize that they're not gonna judge you, it's just just gonna be yourself.

SPEAKER_03 53:35

And it was a moment that, for example, when you have like the let's say when you start uh working and you have your long hair, like introducing yourself. Because you know, people ask you like, oh, do you have a girlfriend or boyfriend, depending if you're female or male, right? But once you feel like that momentum of like I don't have to hide who I am, and yeah, I like girls, so I I can this is my woman or my partner. Do you have those moments that you have to challenge other people, like saying, This is who I am?

SPEAKER_05 54:10

It was bothering me because I look for more female people was looking for like interesting relationships for me, and I'm like, no, I I don't look for that. And it was a challenge because when I mentioned it, I don't like men, so like, are you sure? You don't want to try? Like you might be changing your mind. And I'm here like, no. So it was like, bro, like if you told me that right now, you already like. Cut off. Cut off.

SPEAKER_00 54:39

Of friend, all friends.

SPEAKER_05 54:41

Yeah, because it's like, what does that make you feel that I'm looking for a relationship? First, second, why do you think you're gonna change my mind if I told you that I'm not looking for a relationship with a man? Um third those comments were coming from men. Yes. And you know, like no offense. But like um machismo has been like noticed in industries, and I feel like now it's not as used to be before, but back in the days I do have a lot of people around me that it would like bother me. And the way that I changed myself, it was just also to implement that I'm like, I'm not interested because I'm the man in here. Which I'm not a man, but I'm just like the way how I look. The personality, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 55:31

Yeah, because unfortunately we live in this society like I've been mentioning the past few minutes. It's either men or women, right? And usually when uh women, uh lesbian women, they like, you know, to dress with pants or t-shirts or everything, they they also have a label, right? Oh, you're acting like a man or you're a dyke, or you're it's like, well, probably I have to look like this because the society expects this from a person that da-da-da, right? Um but other than that, I feel like we were talking, right? Like nobody should care about your sexuality. Like you come here to have dinner with me as a friend, I don't care. If you are going to work, they shouldn't care. People who who you know are in different industries, they shouldn't care because that's your body. Yeah, mind your business, your body your choice. I feel like, you know, I really like to hear your story because I feel like there's a lot of people with probably similar stories like you. And there's people that still believe that it is okay to discriminate or say stupid things like that.

SPEAKER_00 56:45

Yeah, it's fucking ridiculous, especially when you say somebody who's young. Like, you know, like when you tell in the story is like you're at 18 to 21 to 25. So basically somebody who's older trying to take advantage of that situation, and that's not okay. Um from any angle that you see it, it's not okay. It doesn't matter if you're uh a single man or single or or with kids, right? You cannot say that to somebody if somebody just, you know, especially at a place of work, you know, because if you're working with somebody, you don't want to you don't want that. You're here to make money, you're here to make your living, you're here to do your thing, you know. Whether it's uh growing or or learning or just to make uh some money for the moment, that's it. That's what you want. You're not there to get a fucking relationship. You know?

SPEAKER_03 57:30

And also I feel like these conversations are really important because yeah, we're complaining, we're making, you know, fun of like those comments and everything. But at the end, I think the big change is when we educate or we get educated or we try to be educated, right? Because some people they don't understand as well, like you know, we were saying about machismo. There are words in in the Latin community that they are normalized, right? And and they think like it's cool. But then if you look at the whole point of the word, it's still like, you know, misogynist or like homophobic or machista, right? And I think that we st we have a long path to to, you know, eventually hopefully we live in a society that what matters is what you do, you know who you are. Uh but we are here to to still trying to non-normalize on homophobia, right? And support people no matter what, in terms of like, you know, if you're applying for a job, there's people that also they're like putting the foot like she's gonna take my job, right? And instead of like I'm gonna teach you, and you know, you do you, I do mine, and whoever wins the other position is because it's it's good at what they do, right? Um yeah, continue with your study.

SPEAKER_05 58:50

No, yeah. Well, after I have uh Alex Valencia, I work at La Contenta, um, pandemic started. The 2020, no? So it was also like a challenge. Um because everything it was closed, so I was looking for a job. Also, like I moved to Los Hamptons for like uh six months because I was a place that they hired and also like they were giving the opportunity to be behind the bar, and the in that places you can still serve her with a mask and have people sit at the bar with a food and drink, not just a drink. Yeah, you have to. So I was your experience? Uh um tough. Tough. Like with a Latina, lesbian, uh female bartender in Los Hamptons, he would try to.

SPEAKER_03 59:42

I look at it as an immigrant, right?

SPEAKER_05 59:45

Yes, and look as an immigrant because more than anything, I I remember it was like the first um uh Trump to get uh part of the like be president. And they were asking me, oh, are you gonna vote? Are you like him? And these type of conversations that I'm like, why are you asking me this? Like, what are you looking for?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:04

You want me to vote?

SPEAKER_05 1:00:05

Like, what are you asking? Like, um, I always like in the conversation, um I don't like to ask, I I don't like to talk about politics behind the bar. I'm sorry. Like I was doing my job and I was just like serving water, and I'm like, Did I do another cocktail for you? So I always try to like before. But that's good, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:24

Just keep uh keep a I mean, just the work ethic.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:28

Yeah, so yeah, it was uh experience. It was also like nice because it was other place, it was beautiful on the side, the beach, the person.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:39

I think so. Unless someone invite me to the beach, please.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:46

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:47

Yeah, so after that, um after the six months, because I was missing New York, I'm like, oh okay, I'm tired of it because I feel like I was just go to sleep, waking up and go to work. And it was all a rotation. And it was the same place that I work, it was the same place that I live. So I never like have to go out. Like it was the same place. So like no, I have to like move on. Like I make a little money, I was good to survive.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:13

So we're not ghost.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:15

I would be like super scared. No, no. Um but then I moved to White Plains, which is uh up New York. In Queens, huh?

SPEAKER_00 1:01:27

Yeah, it's like lotion in Queens.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:28

No, White Plains. It's uh see it's um oh no, no, it's up.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:33

It's upstairs, yeah, it's uh Bronx and then uh upstate.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:38

And then white is the Bronx and then whatever is there.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:44

Yeah, I was working to the Bronx people.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:48

I was working at this place. It was called Billy and Pete. Um that I have a friend in common, so he invited me to work. I was serving um Oh, is it like a tavern? It was like a tavern. It was like a spa. Yeah. So at the Hamptons, I was working as a bartender. Uh at this place I was working as a server because also like they were like, oh, you don't look like nice bee behind the bar, and I'm like, okay, whatever. Again, um, so I support them for like five months, and I'm like, I have to look for something else. And then I reach out to Alex and I'm like, look, I don't know when you guys are gonna open. I'm still looking for like a place, at least one to two days. And then he told me, like, oh well, the cabinet is is uh gonna do the miracle. The miracle.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:38

The Christmas miracle.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:40

Um and they're gonna hire people. Like, let me just give you the phone number from Greg. So it was the connection there, obviously. Um thank God uh they support me, they help me. So I had the interview with Chelsea when I was working there. And they put me in Mace because Mace is the same part of the family of the cabinet. And I was like, wow, you know, like super exciting because everything that was different. Um I was there it was my second house to learn everything I know now.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:16

Um it was everything batched, but I have to batch them and I have to like know how to do the batches and infuse and the math. So it was part of uh the base to grow and be better as the bartender. And then they look at me working and they one of the managers like, look, you do look like a great person for the cabinet. And I'm like, why? Because I'm Mexican? But in the other side, I was like, okay, I I wanted to try, you know, like I might be okay to be there because I know one of the parts that I wanted to show people like Mexico. So I was like in love to talk about mezcal because also my first experience about mezcal, it was like with mezcalistas. So I have the chance to visit in um Michoacan, Durango. And imagine I never ever I was living in Mexico 18 years, and I was never go out from Puebla.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:19

We usually don't travel in Mexico.

SPEAKER_05 1:04:22

Because the economy obviously don't like sh like give you the chance to move. So when I was here, I was different because I'm like, okay, I can go back and then my money is gonna be doubling. So I can do it. So I have this experience and I get in love with Mezcal because Mezcal was like part of where I'm coming from. Um so it was another part of me showing what I like, which is makes sense.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:48

Which the cabinet is also like for people who don't know, it's it's a place with like I don't know how many esprits.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:55

They have really good mezcals, they have some varieties that they're not even uh in the States. Uh if you guys have a chance to go try the mezcals in there, um, yeah, because they have the the bar and it's like like I don't know 200. I have a big selection of not only mezcals, they have a lot of good stuff in there.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:14

So yeah, I have the chance to work at the cabinet, so it was also like another way to learn more about educating myself about mezcal and tequila. And I have uh the chance to work with uh Justin Lane, which is now one of the big uh persons for mezcal too. Um with Diego Livera. So I have like these persons around me, they teaching me also in a nice way, but like professional, you know. They were like, you have to close the bar this way, and no water like around, you know, like dry everything. And that helped me to like be a better bartender because most of the stuff that I I learned it was not the same way. So it was it was good. It was a challenge, but it was like motivating me to like continue with the career, be bartender. Plus be behind the bar, it was all I want. So be part of it. I was like, okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:14

Did you have any nights where you were like like you make like a big mess or a mistake? I always ask this, but I I just want to hear like a like a funny story.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:23

Why don't we hear a big mess and something that makes you feel like really, really good that same? Like in different locations.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:31

Well, my big mess, I was a bass boy, and I picked up a plate, and the plate pushed um bottle, and the bottle pushed the other bottle, and every single like uh glass drop. Like a domino, like a domino thing, like and I'm like, no. And I was uh I go I go to the back and the manager talked to me and they're like look, don't be scared. Just go to a table, try to apologize and clean, and I'm he like, ah, okay. So I was like, oh, I'm so sorry. People were really nice in that moment. I was like, don't worry, it was an accident.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:08

And when you and when you were behind the bar, what was the biggest like like the most emotional or grateful moment?

SPEAKER_05 1:07:16

I think the most emotional moment, it was when I started making cocktails, and the first cocktails, it was like not making the foam or like the ice, it was like crisp and not like good shake because my shake also was like so it was my first cocktail that I have like the foam in a nice waist body. That was the best moment, and then I give it to the customers and they they drop.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:01

That's that's cool, but that that still happens. After after uh cabinet, where where do you go?

SPEAKER_05 1:08:08

Um I have a chance to work in pulkeria when it was back in the days pulkeria.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:13

I used to work at uh next door.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:14

Oh really? The uh the speakeasy?

SPEAKER_00 1:08:16

No, no, the yeah, I used to work at Apotech a long time ago.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:19

Pulkeria is in Chinatown. See, right. It was, it was. It was. No, I was I It's on Doyle Street. Yeah, I was thinking about pulperia, but you say pulkeria.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:28

No, no.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:28

Pulkeria.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:29

Yeah, I was uh well, what is this called with the bar? Sorry. Apotech. So I work uh pulkeria and then I know apothec because after we work and I have my training, my co-workers are like, let's go for a drink. Oh my god, Apotech, I was like, wow. Yeah, like it was so beautiful, and I was like, oh, like the way how they dress, and they make counts. And I was like, wow, I want to be one of them.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:56

Like, yeah, because also it was a point that Apotech, it was kind of like you know, celebrity also place, and it was like super fancy, kind of cool. And you worked there.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:04

I worked there uh a lot of years ago. Many moons ago. I I worked there, but it was really fun, and I used to like also from the back door. Uh, we used to go to Pucaria, go downstairs, dance for a little bit, go back upstairs to Apotech. Sorry, Apotech, I did it. I love it. I don't know if you guys know me, but I love dancing. So I used to go dancing because they used to have a DJ over the weekends.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:27

Yeah. Oh wow.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:28

Um, and I used to work there at least five nights a week. So uh we we have Mondays, uh really good uh live music, and then we have burlesque over the week. Uh but yeah, that place was always busy.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:40

Wow.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:41

Yeah, I had the chance to work for like uh the last moment for pulcheria because now it's RVP pulkeria. They close. Um but I had the chance because they were looking for a bartender. So I worked there for like one, two days. It was Wednesday, Thursdays, I believe. So because it was seasonal, the place that I was working at Maze, they just moved to the cabinet and I was just part-time. So I was looking for another part-time. I worked there for like a small period of time. And then, well, La Contenta was the big place to like get connected to many people, like Ben, uh like Josemaria, like La Loba, like many other bartenders that now I know, and they're like, Oh yeah, I remember you at the cabin, and La Contenta. So um I remember I have a text for Chema, and then he's like, Look, I'm looking for a bartender at Claro. That Michelin star.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:34

Oh yeah, when he used to work Claro during the pandemic, too.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:37

So after the pandemic, like it started like coming up for like a regular service. So that's when they they asked me to like be part of it. So Michelin star minus, it was like, for me, it was a whole also world. So it was beautiful.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:54

How do you feel like before you were asking the opportunity to be a barback? And then someone calling you like, I want you to work with me.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:03

Well, it was beautiful. First anything, and I forgot to mention it. Um when it was the pandemic, I was looking for like a place to work as a bartender. And I have like two interviews. The one of them, like, they have a video call, and they're like, Oh, I'm sorry. Like, and I'm like, why what happened? They're like, well, I was looking for a bartender female, and I'm like, well, I'm a female, what are you talking about? And I don't want to talk about the place because I don't want to like fire them, but no, yeah, we don't need to be able to do that. But yes, um, I have these people who like, oh, it's not what we're looking for. And in my mind, it's like, what are you looking for? Like a long hair, a beautiful girl. Like, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:48

Like we also come what is beautiful, right? Exactly.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:52

You know, everybody's beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:54

It's just like uh what is me? What really gets me sometimes is like you don't know the skill, you're judging the person by the look. Uh if you're looking for a look, then go hire a fucking model.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:06

To do what? Like it's great that you know we have models, but I mean, uh in hospitality, you have to have the skills, you have to have the the the time in. Because if if you're looking for a two-year experience versus you're looking for somebody who's not experienced and and who looks good, oh in a in what way, right? Because I might not look good for somebody else, but I I might look good for some other people.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:28

But that's that's what is what is like looking exactly like and what that has to do with like shaking it, right?

SPEAKER_05 1:12:35

Like do my job as I have to, you know?

SPEAKER_00 1:12:39

Yeah, and and that's the one of the things that really gets me, you know, because uh in hospitality, it's just like it's freaking ridiculous. And you know, and one thing that I love about Megan Dorman is that she gave opportunity to everybody, you know? And I've seen it throughout the years, and this she's not the only one. Also, you know.

SPEAKER_05 1:13:01

And one of the funny things when I was working with Alex, he always talked to me about Megan. It's like, oh, you have to know this person. And I think in my little work, the I don't know nothing. I was like, oh, that would be great to work with Megan. And I don't know her for like no reason. But the way that Alex like talked about her and like what she was doing, I was like, oh wow. Like I wanna work now there. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 1:13:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:13:29

But you work with Chema Claro. So I started working at Chema Claro. Um then I was there until the end of Chema because also it was a problem with the uh management. So because he have um other opportunities, he had to go from Claro. So they asked me to be part of the management, which was a horrible like transition because when I moved to be what he was doing, the whole people, it was a team, it's like, I don't want to work here anymore. And left. So mine is I have to do all of the jobs and position without getting pay. And do just get pay as the minimum as management. Yeah. So I was there for two years, and the last year for that two years, I was like, no, I'm not making money, I'm sorry. I really wanted to grow in the industry. I don't think so. My um growing is being a management. I want to continue to be a bartender, plus I need money.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:35

Yeah, of course.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:36

And I'm not making money. Um doing doing management. I'm sorry, I mean, I love management. I'm sorry if everyone has a same problem, but it's like it was not enough for me.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:48

Um but also I feel like sometimes when you have the, you know, because I I've been also working in the hospitality, that sometimes you don't want to be a bartender, you want to be a server. Uh some people they would love to be a manager because this and that like everybody has a place, right? And I like you say, I think you you want to be a bartender.

SPEAKER_05 1:15:09

Yeah, but like no, I was just too stressed for do everything, and I'm like, I used rather used to be a bartender. And um after that, I believe it was not working out. And then I had the opportunity to work with Atla. And I remember Alex, um one of the persons who also I know from La Contenta, and it was my bartender, and then I was a server back in the days. Now he was the manager.

SPEAKER_00 1:15:36

He was also a Fonda, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_03 1:15:38

Who?

SPEAKER_00 1:15:39

Alex, Alex, uh, I forgot his last name. I forgot his last name. Yeah, but you know him. We know him.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:45

Well, I have you know, we know a lot of Alex, I'm sorry, but yeah, whatever. You work at Atlas.

SPEAKER_00 1:15:50

But how long how long do you work at Atlas for?

SPEAKER_05 1:15:52

I worked there for like two years, almost. I was gonna make three years because after the three, they used basically um give you the chance to travel.

SPEAKER_02 1:16:01

Oh.

SPEAKER_05 1:16:02

Um, but then they opened more opportunities for me, which it was range, thanks thanks to Ben. Ben C. Bengu. Um so I know him from La Contenta, we hang out. Um I always look at him and I'm like, I love you, outfits.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:17

So he you met Ben at La Contenta as a guest?

SPEAKER_05 1:16:20

As a guest, and I was a bartender. So I remember like serving them and they were like super cool with Cisco and one of their cousins, which is Jonathan, it would used to work with me at the he was used to work in the kitchen, now he's doing a server. And they're like, oh see, so Miss Primo.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:37

Oh Jonah.

SPEAKER_05 1:16:37

Jonah.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:38

Oh, you know Jonah. Oh, I didn't know that was his cousin. Yeah. But small world.

SPEAKER_05 1:16:42

The small world.

SPEAKER_00 1:16:43

Alright, and and so okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:16:45

So yeah, it was all connections. You know, I know you because I serve you, I know you because you pass by and we know each other. So he finds me in Mays and he passed by an Atlas with her wife, and then I was like, look, I'm looking for like a place to go to work. If you know anything, let me know. Like a day later, it's like, look, they're looking for a person uh uh reigns. And uh if you want to like send a resume to Megan and they're gonna like asking you to do a small interview and then let's see.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:24

So when he told you I mean when you met uh Ben, did you know that he works for Megan? Yes. So when he asked you to work, like you were like, I'm not where we're gonna be.

SPEAKER_05 1:17:39

I was so excited because I was like, wow, like this is an opportunity that I hope they have the chance to work with her. Because imagine Alex he was talking to me about it. Like, I know this uh band he was working there for like years. Like I know this place is like a good place to work because it's not just growing, it's just part of a career and then like teaching you and like I mean there are OGs.

SPEAKER_00 1:18:02

And and then you don't take it for granted. You take you take it as an opportunity.

SPEAKER_05 1:18:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:18:06

Yeah. And how many uh how long have you been working with uh race now?

SPEAKER_05 1:18:12

Uh I'm gonna turn two years and a half. What?

SPEAKER_00 1:18:16

Yeah, you're gonna party. Yeah, the time I was looking for a excuses.

SPEAKER_05 1:18:24

No, um, yeah, like it the time passes fly and when you love what you like and then when the people is nice around you, it's good. I mean, I have a really good experience. It was a challenge because everything was different. I know about too much about Mescal and Tequila that I have to know more about whiskeys, gene. And it was for me, I have to do like a cars to read and basically learn the whole aspects about like the cocktails because mine and other places I have like 10, 15 cocktails maximum. Rains have like 35 to 40 cocktails, the alcoholic, the reserve, like the refreshing, plus the classics. So it was a challenge, you know, like fake until you make it happen. Yeah, but that's good.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:15

And right now you're going through this um because Rains had a the fire, right? So what are you how you're facing that?

SPEAKER_05 1:19:25

Well, I'm happy to be part of the Reigns team because it's also support. So since that happened, we had the support for Megan and for the whole like management to look around for like chips, for events, for anything you need. Obviously, they're asking me like what is you can do, or you available to work. And I was on transition, you know, because you wait and then now it's like okay, we're still waiting, but it's still like asking me what is you can work, I what is you need. And I think they also like as you mentioned it before, if you take care of your uh team, your staff, things are gonna get better. Like your staff is gonna care about like what you're doing. Because now it's not only like my family, it's my home. Whenever I like reopen and come back, I'm gonna be happy to be there again, you know? And that's that is more like support of the people who is around you who helping you to like be better. And also like to not leave you alone. It's like what are you doing? Like you need some money, look, you can apply for this, or you can do unemployment. Are you available to do unemployment? Like, you know, like they're asking you, they they support you. Um and I really like happy to know Megan. And for me, um I think everyone's known uh at work the she was around and I was broken like battles because I was getting really nervous for me. It was like a big supreme person. Of course. And from here to now I'm just laughing, and now I have the opportunity to work next to her, and you know it's really fun and nice to see um the the way how she is because she's really calm, she's really funny, she's really nice.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:25

Yeah, because I feel once you pass the the the line of like the name, uh the title of your boss, and I think Megan also what I saw is that she's always taking care of you guys, and and I see her like hanging out with you guys as a friend. I feel like you know that other side of Megan is also helpful because it gives you that opportunity of like uh if you need something, you know that you can count them.

SPEAKER_00 1:21:54

Yeah, that's so freaking cool. Like honestly, having one of somebody like that in your team uh as a leader is just like they don't have to tell you anything, they they just show you. Um and that's one of the things that we have seen with Megan and with the team, you know. Uh for the rings law and you know the herbing. Uh but you know, like that's one of the reasons why we like uh the the the you know this is what we do and the hospitality service. Uh because we build community, you know, and and people sometimes don't don't see that community. Uh but like if you put it in perspective what you start when you started and where you are now, you see uh night and day kind of like difference, right? Because you see like when like you know, people were using different words, different, different, different kind of like ways to approach you, and you were in where you are now uh with the team that you are with, it's just like it's great, it's better. Um I'm not saying the all the you know because the other things is the the other thing is that you had to go through that, to those steps to be here, and and to learn as much as you could uh to be also a great bartender, you know, because you're a great bartender. Um to be part with these guys is like, you know, it's not an easy task to know 30 cocktails from the menu plus all the classics, and plus people sometimes come and ask you for a cocktail you have never made. Because this happened to me, you know, it happens to every bartender. Sometimes they come and they're like a rusty nail, ooh, I haven't made a rusty nail, I don't know how long.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:23

Or they have cocktails in another state that they name different, and they then eventually you ask them like, hey, can you tell me the specs? Yeah, I can do it. Uh but yeah, I think uh, you know, having you here is been like a very, very, you know, emotional, very fun, very, but especially like you know, representing. We always said uh here we want to show representation for the New York City community, right? Uh especially, you know, women in my case. I I love to talk about feminism and uh and and how this is empowerment to you know change many ways, not just and also I I think many knows got um you know uh human rights at the end of the day. And uh and then that comes with like treating people with you know with kindness and then with dignity. And with dignity. And um and I feel that creates also not just an industry community, but also a social community that we you know we we look for changes that better ourselves and other people, right?

SPEAKER_01 1:24:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:29

Yeah. And and I mean I be we've been seeing you and also we were very happy that you know you've been working in places that you probably didn't know, you didn't think of and and that also talks about your integrity as a person at your ethic work. And you know, we also saw see you with your wife, which is super cool because you guys are two bars and yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:24:53

Yeah, I mean shout out to your your your other half.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:58

And I feel like also it's it's cool to like having a person who works in the industry because you know, you can share, you can debate, you can also uh you know collaborate, support each other and understand that sometimes if you get drunk, she gets drunk, so you know, you hang out. It's you know, we're having fun and and people know you that they also taking care of you guys. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:25:23

Yeah, it's uh it's a challenge because also like dating a person in the industry is a whole guy gossips and like you know, it's it's a lap. But the way that I met her, she was working in like different type of industry, it was more like a dye bar. So I always like try to push her to do better. So like if you have more knowledge, you can do the same but in a better way. And I always come with a humble on myself. Like I told you this because it happened to me, you know, like I want you to have the best. And now she's working at Kiko, beautiful place at um Grouped Up. It's uh Asian, it's a Spring Street, and they do have amazing food items. Umfuse and also the chef is uh her mom is from Mexico, Puebla. Oh wow. You have to know? Yeah, no, yeah, I recommend it. But yes, um having her around me, it helped me around also to it helped me a lot to just be myself, but also like showing more of myself in a nice way. And all I can like talk about it is like be humble, um, be yourself. If you're in a place that you're not being yourself, it's not gonna be good, it's not gonna be um nice, it's not gonna be happy for nothing. So being yourself is the main of the character to like growing and be better and humble. Because most of the time we forgot what we're coming for uh from. And I always like mention everyone like I know this person because I work with this, and I believe if I'm in this position, it's not because I wanted to be, it's just because I like fight for it, you know?

SPEAKER_03 1:27:11

And I think you have a good mentors because you know, if you see Alex around, um Megan especially, she's you know, she has she has a big name, you know and and and we don't say it just because we want to say it, uh proofs are outside out there. And they are very humble. Like you talk to Megan and she will never be like, excuse me, right? So she's very like approachable. And I think you know, every industry should be like that, right? And I but at the end their knowledge is passing to other people, and yeah and you are also part of that that you're gonna be mentor. Well, you are probably mentor already for to someone that it's gonna look up to you.

SPEAKER_05 1:27:53

Yeah, and try to be better. Like um I mean you learn in a bad way, but I don't try to. like teach the same way I learn. Sometimes I'm like I should be do the same way so you can learn. But no I just do it correctly.

SPEAKER_00 1:28:08

Do the hard way.

SPEAKER_05 1:28:09

Yeah do it hardly. But you know what like I'm not I'm not a person who like finger you and I just wanted to teach you. If you take it you take it if it's not it's not like I just do what I can and also like it's a new generation coming in now. So I feel like I'm in the middle. So and one to another day it's just gonna start new people coming in. So mine as well to open the doors to these new females AGTB community to be part of the new partners, you know? Exactly yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:28:43

To bring bring bring in the community more than anything, you know and a community uh for us is like you know Latinos, uh gay, uh you know LGTBQ, uh it doesn't matter what color you're from, where you're coming from. I think it's just like all of us, right? As as humans, helping each other uh one way or another. Like if I can give you uh give you some sort of um uh I don't know mentorship or or advice you know that helps you grow it's good enough. Uh I don't have to give you a hundred thousand dollars I don't have to give you uh I don't know uh I don't have whatever it is right you just have to be humble in a way that you can teach somebody else uh something um but yeah I mean it it's pretty pretty interesting that you know what we're talking about today because we haven't had this uh open heart conversation and it's pretty cool because you know like I mentioned earlier I related a lot with you because uh my first language is also Spanish and I didn't speak Spanish until I was 21 or 22 and I mentioned it. I mean excuse me English until I was 22 or 23ish. I was like my Spanish was my English was super broken. All I could say is like when I used to go to the McDonald's was like number five like just my my my five number five or like to the to the Chinese um uh shop like uh to get some Chinese food I used to look like chicken wings you know like always because and then the Chinese people will say like hey alitas con la rose I was like yeah well it was a pleasure to have you here it was you know a pleasure to hear your story I think is it's very amazing and thank you now we know you better and we are more proud of you because uh we know that you worked so hard and you were also you know hungry to to have your position that you have now so congratulations for everything definitely uh we appreciate your time here yeah can you tell the audience where they can find you or where they can find your socials yeah not the social number though I cannot find you in your hand uh your social handle yeah um thank you for the invitation I honestly was gonna do Spanish because that's my first language and I feel more comfortable but like I always like the challenge.

SPEAKER_03 1:31:07

So you got it guys you see you guys have to do this we take it uh you know it's funny because I we didn't uh say how is and it flow and I feel it's like that like we are um we're Mexicans.

SPEAKER_00 1:31:24

We do it that's what uh Guillermo del Toro said what's the superpower I was like yeah I'm Mexican and I'm and I we always say we're Mexico because we are this is where we come from this is our culture uh but like since we're in New York City we have about a big community and we you know I hang with all my good friends from the Dominican Republic from Peru from Ecuador from all over the world. But we just say who we are because this is what we are really um and then you know we want to build a community and the community we mentioned is everyone included uh just so happens that you're a Mexican like us and just uh if you want to say something to the camera um it's all yours.

SPEAKER_05 1:32:01

Yeah man be yourself uh believe in you and grow like yeah do you like honestly and don't feel ashamed to show yourself that's all that I can share by my experience. Well thank you for all the um teammates that I made uh my long story about the bartender which is Megan Alex um and all of the people that I'm not mentioned because I forget right now and but for the anything I just wanted to say thank you to my wife Inez to be supporting me and be part of my life and I believe in love. Love is love.

SPEAKER_03 1:32:39

LG TV community please set up yeah we're just gonna also thank the audience and all the friends and support that we have uh please still continue doing the the liking uh subscribing and comment so we can grow and have more conversations like this and we can f they can find the all the episodes where at the same time well they can find more episodes like this in our website at w bar talking talking bar nyc dot com or they can go to social media on Instagram uh bar talking talking talking bar nyc and also you can watch uh you two uh you you can watch the YouTube conversation uh entirely uh with subtitles if you guys are in Mexico. Uh I know we have a lot of audience from Mexico too so in Spain we have Spain uh we have a lot of people uh oh Africa a lot of those kids by the way dancing yeah shout out to those kids I'll show you later um and um yeah we have oh if you are running you know you can also use all the platforms so we're everywhere so guys you don't have excuse not to know about Lane so thank you so much for another episode Edgar thank you and thank you thank you guys and um see you next time bar talking talking bar yeah we need the we need the bar talking talk about three this is bar talking talking bars and