Peter and Salvatore: The 10 Commandments

These two besties give us some “rules” about being a bartender. They are seemingly simple, but try following them all year long!

For the holidays, I decided to talk to two legends: Peter Dorelli, retired star barman of the American Bar at the Savoy and Salvatore “the Maestro” Calabrese currently with the Donovan Bar in Browns Hotel in London and Villa Igiea in Palermo, both Rocco Forte Hotels.

These guys have been best friends for decades and are icons in their profession. The practical knowledge they offer can benefit the entire industry. The commandments are not rocket science, but consistency is key. We can all strive to be our best, and the payback is a loyal following.

I asked them for their 10 commandments for bartenders today. Some of the answers are similar and I left them in: after all, great minds think alike!

Peter Dorelli

Always start with a smile and finish with a smile.
Be generous with your body language. Open, always open, open stance and open arms, be generous and welcoming.
Cleanliness, be tidy, and tend to your bodily hygiene. Your presentation is important, because the eye is the most powerful thing
Be professional, in everything you do.
Shoes, of course, one of the most important items in your wardrobe is your shoes. They should lace up, and they should be leather uppers and soles, with a little heel, not flat. That will help you avoid flat feet and improve the circulation of your legs. Good shoes are costly, so always look after them with polish.
Yoga is very important especially if you are quite tall, because unfortunately with a job where you are standing all shift, gravity takes its toll. So make sure that you do stretching, the best is yoga.
Sleeping: Find the time to have a good sleep, make time to sleep. Make sure you have a good mattress. Turn off all your 21st century gadgets like iPhone, iPad, TV and everything. Make sure that you're in the dark as well. That helps you get a good rest.
No drinking while on duty, sorry everybody, no shots with your friends. Go to your friends’ bars after duty and have your fun, but not while you are working.
Always use the best ingredients - they make the very best cocktails.
Never, never, never shake a martini!

Salvatore Calabrese

You can be rich in your work if you love what you do!
A warm welcome and fond farewell. It is called hospitality for a reason. The first impression and last impression, will make the guest’s visit memorable.
Be aware of your appearance and personal hygiene, be responsible and take care of your health.
Practice makes perfect, always use the best spirits. They are your canvas for your creations and the fresh ingredients are your colours.
Make yourself noticed, go the extra mile: attention to detail makes all the difference. Let people talk about you for your professionalism, not for your social media skills.
Most people will look for a recommendation: don’t just suggest what you like or your star cocktail. Take the time to find out what their tastes are.
Think about the three Rs: Recommendation, Reorder, and Return. Happy guests will come back.
If a guest knows what he or she wants, that is what they should receive even if you don’t approve of their choice.
The shaker is your musical instrument and your shake should have style. Musica Maestro!
Your bar is your stage, the bar is the best theatre in the world, it’s show time!