Tony
Abou-Ganim
THE MODERN MIXOLOGIST -
LAS VEGAS
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2007 Savor Dallas “Lone Star Award”, outstanding achievement in spirits
2006 Mixologist of the Year, Nightclub & Bar Magazine, Five Star Award
Tony Abou-Ganim, currently featured on the Iron Chef America competition with Mario Batali just released his first DVD “Modern Mixology: Making Great Cocktails at Home” (February 2007). Most notably featured demonstrating the art of cocktail preparation on the Fine Living Network program “Raising the Bar: America’s Best Bar Chefs,” grew up in the bar business, learning the craft from his cousin Helen David at the Brass Rail Bar in Port Huron, Michigan. Tony's initial introduction to the business was steeped in the tradition of classic cocktails and professional barmanship, grooming him to become a leader in the beverage industry.
After graduating from college, Tony learned an appreciation for a well made cocktail using only the freshest ingredients at Jack Slick's Balboa Café in San Francisco. In 1990, Tony assisted with the opening of "Harry Denton's", a legendary hangout in Fog City. In 1993, Tony moved to New York City where he worked with Mario Batali at Po in the West Village.
After two years in New York, Tony returned to San Francisco and re-joined Harry Denton to open "Harry Denton's Starlight Room", atop the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. It was here that Tony created his first "Specialty Drink Menu" featuring several of his original cocktail recipes including the Cable Car, Sunsplash, and Starlight.
In 1998, Tony was hand-picked by Steve Wynn to create the cocktail program at his $1.7 billion Bellagio Resort. Tony immediately implemented his philosophy of bartending and drink preparation - quality ingredients and proper technique create great drinks - developing the hundreds of original cocktails for the resorts 22 bars. Currently, Tony operates his own beverage consulting firm specializing in bar staff training, product education and cocktail development.
Tony's specialty drinks have been featured in top consumer magazines including Food & Wine, Vanity Fair, Wine Enthusiast, Fortune, Wine Spectator, Playboy, The New York Times Magazine, Nightclub & Bar, Cheers and Santé. Tony’s innovative approach to cocktails has been noticed by the broadcast media as well, with segments appearing regularly on many television networks, including CNBC, Fine Living and the Food Network.
Currently, Tony’s cocktail tips can be seen daily on the Fine Living Network as part of their “Essentials” series. He also talks cocktails weekly on KLAV 1230 AM as co-host of the show "Taste of Vegas", contributes regularly to trade and consumer publications such as: Santé, Las Vegas Food & Beverage, and In the Mix, and is working on his first cocktail book. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to the beverage industry including: the 2004 “Raising the Bar” award by Cheers Magazine, Santé Magazine’s 2004 “Spirits Professional of the Year” and a Gold Medal for the United States at the 2003 Bacardi-Martini Grand Prix World Finals held in Turin, Italy.
As the National Ambassador of the US Bartenders Guild, www.usbg.org, and Associate Member of the Museum of the American Cocktail, www.museumoftheamericancocktail.org, Tony continues to educate about the history and lore of cocktails as well as lead the bar industry into continually improving the art of the cocktail. Tony lives in Las Vegas where he hones his craft daily by creating, sharing and enjoying the very best cocktails. |
