House Plans: Bartending School Nyc

Thursday, 29 November 2012

Bartending School Nyc

Natasha David was born in Germany to musicians parents with a hectic, globe-trotting itinerary. Her mother, a Japanese pianist, and her father, an Israeli conductor, swept her from one opera house to another as they traipsed the world during her early years. At 18, David moved to New York City to attend New York University and pursue a degree in theater. While a freshman, she got her first restaurant job in one of the most quintessential of bar experiences: an Irish pub, in the East Village no less. Be it luck of the Irish or no, David found she enjoyed the bar as more than a means to an end. It began to dawn on her that she might build a future by taking the stick by the horns, so to speak.

By her senior year at NYU, David was the assistant general manager and bar manager at the Corner Shop Café in Noho. During this time, she was offered an opening bar position at Woodson & Ford, where she was fortunate enough to work under the tutelage of Lynette Marrero and Jim Kearns, at which point the cocktail bug took firm hold.

Fresh off of her experience at W & FM, David worked her mixology skills at Danny Meyers' Maialino and Keith McNally's Pulino’s, before eventually accepting an opening position at Katie Stipe's genever- and aquavit-centric bar Vandaag. After a fulfilling stint at the East Village spot with its Northern-climed charm, David expanded her repertoire as part of the opening bar staff at Maison Premiere. During this time she also began working behind the bar at Prime Meats. After an amazing year and a half at MP, David most recently accepted an opening bartending position at Alex Day and Dave Kaplan’s newest project, Demi Monde.

In addition to bartending, David also works for Brian Miller’s bar for the spirits conglomerate Diageo and teaches bartending classes at Haven’s Kitchen. Her cocktails have been featured in such publications as New York Magazine, TimeOut New York, The New York Post, and AM New York. When not behind the bar (though seemingly a rare occasion), David can be found at home in Brooklyn with her man (also a bartender) and her two beloved cats, drinking wine.