Why You Should NEVER Scope Ice With Glass

Ever wondered what it’s really like to transition from Michelin-star fine dining to the high-volume chaos of a beach town bar? In this episode of Bartender Bangers, host Mark the Shark sits down with veteran bartender Pat at Courtside Sports Lounge in Babylon Village, NY! Pat breaks down his wild journey through the hospitality industry—from faking his way through early kitchen line gigs to mastering mixology at New York City's world-famous Eleven Madison Park (EMP) and NoMad Hotel. Get an inside look at what it takes to survive the Hamptons high-season, manage the summer rush at Dive in Ocean Beach, Fire Island, and build a successful bartending career on Long Island. In this video, we cover: • Fine Dining vs. High-Volume Bartending: How high-end techniques from EMP and NoMad translate to fast-paced sports bars. • Crucial Bartending Rules & Rookie Mistakes: Why you should NEVER scoop ice with a glass, proper station hygiene, and mastering the coaster drop. • Fire Island Nightlife & Logistics: The truth about running a bar in Ocean Beach, dealing with "Angry August" crowds, and local Long Island bar culture. • Industry Pet Peeves & Celebrity Encounters: Crazy stories involving Apple Pay struggles, bar customer etiquette, and serving stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Shaq, and Andre 3000. Whether you’re an aspiring mixologist, a restaurant industry insider, or just love behind-the-scenes nightlife stories, this podcast episode is packed with expert advice and hilarious bar tales. 📍 Location Featured: Courtside Sports Lounge – Babylon Village, New York TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Intro & Welcome to Courtside in Babylon Village 01:18 – How to Master Kitchen Mise en Place 02:39 – How to Fake It 'Til You Make It as a Line Cook 05:00 – High-Volume Bartending Hardships & Heatstroke Stories 10:40 – Working at Michelin-Star Restaurants: Eleven Madison Park & NoMad 14:40 – High-Stakes Hamptons: EMP Summer House Cocktail Prep 21:55 – COVID Restaurant Struggles & Transitioning to Blackbird 24:30 – What Makes Courtside Babylon’s Best Elevated Sports Lounge? 28:15 – Batching Cocktails & Old Fashions on Tap 32:30 – Managing Dive Bar Chaos in Ocean Beach, Fire Island 38:58 – Top Bartending Rookie Mistakes & Bar Etiquette Advice 43:40 – How to Build Real Connections with Bar Regulars 46:35 – Long Island Bartenders League Competition & Charity Events 56:30 – Ocean Beach vs. Babylon Village: Long Island Nightlife Face-Off 01:04:00 – Cocktail Precision vs. Speed & Proper Garnish Etiquette 01:08:30 – Biggest Bartender Pet Peeves: Apple Pay, Snapping & Calling Names 01:13:00 – Crazy Bar Firing Stories & Handling Difficult Guests 01:18:48 – VIP Celebrity Sightings: Shaq, Gwyneth Paltrow, & Chef Daniel Humm #Bartending #BartenderLife #Mixology #LongIsland #FireIsland #ElevenMadisonP