Jessie Kaminski
found at: The Crown & Hammer (Collinsville)
What's the perfect summer drink?
I would order a raspberry lemonade because it's refreshing, especially if you’re sitting outside on the patio. I use Stoli Raspberry vodka, lemonade and a splash of cranberry juice and serve it in a martini glass. You have to be careful of these because you can't really taste the alcohol, but it hits you rather hard.
What type of alcohol do you think is best to cook with?
Wine. In fact, I asked our liquor distributor last week what to do with extra wine once it's past the selling point and he suggested using it in soups or filling up ice cube trays. I use red wine in one of my chicken dishes.
Have there been any love connections made here?
Definitely. It's a bar in a small town — alcohol and one-night stands happen. There used to be a server and a bartender that met while working here and they're married and on their second child now.
What TV shows do you have to be up on in order to engage in customer small-talk?
OK, this is really weird, but customers have really been into watching horse racing. It's sort of this new trend lately, so we put it on and now we all watch it.
Any traditional cocktails making a comeback?
Manhattans. Although I'm not sure if they really went out. They're pretty popular and not just with older people.
