Bar Chef: Handcrafted Cocktails

by Christiaan Rollich, Caroline Styne (Foreword), Christiaan Rollich

Celebrated Los Angeles bartender Christiaan Röllich approaches a drink the way a master chef approaches a dish: he draws on high-quality seasonal ingredients to create cocktails for every occasion. In Bar Chef, Röllich shares 100 original recipes for drinks that are as beautiful as they are delicious, including the Quixote (gin and grapefruit); a Kentucky Sour (bourbon and homemade cola syrup); Eggnog for the holidays; and Röllich’s signature drink, the Green Goddess (green tea vodka and cucumber with arugula, jalapeno, and absinthe), which has become a part of the language of LA.


Featuring easy-to-follow recipes for syrups, tinctures, liqueurs, and bitters with herbs, spices, and seasonal fruit, Röllich guides you through his creative process, demystifying the craft of cocktail making. With stunning color photography and the suave storytelling of your favorite bartender, Bar Chef will become a go-to bar book for home cooks and cocktail enthusiasts, inspiring and pleasing readers with every drink.

Genres: Cookbooks

304 pages, Hardcover

Published April 9, 2019

Reviews

[Danielle T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only read a couple bartending/cocktail books, but this one felt more like a cookbook and I mean that in a good way. Christiaan prepares so many of his own syrups, tinctures, and liquors that many of his recipes will take prior prep instead of throwing something together immediately, and while I haven't had enough time to prepare some of these they all sound really solid. He explains why he takes some steps or chooses a particular kind of liquor for each drink, and talks about his personal and work life re: how they influence various drinks.

A solid addition to any bar library.

[Luke Johnson]

Okay, so this is DEFINITELY a book for the professional bartender (or someone with a lot of money). I'm sure Mr Rollich is a very talented bartender, that's evident from the recipes, and if I ever found myself bellied up to the bar with him behind the stick I'd consider myself very fortunate.

However, the cocktail recipes are pretty impractical for the home barkeep. Most of the recipes are pretty straightforward but they call for simple syrups and other ingredients made with a laundry list of herbs, barks, and roots you're not going to find at your local grocery. You're going to have to order them from a specialty store online probably at a specialty price. All you need is 1/2 oz (of a dozen different things, mind you) to make that syrup which means you factor in all the prices this is going to be the most expensive drink you've probably ever had. Hope you like it, and want to drink a bunch of them, otherwise... you're going to be out a decent chunk of change.

Again, I'm sure the cocktails are fantastic with flavors my mind could never even imagine but it's a helluva lot work and expense to make a drink.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book to take your skills to the next level. The level of detail that Christiaan puts into his creations is inspiring. Everyone should be as passionate as Christian is about something that they create

[Virginia Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not an easy make this cocktail book. This is more of a challenge. Recipes for additions and liquors. Wonderful book!

[Laurie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating life tale combined with interesting cocktail recipes. I checked this out from the library, but will purchase a copy for my cookbook library.