Not Just Spices
Not Just Snacks
Indian Spices & Groceries Store
Snacks, Pariyani, Kababs, Naans, Veg and Non-Veg Curry
836 Hope Street, Providence 351-6555 Open 7 Days
833 Hope Street, Providence 831-1150 Open 7 Days
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Speciality Food productS
Gluten Free • Organic • Diabetic Lactose Free • Kosher • Vegan
SAMPLING EVENT by EVARuTh FOODS Saturday, April 16, 2011 from 10:30am to 4:00pm
Come enjoy cupcakes, muffins, cakes, breads and biscotti. All products available for purchase at this sampling event.
80 Main Road, Tiverton • (401) 816-5844 www.healthyhavenRI.com
56
Providence Monthly | April 2011
Feast | Behind the Bar
by Cristy Raposo
Second Time’s a Charm Justin Erickson of Sequel helps improve a Hill favorite Tell me about Sequel. It’s a modern, upscale lounge with a New York City feel to it. We have DJs on special nights. The owners designed and customized this lounge themselves – everything from the custom-made furniture with built-in champagne buckets on the tables to the designs on the wall. The main bar is made from an unscratchable, unbreakable glass that has lit liquid underneath it, making it an interactive piece. There’s a garage door that will open the lounge up to our patio during the summer. Why call it Sequel? The owners wanted this lounge to be the next page of the previous bar that was here, Sona. It was pretty infamous. Sona regulars will get the new name. This is part two, the reinvention of Sona. They wanted to do something that was new and exciting for everyone. Structural changes were made; flaws of the former bar fixed. How else does Sequel stand out from other bars? Unlike other places that flicker the lights or yell, “Last call,” when it’s time for you to order your last drink, we have a gong that we hit. What is Sequel’s signature drink? The Naughty Monkey: Stoli Vanilla, Café Patron XO, Baileys and banana liqueur served as a martini or a shot. I competed in the IronTender at Twin River last year and finished in the top three with my signature drink, the Caliente Watermelon Martini. It’s made with a handful of cilantro, a pint glass of fresh watermelon juice and one jalapeño ring muddled with Bombay Sapphire, shaken and double strained. My other signature drink is the Coco Breeze: coconut vodka or rum and pineapple juice, floated with Diet Coke on top – make sure it’s diet to make up for all the calories in the pineapple juice. How did you get into bartending? I was working at Exotic Tans when I came home from college. The owner asked if I wanted to barback next door at The Grind martini bar. One night, a steaming hot dishwasher sprayed the
bartender in the face, completely immobilizing him. They asked me to jump in and take over. That was nine years ago. For my 19th birthday, my parents sent me to Boston School of Bartending. What advice can you offer to those who want to bartend? Be personable. Have a good personality on your shoulder. Keep moving. If you are a fast bartender, you can make a decent drink. Learn your drinks. What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen happen while you were bartending? The mob scene of 2700 people that showed up at Aspire for New Year’s Eve. I’ve worked the legendary St. Mary’s Feast in Cranston and I haven’t seen anything like Aspire. My head was down for four hours, making drinks non-stop. It’s one of those parties that people still talk about. We did $12,000 in sales at my bar. It was insane. What’s the one thing they don’t teach
you in bartending school that you feel they should? How to interact with people. Each person that comes to your bar has a different personality from the next. You need to be able to read who you can joke with, who you can’t, who is looking for a shoulder to cry on. Bartending school is very by the book. What do you like most bartending? It’s a great way to network and meet people. There are so many people I met while bartending that I wouldn’t have otherwise. By the way, mention that you saw this article and I’ll buy your first drink.
Sequel
178 Atwells Avenue 351-2360
Photography: Mike Braca
New England’s Most Authentic Home-Style Indian Restaurant and Indian Spices/Groceries Store