Chris Cabrera

TOTCF Grants Committee Member, Grey Goose Ambassador, and Activist

New York, NY

Chris Cabrera (they/them), a transplant New Yorker by way of San Francisco, is an award-winning bartender turned ambassador, advocate, and activist. Their accolades include multiple industry awards and recognitions, most recently becoming a member of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, an organization dedicated to innovating and influencing the global drinks industry. They also became the Grey Goose Ambassador for New York City in 2018. Since taking on their role, they’ve worked closely with the Multicultural and LGBTQ+ community and are helping to change the conversation and how Grey Goose gets involved. They have been working tirelessly within the cocktail industry at large to promote a message of inclusivity, specifically for the POC and Queer community. They presented at Tales of the Cocktail 2019 with the first LGBTQ+ seminar in the Foundation’s 15-year history. They are working more exclusively now to further a much overdue conversation and in doing so, they continue to be driven by one of their most inspired Maya Angelou quotes, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

D’Arel Miller

Bartender

Brooklyn, NY

From opening multiple Soho House locations to running Brooklyn’s hottest nightclubs, D’Arel has spent several years in the industry in a multitude of roles. As a Queer international transplant, he speaks up for social equality in the workplace.

Lorenzo Cyril,

Beverage Director

New York, NY

Lorenzo Cyril joined the Chinese Tuxedo family in late 2017 and received the title of Beverage Director in 2018. Since 2013, Lorenzo has gained extensive experience working throughout New York City at iconic venues and cocktail bars, honing his craft and fully immersing himself in the cocktail world. Upon moving back to New York City from his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, Lorenzo trained and perfected his skills and played an integral role in the opening of neighborhood cocktail bar Boilermaker in the East Village. It was there he worked under Erik Castro, owner of famed cocktail bars Polite Provisions and Raised by Wolves in San Diego. During his time at Chinese Tuxedo, Lorenzo supported in the opening of the critically acclaimed Japanese-American cocktail bar Katana Kitten in the West Village, named number 14 of the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2019.

He cut his teeth at Tales & Spirits bar in Amsterdam(2013-2016) during his tenure it reached number 18 on the Worlds 50 Best Bars list. He followed this up with becoming a shareholder & partner at Cocktails For You(2017-2020) which he grew to become the largest social media platform for bartenders globally with over 1.5 million followers across Facebook & Instagram. In the meantime, he opened ‘The Jitterbug Saloon’ in Amsterdam in 2018 with his previous partners from Tales & Spirits & traveled the world with his self-funded ‘The Vagabond Project’ where he worked across 12 countries in 12 bars over 12 months. He is a regular speaker at leading industry events such as Tales of the Cocktail, Bar Convent Berlin & Athens Bar Show e.g. as well as a member of the Worlds 50 Best Bar Judging Academy. In 2019 he was nominated as 92 in the Top 100 Most Influential Figures in Hospitality globally according to Drinks International.

Rikki Nobre,

Bar Manager

Brooklyn, NY

Rikki Nobre is a bar manager in Brooklyn – who also has done work with Bacardí brands such as being featured on NBC New York news with Teeling whiskey and participating in the Grey Goose great bar race. Her resume includes bars such as Acme, Polynesian, and Sweet Chick. Her biggest inspiration are her parents who have always taught her the power of hustle, work ethic, and self-care.

Simone D Mims,

Beverage Manager

Oakland, CA

Simone Mims originally hailing from New York City, she derives her inspiration from multicultural flavors and seasonal change. New York offers the essence of all the world, however, the rich Caribbean influence in the Bronx has always been a driving force in her work ethic and use of flavor. Simone began her career in casual dining chain restaurants. She realized quickly that to really progress in the hospitality industry, she needed to seek out challenging environments that would enhance her skills and knowledge. While working in some of New York City’s best fine dining establishments, including The Modern and Gordon Ramsey, she became mesmerized by the world of wine. She would devour a wine list and learn as much as she could about producers and regions. Although she had a passion for wine, it always took a backseat to creating cocktails- there was always something about the bar that drew her attention.

After moving to San Francisco, she found the constant bounty of seasonal fruit and vegetables to be a great base for restaurant cocktails. Being a great lover of food, she would go to farmer’s markets every week with Chef friends to emulate the complex combination she found in her favorite dishes. Through various competitions like Espolon Bar Fight and Punch Kings, she has learned to combine some off the wall ingredients. For a restaurant, it is important to use a bit of restraint and finesse. Simone’s general motto: “A bar program must include something for everyone. It must have interesting components while keeping the focus on making it approachable for guests.”

In San Francisco, Simone has set out to work with the best the industry has to offer, bartending and serving at Delarosa, Prospect and Alexander’s Steakhouse. She then went on to run beverage programs at The Hotel Vitale and Foreign Cinema. Using everything she has learned from living on both coasts, combined with the wonderful restaurants and bars she has had the opportunity to work for and her own personal work ethic, Simone strives to make beverage programs that are focused, memorable and hospitable. Just started working at Port Kitchens in Oakland.

Accomplishments and Accolades:

• 2018 Saucey Award winner for Beverage Professional of the Year
• Winner of H by Hine Cocktail competition
• San Francisco Chronicle 2018 Bay Area Bar Stars
• Winner of San Francisco Punch Kings for Cochon 555
• Former Board of Directors for the Bay Area, United States Bartender’s Guild

Stephanie Simbo

TOTCF Education Committee and Spirited Awards Committee Member, and Brand Manager

Paris, France

Stephanie Simbo is a former bartender from London who, with her MBA from Business School, brought her 5 years of cocktail expertise to the world of justice. She founded the initiative Beyond Bars Akedemia, which offered hospitality classes to womxn formerly incarcerated in Cape Town, South Africa.

As a member of the Tales of the Cocktail Education Committee, she is devoted to helping the next generation by teaching them to push the limits, build a bigger table, and to more importantly serve with their hearts. She proudly represents South Africa as she helps to build a bridge between the African Continent and Eastern Europe.

Tiffanie Barriere

TOTCF Grants Committee Member and Cocktail Creator and Historian

Atlanta, GA

Tiffanie Barriere is the bartender’s bartender, an influencer and educator who has been awarded with some of the beverage industry’s highest honors. The Bar Smart graduate is a Tastemakers of the South award-winner who spent seven years as the beverage director of One Flew South the “Best Airport Bar in the World.” As an independent bartender she is known for creative and innovative cocktail menus for pop-dinners and bar consultancy clients; hosting mixology classes around the nation, and connecting culinary and farm culture with spirits. As a leader, she is a member of the Tales of the Cocktail Grants Committee, the James Beard Beverage Advisory Board, and a member of the Atlanta chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier.