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MATTHEW R. WAGNER

ABOUT MATTHEW R. WAGNER

I got into bartending in 2008/2009 via my friend Julian Cox. We were both working at California Pizza Kitchen and became friends. Eventually he calls me up one day and tells me he's got his own bar and asks if I want a job. It was a hard decision to make seeing as I had a great job being unemployed, but I went for it. I apprenticed (a concept which seems almost lost today) as a barback for about a year before I started bartending. I guess ultimately I wanted to have a job that would let me go anywhere I wanted or needed to and still be able to work. Meanwhile though I grew into the craft itself and have loved it ever since. My favorite drinks are ones of only a few components, balanced perfectly. Since I have run two bars, both of which were under Julian's cocktail program; Short Order and Picca, I some day hope to own my own bar.