Appointment with Dennis Zoppi! [ENG]

Hi!

Last month, Dennis Zoppi came to Romania, in Cluj-Napoca for the first time with his world known seminar "Appointment with the future", organized by the nice guys from Breasla Barmanilor. It was one of the most energetic seminars that I've attended and even though Dennis was super-busy with everything, we managed to get some spare time to chat. Here is what we discussed:

1. Who is Dennis Zoppi and what can you tell us about your professional life?

Well, it is really hard to say exactly who I am because we, as human beings, we see things differently and this is why I prefer to let other people say who I am. Besides that, I think that I am a normal person, doing what I love, which is bar tending!

As for my professional life, I always try to discover new things, so that I can help bartenders who are stressed out because of how they perceive their job. We are working in a very stressful environment and one of my goals is to show bartenders that there are ways in which they can work and have fun in the same time behind the bar and how they could develop themselves as professionals.

I am a very curious person, I like to travel a lot, to meet new people, to discover their culture and to make new connections with bartenders from all over the world.

2. We know that for a long time you used to practice flair bar tending. Why aren’t you a flair bartender anymore and when did you start doing mixology at the very high level?

I never quit practicing flair, now I am just using what I can from this craft, so that I can adapt to the new trends. Flair bar tending was totally different back in the days because it was one of the strongest entertaining methods that you could do behind the bar.

Now, times have changed, people are interested in getting a fully experience when they go out and I think that hospitality is one of the strongest points that we should focus right now.

I really like craft flair, where you have really fast movements, where you can interact with your guest and I think right now we are having a revolution in the flair movement, where everything is shifting towards the guest and this is really good news.

3. Where do you find inspiration for the futurist drinks that you showed us at your masterclass?

Inspiration comes from anyone and everywhere. Like today, when we were to Salina Turda, it was like a revelation to me! So many colors, so many textures! I got a lot of ideas for my next drinks and usually I don’t find inspiration, inspiration finds me! This can come from watching movies, TV commercials,  fashion, sports, etc. The possibilities are endless!

4. Yesterday we had a masterclass that was called “Appointment with the future”. How do you think that the future will look like for bar tending?

I don’t know for sure. I sure hope so that simplicity would be one of the factors that will influence our bar world. Simple ideas that can be easily understood by everyone.

Communication is also an interesting aspect and I think this will develop more, sustainability is also an important factor and I see already a lot of great bars that are having interesting programs regarding this topic: recycling, closed-loop cocktails, all for a much greener planet.

For me, the future will always be an idea that I have to discover and develop, in order to create something new and exciting for my guests.

5. What is your next move? What are your plans for the future?

Now I am planning to open a new bar, very different than “Smile Tree”, a bar where people can have a great experience and feel good.

Next, I would like to create a platform where I can share all my ideas with people that want to learn new things and that unfortunately, don’t have access to a lot of information.

Last but not the least, I would like to enjoy every second of my life, together with my friends and family and to really be happy.

6. You are a very successful person. How much of this success is yours and how much is credited for the people around you? People like Manuela?

Well, that is a very good question. Since I learn a lot from people around me,  I think it is fair to say that a big part of my success is credited for the people around me. I learned a lot from Stanislav Vadrna, who has a different approach when coming to bar tending, Alex Kratena, Ueno-San, Simone Caporale, Marian Beke and last but not the least my fiancée Manuela. She can’t teach you to be a good bartender but she can teach you how to be a better person, to discover yourself and I think is a huge advantage for me, having her on my side.

7. Regarding your bar tending career, what is your endgame?

Well,  I dream of a time where all the information in the world would be free and I am thinking of making an education center where all the bartenders can come and learn things from me for free. This is meant to be made at the end of my career, in a time where I would settle for a place and live happy there with my fiancée!

8. Can you describe us a normal day from your life?

I get up really early in the morning and first thing I go out for a nice run. It really helps me to clear up my mind and it is a very good exercise for my body.

Then I have breakfast with Manuela and we start organizing the day together. If you want to achieve a lot of things in one day, you have to be really well organized. Good thing for me that Manuela is in charge of this thing. She really helps me a lot.

After breakfast I go straight to the bar and start preparing for the night and I always try to have at least one hour per day just for my own development: searching for new ideas, trying new techniques, etc.

I always have a small break for coffee with Manuela and then I go to work. When I finish, I have dinner, exercise a bit before going to bed and that is pretty much it.

9. You are for the first time in Romania! What do you think about the bartenders here?

What are you doing here it is very rare! I never met such a big enthusiastic group like yours. I have the chance to travel a lot around the world and I never saw such a big community of curious bartenders. This gives you credibility among the bartenders worldwide and now you have the power to change a lot of things, not for yourselves, but for the ones that are coming behind. Keep it up, guys!

10. Is there anything that you would like to add up?

Remember: the focus is not on the drink (like many bartenders believe), is on the guest. It is not about what are you doing, it matters how you do it!

Try to build up a foundation and once you have finished it, then you can achieve whatever you want!

Ciao!

For the full video of the event, click here!

 Photo & video credits: Gabriel Aldea & Lucian Mândru