Image Credit: The fabulous The Bar at 15 Stamford team make sure you'll always have a wonderful time sipping on rums and cocktails with Elizaveta Iurchenko Far Right
Video Credit: Kempinski Hotels Experience The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
Welcome to our continuing series: Bar Mavericks where we get up close and personal with some of the industry’s shining stars responsible for the ongoing transformation of the bar scene across Asia.
Join Chris Marshall as he goes in for a no-holds-barred discussion with Elizaveta Iurchenko, Resident Bartender at The Bar at 15 Stamford located in The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
Russian expatriate Elizaveta Iurchenko (Liza) has been a Bartender at Singapore’s Capitol Kempinski Hotel since 2018 having previously gained invaluable international food, beverage and hospitality experience in Greece, Ohio and Alaska in the USA. Now she has her feet firmly on the ground here in Asia.
So, what is it that Liza enjoys most about working in F&B? “It’s the connection we have with guests, co-workers and people across the industry.” Before she joined the industry, Liza believed she was somewhat of an introvert, but that all changed when she started working behind a bar. “With creative freedom, the ability to create new and exciting cocktails by interpreting classics and experimenting with new concoctions, all added to my newfound sense of confidence.”
Elizaveta Iurchenko, Resident Bartender at The Bar at 15 Stamford
Liza sees bartending as more than just making drinks for guests. “It’s about tapping into your inquisitive nature to learn as much as you can about every facet of the industry. It’s a journey! I am chasing new flavours, while visiting distilleries, wineries, and plantations when I can. Most importantly it’s about local culture and of course the people I meet that gives me the confidence required to strive for excellence in hospitality.”
When it comes to the mix of essential qualities required to be successful in the food and beverage industry, Liza shares, “You need to be smart. You need to be fast. You need to be articulate in your speech, but most importantly you need to genuinely care about the work you are doing and the people you are doing it with.”
“Passion is what gives you drive. No matter how good you are, you can’t run everything by yourself. It’s all about teamwork. Creating an unforgettable bar experience is the result of an entire teams’ dedicated approach to delivering an experience – from greeting our guests to creating a unique atmosphere. Engineering exquisite drinks and producing delicious food. Generating just enough conversation with our guests while delivering excellent service. It is also essential to give your colleagues a chance to learn, to take leadership, to create something new behind the bar, to grow as a person and as an employee. It is a part of the journey we are on together.”
Liza has grown both as a person and as a professional in her industry. “As a student I studied at the Baltic Federal University of Russia. I was interested in hospitality and tourism but never knew way back then that it would lead me to the bar. While studying I aimed to finish my exams two months earlier which allowed me to go abroad for half-year internships in Europe. Then, after my graduation in 2013 I secured an internship with Hilton in Anchorage, Alaska. My first assignment was to learn the bar. I was captivated by the ambience and the informal style of American bar service.” Liza has been travelling around the world as a bartender ever since, learning as much as she can from country to country, from one position to the next, and most importantly; having a great time doing the job she loves.
Liza also likes to challenge herself, so she recently started to take part in bar competitions. Her first was the La Maison Cointreau 2019 in Singapore where she made it through to the semi-finals. No mean feat for a first timer! For International Woman’s Day in March 2020 she was invited to Smoke & Mirrors as guest bartender where she experienced a great sense of camaraderie amongst her industry peers. She is currently one of four finalists in the Singapore Bar Star Awards 2020 to be held in October this year, bringing to the table her unique spin on a durian cocktail.
“During the Circuit Breaker period the bar team at Capitol Kempinski Hotel utilised our time to prepare something very special for our re-opening. We have launched a brand-new cocktail menu highlighting drinks created by each member of the team. Readers must come and visit us to experience these awesome drinks. I not only worked on creating new recipes for the re-launch, I was also tasked with the design of the entire menu. I dabbled in graphic design as a student and this opportunity allowed me to use my design skills for the first time with a work-related project and I’m truly proud of the result. When it comes to working in F&B I am finding more and more opportunities at every turn.”
Chris Marshall is a well-known cocktail aficionado on the Singapore and Southeast Asia bar scene, and partner at Distilled LLP, an independent, Singapore-based brand development agency representing spirit brands both locally and regionally.
