Patrice McHugh is "In The Mix !"

 

Kevin Kelly's Halloween Tambary - Contributed photos

This week's 'In the Mix' column features two new mixes, the Halloween Tambary and Love Spell 36, with STAR columnist and managing director of the Bars to Go Group of Companies, Patrice McHugh.

Halloween is on the horizon and of course my students at the Bars to Go Training School have Halloween treats up their sleeves too. Many think Halloween is just about the costumes, but it's not. What if you go to a party, whether at your house or to a club, the decor is great, but the liquor tastes awful? Then, that's certainly not a treat.
So one student, Kevin Kelly came up with the Halloween Tambary while another, Nathaniel Williams came up with the Love Spell 36. They sound intriguing right? They taste even better! Take it from me, they are great and are for the young at heart and adventurous. Give in to the adventure... after all, it is bewitchingly tasty.


Nathaniel Williams' Love Spell 36. 
 
Love Spell 36
1 1/2oz Vodka
1 1/2oz White rum

To read more click here.

Malibu, Absolut & Chivas Training

Scenes from the Chivas Regal, Malibu, Absolut & Kahlua Training Session

A group photo of the winning team. Teams were asked to create a drink and present. The winning drink was called After Sunset. The ingredients were:

2oz Absolut Mandarin Vodka

Splash of orange juice

Splash of pineapple juice

½ oz Grand Marinier

¼ oz Amaretto Liqueur

Place ingredients in a shaker with ice, pour in a martini glass and garnish with a wedge of orange

Team members were: Asana Mills from Rib cage, Cameika Dixon (BTG), Hortense Gilling (BTG), Keteisha McCulloch (BTG) and Lloyd Gayle (BTG)

 

Joe from Pernod Ricard teaching the class

Kaysia Johnson, Joe and Patrice

Lenworth Dixon from BTG and Chesna Haber from Absolut. Lenworth won a bottle of Absolut for answering a question correctly

Marcus Brown from Acropolis and Chivas Brand manager for answering question correctly

Medusa’s bartender and Kaysia Johnson from Malibu for giving correct answer

About Mrs. Patrice Wilson-McHugh

IT WAS ALL A DREAM

Patrice McHugh's dreams have finally come to fruition -- just not the dreams she expected. While growing up, the now Managing Director of the Bars to Go Group of Companies had the intention of becoming an air-hostess.

So how does one make the transition from dreams of becoming an air-hostess to owning the premier catering company in the island? McHugh says, "To be truthful, I always knew I wanted to become an entrepreneur, but I wasn't sure of the field I wanted to be in. I dreamt of the success but I am pleasantly surprised of what I have achieved."

Patrice, who grew up in Spanish Town says after graduating from the Merl Grove High School she enrolled in an accounting school and thereafter started working at McDonalds. Then in no time, Patrice got a job as an accountant at the Kingston Hub.

However, even that wasn't meant to last long. Patrice felt a longing for something more -- but what? It came in the form of parties. Finding herself at more parties every week, those at Kingston Hub saw the obvious: why not re-assign her to the post of Co-ordinator of Party Services? As a 'newby' in the post, Patrice was trained by persons like Peter Wong, from whom she gained a wealth of knowledge about running a succesful party service, among other things. Then five years ago, Patrice decided it was time to move on. With the birth of her daughter, Makayla, Patrice found a new goal -- that of being one of the island's finest entrepeneurs. Thus, Bars to Go was formed.

The company which offers full bar services, catering services and operates a school to train bartenders has catered to many of the island's top companies and parties. Name it, they've done it.

With the obvious success of Bars to Go, Patrice alongside her husband and business partner, Robert McHugh started Gourmet to Go in 2006. They therefore expanded their business to include: providing lunch during the week for their corporate clients, providing catering services for weddings, parties, office gatherings and a host of other events.

It's a long way from home: a place where an inner-city girl only dreamt of being a successful airline hostess. Because of that, Patrice has every intention of giving back to those who now stand where she once did - empty pockets with rich minds fixed on a dream. In a few months the Bars to Go Group of Companies will launch their first bartending scholarship program for an inner-city male or female. However, for now, Patrice has gone on to establish the Bars to Go Training School which, after three months, certifies their students, who will be able to move on to practice mixology and bartending anywhere in the Caribbean, USA or England.

"It's not just about having a dream," Patrice explained, "It's about proper planning and turning that dream into a limitless reality."

Patrice McHugh's "In The Mix" Column

As some of you already know, I recently resumed classes for this semester at the Bars to Go Training School and after three months my students are properly certified mixologists not only here in Jamaica, but also across the Caribbean, Canada and Europe. I wish, while I was growing up some of these opportunities presented themselves; but sadly they didn't. To read more, click here.

Bars to Go Employee Wins Award!

The Bars to Go Group of Companies celebrated a stellar landmark at the Evening of Excellence/Award Ceremony hosted by the Jamaica Employers' Federation, (JEF), recently at the Courtleigh Auditorium, New Kingston.

The party services and catering company was the only one in its category to walk away with an award that night. The recipient, Keteisha McColluch, Operations Manager of the Bars to Go Party Services Ltd., was handed her plaque by the JEF's President, Mr. Wayne Chen, and the subdued McCulloch later said, "I feel elated that my work and achievements have been recognised by my employers, Mr. and Mrs. McHugh and others in the company. It has been a great four years at the company and I plan to continue to make my mark there and help to make our brand the yardstick for all else to follow."

Mrs. Patrice McHugh, Managing Director of the Bars to Go Group and Robert McHugh, Director of Gourmet to Go, spoke similarly: "She (McCulloch) has been a significant asset to our brand throughout the years and we are happy to have her on board. We can't stress enough how important it is for employees to work assiduously at whatever it is that they do; in the end, they are sure to benefit from the hard work that they put in," said Mrs. McHugh.

Mr. McHugh continued, "Likewise, we want to encourage employers to congratulate their staff when they do well; it will only motivate them to work harder and help your brand find a place at the top. By working as a team and a cohesive unit there is nowhere to go but the summit." The evening's speaker was lawyer and former Senator Oswald Harding, who also stressed the value of hard work, both as individuals and as a nation.

Photo Captions:

1. (l-r) Mr. Robert McHugh Director of Gourmet to Go, Keteisha McCulloch, Operations Manager of Bars to Go Party Services and Mrs. Patrice Wilson-McHugh, Managing Director of Bars to Go Group of Companies.

2. (l-r) JEF President, Wayne Chen presents Keteisha McCulloch, with her award.

A Day At The Bars to Go Training School

Do you want to be a top bartender/mixologist with knowledge of the latest cocktail mixes and trends? Do you want to have the best hotels, clubs, party promoters and more knocking at your door? Then train towards your NCTVET approved certification in Advanced Bartending & Mixology with the island's leading Master Mixologist. Register today at Bars To Go Training School Shop 2, 5 Central Road, Kgn. 10 or call 9062275-7 or email trainingschool@barstogojamaica.com. Don't miss out on your future. Start it today!