We were lucky to catch up with Irving Gonzalez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Irving, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
Im Blessed enough to do what i love and what i always dream on doing it, so every day that passes and im still able to do it once again, there is no reason why to be mad or sad. Always grafetul for the opportunity.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I have always been a fan of cooking and the hospitality industry. When I was a child, my dad used to take me to the hotels where he worked, and I loved watching the kitchens, the bars, and everything related to the restaurant world. I always thought that customer service was something unique and a lot of fun. As I grew up, I started to learn more about the world of wine and understand the differences between different styles. This led me to the world of bars and cocktails.
Upon entering university, I decided to study gastronomy because I wanted to continue being a part of this world. At the same time, I worked in bars since it was the only job available after school. I remembered my old times learning about cocktails and wines, and I decided to steer my path towards the world of mixology.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I have always been a person who likes to be helpful. I’ve always enjoyed attending to people and making them feel comfortable. At the same time, I’ve been somewhat shy, but I also liked talking to people and making friends, although I didn’t always know how. Entering this industry, I believe that this skill has been developing to a point where I really enjoy customer service, which I think is crucial for those who want to enter this industry. We have to remember that the customer is the reason we are providing this service, and if we don’t enjoy customer service, then we can’t be in this industry.
Reading is also very important here because we always have to be researching new trends and the history of how cocktails developed in previous eras, as well as the properties of different spirits
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents always supported me in everything. From the moment I began to show an interest in learning about wines, spirits, and cocktails, my dad bought and gave me books so that I could understand more about that world. My mom took me to explore new restaurants to see what was developing. At the same time, if I told them that I wanted to learn or visit a place where there were interesting wines or cocktails, they always did everything in their power to take me to those places. They have always been and continue to be a great support for my career, and I cannot be more grateful to them for letting me be myself and never trying to impose a different idea on me.
Contact Info:
- Website: Snakeoilcocktail.com
- Instagram: superflyboonzai
- Linkedin: Irving Gonzalez
