The hospitality industry in NOLA is a large and vibrant community. And like our city’s LGBTQ+ community, it is diverse, cultured, fun and unique.
As I’ve always said, if you’re a successful bartender at one of the gay bars in New Orleans, you can handle any type of job, hands down. If you’ve been in the trenches through Mardi Gras and Southern Decadence, you are a pro at handling life. I lovingly refer to these people as cocktail warriors.
One of my favorite cocktail warriors is my pick for April’s Bartender-of-the-Month, Jason Sanders of Cafe Lafitte’s in Exile.
Jason was born in Baton Rouge in the early ’80s, and spent most of his childhood moving around the Southeast Gulf Coast due to his Dad’s job which relocated the family every few years.
He has lived in New Orleans since 2010 but has been a regular visitor to the city for decades. He has worked at Cafe Lafitte’s in Exile for the last seven years as a bartender and, before that, worked the door and barbacked. The only other bar he has worked at was Rawhide 2010 back in the day for a few months.
Jason is excellent behind the bar. His professional demeanor shines brightly as does his wit, charming disposition and winning smile.
His hospitality roots in our city run vast and deep. Before bartending, he worked in local kitchens alongside some of the city’s great chefs such as Emeril Lagasse at Delmonico’s Steakhouse on St. Charles Avenue, Alon Shaya at the original Domenica in the Roosevelt Hotel, and Eman Loubier at Dante’s Kitchen in the Riverbend. I believe his work experience in the kitchen helped form him into the skilled and speedy server he is today behind the bar. I know Emeril, he don’t play in his kitchen.
In addition to his speed behind the bar, Jason can make a great drink. He makes a stellar Cucumber-Lime Martini that is always fun in the months when our heat and humidity are high. It is basically a shaker cocktail. Combine 3 oz of Cucumber Vodka, Splash of Triple Sec, 1 squeezed Lime, a splash of Simple Syrup and shake vigorously. Serve in a chilled martini glass or add a splash of Club Soda in a glass over rocks for a bigger cocktail.
He also makes a really good Spicy Candy Shot with 1 oz of Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind Vodka, a dash of cranberry, pineapple, and orange juices all combined in a shaker and chilled. You can even use Tajin for the rim of the shot glass for extra spice.
When Jason goes out for cocktails, he jokes that he gets pretty bored with drinks, almost like getting tired of food from being in the kitchen, so he sticks to the “Always Classy” Peach flavored High Noons. Nothing like canned vodka and soda for that seasoned palette.
He does say, he gets the favorite cocktail question all the time working in the bar and honestly his favorite drink to make is “my own! The one I get to enjoy after work!”
But in all seriousness, he doesn’t have favorites when it comes to making things. “I feel like that limits your ability to look for new things, recipes, and ways to improve. My favorite drink to make is the one that you’ll love.” Great answer.
Jason goes on to describe his best asset behind the bar is his ability to figure out what people want when they come in.
“Sometimes you get someone who has no idea where they are or what they want to drink, but if you ask them what they like, and figure out something special to give them, it becomes something more memorable. I don’t think at that point it ends up being about the drink, but the fact that someone listened to them, figured it out, and let them be relaxed and enjoy themselves.”
That asset is one of the things he loves about being a bartender. About Cafe Lafitte’s in Exile specifically, he says, “The history of the bar is exceptionally cool to me, and being on one of the most iconic streets in the world makes it even cooler. Coming from a background in kitchens I never would have thought I would be doing this years down the road, but everything great about that bar and its history makes for a really awesome place to work. People from all over the world walk in and I get to meet them, listen to their life experiences, and give them advice when they ask for it, and make them drinks that they go home and tell their friends about!”
I have to say his story, like so many other bartenders, is inspiring and I am so glad he is part of our industry and community.
I did ask Jason what was the craziest/funniest thing he has witnessed as a bartender on Bourbon Street. “One morning, back when I was working the 5am shift at Lafitte’s, I hadn’t been at work for 5 minutes, I just put on a pot of coffee and walked to the front door to put out some signage and adjust the tables and chairs on the sidewalk when I noticed a commotion from a little down the block on Bourbon and St. Ann. I looked up to see a naked man falling out of the back passenger door of a pickup truck, and another guy jumping out and then into the driver seat and began speeding off down the street in the truck. The naked guy got up and looked at me and said ‘I didn’t have enough money to pay and they stole my truck!’ I said ‘And I haven’t even had coffee!’ The guy quickly got up and grabbed some trash to cover himself and proceeded to chase after the speeding truck. I looked at my watch…it was now around 5:10am. That’s probably my most hilarious story!”
My other favorite question to ask bartenders is what is their pet peeve with customers. “My ABSOLUTE favorite pet peeve is when I get asked for a “Vodka and Titos” and I clarify by asking a “Vodka AND a Titos?” and then I say “Vodka and Titos are the same thing” . They say “yes” with an irritated look, which then turns into a puzzled look on their face when they get a cup of vodka and a lime…”Here’s your Vodka and Titos ma’am. Enjoy.”
Jason is a great individual both in front of and behind the bar. One thing many people may not know about him, is that he has become a huge plant daddy. “I have a wonderful yard and flower beds, and beautiful flowering plants all over my front and back porches, not to mention the few plants I have inside in every room! I never really thought I would be a plant guy, but as I’ve quickly realized, they’re like my kids, they all have names, and get praised for being wonderful and pretty!”
I hope this article has you persuaded to get a cocktail from Jason at Cafe Lafitte’s in Exile located at 901 Bourbon Street. He works Wednesday thru Sunday from 1pm to 9pm and “Thirsty Thursdays” where he’s by himself behind the bar. The bar features Skyy Vodka and its flavors for $4 every Thursday.
