CHANGE MY LOCATION
Local
California News
Multimedia News
Meet Your Mixologist: Jackee Princeau, Americano
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: SAN FRANCISCO
)
Americano bartender Jackee Princeau — a former student of nutrition and fashion — recommends avoiding Piña Coladas, pantsuits, and pawing at someone else’s girlfriend.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - In a saloon town such as San Francisco, the bartender plays a crucial role. Confessor, friend, sounding board — the man or woman behind the plank sees to it that our needs are met with elegance, grace and often wit. They see humanity at its best and most convivial, but also offer a nod and a welcome to the lonely. But what do they see when they look at us? What are the tricks of their trade? And what lessons have they learned along the way? In this Examiner weekly feature, we talk to some of our local bartenders to find out.
Americano
8 Mission St., San Francisco; (415) 278-3777; www.americanorestaurant.com
The eye rolling is duly noted. Yes, we know that Americano is the pickup spot for The City’s social-climbing professional set. But with summer approaching, how could we possibly ignore Americano’s gigantic back patio with its outside bars and low-to-the-ground, patio-style furniture. That’s where we met up with Jackee Princeau, who keeps her cool and her grace while mixing it up for the throngs of people who crowd her bar. Princeau occasionally has time to pick up her head and get a good look at the crowd, and with that, she offered a few dating tips for the guys and gals. Dudes: Find out if a girl is with a guy before you work your magic. Dudettes: Actually, she’s got nothing for you. Women do it better.
How long have you been in The City? About two years. I’m from San Jose, but I moved to Arizona for a little while, but I didn’t like it, so I came back.
What didn’t you like about Arizona? I hate to say this, but the people. The area was a bunch of college students who only liked to party.
Were you in college? I was at fashion design school and transferred to the Academy of Art.
How’d you get into bartending? When I turned 21, I wanted to be a bartender. One of my friends was working in a bar, so she hired me. I kind of learned dive-bar style.
What cocktail best accessorizes your hand? A dirty martini.
How long have you been interested in fashion? I’ve always been interested in it. I was going to school for something else and then decided fashion was my passion.
What were you studying before? Nutritional science. It wasn’t my strongest area.
What’s the healthiest cocktail you can drink? There’s no such thing. But if I had to say one, it’s wine.
Least healthy? Piña Colada. Tons of calories. Tons of sugar.
Have you ever indulged in an all-liquid diet? No. After I left college, I realized diets are always bad for you.
It is so loud in here. How do you hear anything? Just something you have to pick up, I guess.
Have you ever outrageously misheard someone? Yes. This is so embarrassing. Someone asked for a pencil. And I asked, “What’s in that?”
If you could serve a drink to anyone, who would it be? Oprah Winfrey. She’s cool. I think she’s an amazing woman. She’s given back a lot.
Do you have any pet peeves? I find it rude when I’m really busy and people put their hands in my face.
What’s the best tip you’ve ever gotten? $100 for just a bottle of beer. It was a professional athlete, and he had a lot of money to go around, I guess.
What’s a fashion faux pas you detest? I don’t like the tights, those spandex pants that go to the ankles.
What’s the most fashionable drink out there? Mojito.
Least fashionable? A Long Island Iced Tea.
Who is your favorite designer? Christian LaCroix.
What do you predict will be the next big comeback in fashion? Tunic styles. Pants with dresses. The pin-up style.
If you could give anyone a makeover, who would it be? Hillary Clinton.
No pantsuits? At least do a wide-leg pantsuit.
Featured drink: Amarita
» 1.5 oz. Reposado tequila
» ½ oz. Cointreau
» ½ oz. Amaretto
» Splash of fresh-squeezed lime
Shake ingredients together.
Pour over glass with salted almond crusted rim.
Comments from Examiner Readers
2:52 PM MST on Fri., Sep. 19, 2008 re: "Meet your mixologist - Jake McClain"
Report as inappropriate
4:31 PM MST on Sun., Jul. 6, 2008
re: "Meet Your Mixologist: Robert Schramm, Slide"
Report as inappropriate
11:26 PM MST on Fri., Jul. 4, 2008
re: "Meet Your Mixologist: Janell Moore, Cantina"
Report as inappropriate
10:00 PM MST on Sat., May. 3, 2008
re: "Meet your mixologist: Karl Strandfeldt, McCormick & Kuleto’s"
Report as inappropriate
11:23 AM MST on Sat., Mar. 29, 2008
re: "Meet Your Mixologist: Robvell Smith, Rose Pistola"
Report as inappropriate
4:31 PM MST on Fri., Feb. 29, 2008
re: "Meet Your Mixologist: Tim Stookey, Presidio Social Club"
Report as inappropriate
3:44 PM MST on Fri., Feb. 29, 2008
re: "Meet Your Mixologist: Tim Stookey, Presidio Social Club"
Report as inappropriate
10:03 AM MST on Fri., Feb. 8, 2008
re: "Meet Your Mixologist: Andrea Campos"
Report as inappropriate
12:06 AM MST on Fri., Nov. 30, 2007
re: "Meet your mixologist - Jake McClain"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
Jake's Hot!
2 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
E.B. said:
Yeah went to slide this last week - best bartender I've ever seen, the man is insane.
8 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Great article...great interview and interviewee. That's Oklahoma....not Texas. Hi...I'm a Bible. Janell's Mom
6 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
jossy said:
Just to let you know. The proper spelling of the last drink you detailed ia PICON. It is the name of the person who developed the main part of the drink--Picon--a bitter aperitif. Picon has been around since the mid 1800's. While Herb Caen may have had the drink it was around for many, many years prior to Mr. Caen. It is a traditional drink of the Basque and the Italians. Unfortunately, the French no longer import Picon. If someone makes the drink now, it is made with a poor substitute or they bring the Picon over from France.
8 agree | 8 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
It's true that Robvell is not only the best bartender in SF, he's one of the world's nicest people. Best time to try his special cocktails, however is after 10 on Saturday night when the action at the bar is still hot but the tourist crowd in the restaurant has died down. Then he might even make a Chocolate Love for you (if you really deserve it!)
18 agree | 16 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
It is great to see Mr. Stookey get some props. Regarding comments above: There may be good women bartenders in the city, but nobody M,F,TG or whatever makes a drink mike he does. Most of the drinks are not $12 (okay maybe $10), but such is life in the city. That's not much more than a lousy drink elsewhere, 1/6th of a parking ticket, or 2 trips over a bridge. I'd rather nurse a fine drink for 30 minutes than pay $15 for a 'green' movie ticket at the Sundance Kabuki any day... Tim can turn cheap liquor into a fine drink, but fortunately he is well researched and knows how to find a good booze for the buck. He is thoroughly unpretentious & I find it a nice change to have a well-made, well-presented tasty drink from a serious professional than the slapped together *&^%$# that most of the 20-somethings try to pass off for a $10 cocktail in this city. After a day of crowds, jerks in line, and all the other indignities one suffers to live in this city, a drink from Tim is very civil
58 agree | 50 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Michelle Lester said:
why are all the bartenders featured in this column MEN? I know alot of great mixologists (myself included) that are female!
46 agree | 59 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Concerned Examiner Reader said:
Peskin in a bar? How shocking! Was he using his cell phone to berate anyone?
75 agree | 69 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
As a blue collar working class person I'm absolutely disgusted by people who think it's hip and chic to sip 12 dollar cocktails. Paying that amount of money for a cocktail is just sickening, decadent really. Especially in a city full of homeless people.
184 agree | 125 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree