BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
NOV 2014
THE
BARTENDER
Gina
Dupal
G
ina Dupal is a fun loving and self-motivated Senior
Waitress and now bartender at Blakey’s Bar on the
Boardwalk at Hastings Rocks. Gina sparkles while she works.
She loves being behind the bar creating cocktails and her ever
present laughter announces her presence at the bar. Gina has
been bartending professionally for the past year. She loves
the whole hospitality field but has recently discovered a
passion for bartending and mixology.
Bartending really came along when Gina was asked to hold
on in the bar when there was a staff shortage. She knew the
basics but wanted to know more so she took up a Bar
Operations Course at Pommarine in 2012.
Gina is a familiar face at bartending/mixology competitions,
although the hairdo tends to change each time! She has been
in four competitions over the last year. In the Claytons Kola
Tonic Cocktail Competition Gina tied for second place with
Claytons Crème Brulee Martini, also taking the prize for the
most original cocktail. Quite recently, Gina was the winner of
the latest Grand Mariner Competition which was held on the
23 October 2014 at the Drift. There she revamped her Ice tea
on the Boardwalk Cocktail. Other competitions Gina entered
include: The Rums of Barbados Master Mixer Competition;
Food, Wine and Rum Festival and The Stoli Most Original
Cocktail competition. Gina intends to take part in the
Angostura Competition for NIFCA and the Food & Wine and
Rum Festival.
One of Gina’s favorite cocktail creations is her Kola Tonic
Ice tea .which can be made as either a hot or a cold cocktail.
But, her signature cocktails are usually very creamy; her very
favorite being a Mudslide.
Gina is currently taking a break from competitions as she
perfects her craft by working with some of the islands senior
bartenders as well as seeking advice from a chef to learn
more about flavours and techniques to combine flavours.
Gina will tell you her secret to success thus far really is just
being humble, taking advice from others and learning from it.
But, as she would have us know, equally important is that
special sparkle and enthusiasm which Gina no doubt
possesses and shows behind the bar.
www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | [email protected] | @BajanSunOnline