Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/19027
ON-PREMISE PATTER Armed and dangerously smooth: Steve Gunner and Jimmy “JK” Kim have their equipment ready to keep the cocktails coming at the busy bar at The Palm. Power ‘Tenders “T he Palm is one of the last great joints left in this city,” a burly longtime customer says as he saunters past the bar, watching our photo shoot of two of the restaurant’s bartend- ers—the appropriately-named Steve Gunner and Jimmy “JK” Kim—posing as Prohibition-era gangsters. But instead of Tommy guns, these behind-the-bar racketeers are wielding some useful tools: a propane torch and a Burmiser mixer. While the origins of The Palm date back to 1926 in New York City, its famed West Hollywood offshoot arrived later; it celebrated its 35th anniversary last month. Celebrity patrons from the ‘70s to the present are featured, caricature-style, on its walls. The Palm Assistant GM Jonathan Mitchell drinks a Dutch Donkey, a play on the Moscow Mule that uses Effen Black Cherry vodka, ginger beer and two freshly- squeezed lime wedges. On any given Thursday through Sunday night, there may be hundreds of people bellying up to the bar, waiting for the much-coveted tables. That’s where the super powers of bartenders Gunner and JK kick in. “Gunner is the calm in the storm,” explains Assistant General Manager Jonathan Mitchell. “He’ll be juggling take- out orders on the phone from Hollywood superstars while also creating scores of drinks for the masses at the bar.” Gunner, who has been at The Palm for over four years (with former stints includ- ing the House of Blues), says his super ‘tender power is volume: “I can handle crowds, people yelling at me . . . and I 46 / the tasting panel / november 2010 AT THE PALM IN WEST HOLLWOOD, THESE GUYS KNOW HOW TO MAKE AN EFFEN STATEMENT get it all done.” Jimmy “JK” Kim, whom Mitchell calls the “spicier” ‘tender, claims his secret skill is reading people: “I either know what my customers want, or I tell ‘em what they want.” Effen At The Palm Dutch import Effen (the names trans- lates as smooth and balanced) is a favorite vodka at The Palm. “Effen Black Cherry is a flavor we love to work with,” says Power ‘Tender Jimmy “JK” Kim. “It tastes great on its own—the black cherry is so authen- tic—and then this wonderful hint of vanilla sneaks up on you. It’s mixable and shines through any cocktail.” Working in tandem with Gunner, they whip up The Palm’s version of the one-sip drink, the Mind Eraser. “The idea is to have two straws and sip it up all at once,” Gunner points out. Using two ounces of Effen Black Cherry as the base, Gunner ads an ounce of Patrón XO Café coffee liqueur and an ounce of soda water. For patrons of The Palm, that’s “Bottoms up!” defined.