Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/735312
62 / the tasting panel / october 2016 BEHIND THE SCENES WITH FRED DAME, MS Fred Dame: We're here at the new Leo's Oyster Bar, the fourth gem in the crown of the Big Night Restaurant Group. How did it get its name? Nicole Blakeley: The concept is that we want everyone who walks in the door at any of our operations to feel like they just walked into the best party ever. So when you say you had a big night last night, you think of us. Each of our four locations has a different name, theme, menu and wine list. We think of them as evergreen, which means that you don't need a special occasion to dine with us. Fred Dame, MS, VP/Prestige Accounts for American Wine & Spirits (a divi- sion of Southern Glazer's), with Nicole Blakeley, Chief Beverage Officer of Leo's Oyster Bar, located in San Francisco. A Conversation with Nicole Blakeley CHIEF BEVERAGE OFFICER, LEO'S OYSTER BAR, SAN FRANCISCO photos by Deborah Parker Wong