Founder Things Interview

It kind of sounds a little nihilistic, but… for me like… I did everything right. You know, the brand was good. The product was delicious. I got the top institutional investor. And I had the background, you know, I had the fancy Ivy League college. I grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. Like I had every single fucking thing on paper that you should need to have to succeed. And it still wasn't enough.

And so it's kind of like… everything we were taught is wrong. It doesn't actually make any sense. So you might as well do whatever the hell you want. And so it's kind of liberating in a way. Like, it helps to work hard at whatever you do. But there are all these things that you can't control, and a lot of good things are just luck. 

Mashed - Yoo-Hoo Martinis Make Your Favorite Childhood Drink A Boozy Beverage

“Originally marketed as a healthy alternative to soft drinks, the subtly sweet beverage made with water, high fructose corn syrup, whey, and a handful of vitamins makes for a surprisingly satisfying mixer. In his cocktail book "Saved by the Bellini & Other '90s-Inspired Cocktails," John deBary introduced the Absinthe-Crag, a martini featuring the famous chocolate-flavored drink and absinthe, an intense, anise-flavored spirit.”

Cultured - How a Veteran Food Editor Adapted 100 Beloved Restaurant Recipes For the Home Cook

CULTURED: You're hosting a dinner party. Who do your first three invites go to?

Dixler Canavan: My former coworker, cocktail expert John deBary. If you buy the book, you can get some of his cocktail tips in there. I’d love to invite one of the pastry chefs featured in the book, Claudia Martinez. Her desserts are so exciting. I'm making this dinner as a potluck. John will do cocktails. Claudia will do dessert. For the snacky section of the meal, I’d love to highlight Katie Button, who's the owner of Cúrate in Asheville and, in the book, has a recipe for her gilda pintxo.

Northwest Indiana Times Book Review - 'Saved by the Bellini & Other ’90s-Inspired Cocktails'

Looking at the drawings in this fun cookbook, I realized the 1990s was the decade that computers were more like typewriters with screens attached, cell phones came in bags and were very large, and that human history can be divided into before and after the release of the 1995 movie, “Clueless,” which I also never saw. I do know, though, that it introduced the phrase “as if,” that I’ve heard a million times, usually with an eye roll by the person who is saying it. I can’t go back in time, but I can celebrate my lost decade with the cocktails in deBary’s book, including Fruity Scotch, which is simple enough as it involves soaking some type of fruity and sweet-tasting cereal in Scotch and such other cocktails as Frosted Tips (because it seems like heartthrobs of the time Freddie Prinze and Val Kilmer appropriated this hairstyle) and Ay Mockarena because before there were TikTok dance challenges there was the four-step dance called the Macarena which was so easy even I could do it.

Eater - The Most Exciting Restaurant Openings in New York City This Fall

In November, Anoop Pillarisetti will bring the flavors of his native Louisiana to Strange Delight in Fort Greene; the restaurant is a partnership with fellow Shake Shack alum Michael Tuiach and the chef Ham El-Waylly. There are several types of oyster preparations on the menu, including chargrilled — a nod to New Orleans icon, Casamento’s. In doing pop-ups, Pillarisetti says they found there was unexpected excitement around their sandwiches, so they’re doubling down with versions like a shrimp, oyster, peach, and Creole cream-cheese sandwich; along with seasonal sandwich specials (soft shell crab, fried green tomato). Bartender John deBary will offer versions of a Sazerac and the Ramos Gin Fizz. Sommelier Miguel de Leon, of Pinch Chinese acclaim, has put together a list of biodynamic bottles. 63 Lafayette Avenue, near Fulton Street, Fort Greene

PUNCH - Master the Gin Classics

The gin classics seem to always be in season, whether it’s the Martini, which has taken over the world, or the Negroni, in its infinite moods. The canon of gin cocktails is vast: fizzes topped with crowns of foam, highballs topped with tonic and tropical drinks topped with elaborate garnishes. To help you filter through the countless recipes, we’ve compiled our very best, those that have undergone years of tinkering and been put to the test in our blind tastings—and have come out on top. Here are the 15 best recipes for classic gin cocktails.

Daily Meal - The Yoo-Hoo And Absinthe Cocktail Is Nostalgia In A Glass

If you want to make your own Yoo-hoo and absinthe cocktail, you'll actually be crafting something called an Absinthe-Crag. This cocktail was invented by John deBary, who wrote in Bon Appetit that "the drink's name is a nod to the iconic Nickelodeon show, "GUTS," in which people climbed a mountain called Aggro Crag as part of a competition.

The Washington Post - The 21 best things to do in D.C. this weekend and next week

‘Saved by the Bellini’ at the Gibson

John deBary worked at New York City cocktail den PDT and served as the beverage director at Momofuku, but his lively and humorous cocktail books are the opposite of the usual dry tomes targeted at amaro nerds. The latest, called “Saved by the Bellini,” is full of drinks inspired by 1990s video games, TV shows and random pop culture. One, which deBary debuted in Bon Appetit this month, is a mix of absinthe and Yoo-hoo dubbed the Absinthe-Crag — a name that might resonate with fans of the Nickelodeon show “Guts.” DeBary makes an appearance at the Gibson this weekend to discuss and sign “Saved by the Bellini,” while bartender Chantal Tseng makes cocktails from the book. Admission includes snacks and one cocktail; the book will be for sale at the event.

Fine Dining Lovers - The '90s are back on the menu

“If the current ‘90s trend has a Bible, that tome is most certainly John deBary’s just-published Saved by the Bellini & Other ’90s-Inspired Cocktails. DeBary is a self-described “drinks guy, PDT and Momofuku alum who was actually able to pull off a bowl cut for much of the ‘90s.” After reading Saved by the Bellini cover to cover, cringing over the dredging up collective memories I’ve long suppressed (RIP my neglected Tamagotchi) and longing for days that were simpler, social media-less and when more neon was worn, I marvelled at deBary’s ability to create so much newness out of this decade. And so, I reached out and asked him how on earth a book about '90s-inspired cocktails even came to be.”

Trend Hunter - Pizza Bagel Cocktails

Fans of pizza and bagel bites alike will appreciate this Bloody Mary with a twist, a recipe that comes from Saved by the Bellini by John deBary. Pizza Anytime is a savory cocktail that pairs classic Bloody Mary ingredients with more unusual additions like everything bagel spice mix and parmesan salt. To top off this pizza-inspired cocktail, there's none other than a pepperoni slice as a garnish.

Mashed - Gatorade Cocktails Are The Perfect Party Combo To Stay Hydrated

Per Bon Appétit, bartender and author John deBary included a Gatorade cocktail in his new book "Saved by the Bellini & Other 90s-Inspired Cocktails." The drink is composed of Fierce Blue Cherry Gatorade and yellow Chartreuse, and is even cheekily meant to be served in "a red plastic cup."

Read More: https://www.mashed.com/1333539/gatorade-cocktails-perfect-combo-stay-hydrated/

Heritage Radio Network - Saved by the Bellini: The Podcast

Over the course of the this 7 episode series, we're going deep with one author and their most recent work. Our host is John deBary, semi-retired bartender and author of Drink What You Want. His latest cocktail book, Saved by the Bellini, pulls inspiration from the nineties and uses the magic of cocktails to explore this totally tubular decade. Saved by the Bellini: The Podcast invites you behind-the-scenes into creating a book. Each episode features John interviewing an integral member of the book writing process - including his editor, illustrator, historians, and even some people who tended bar in the 90's. So join John for a radical ride back through this super sweet decade.

This Is TASTE 247: John deBary

John deBary is a bartender extraordinaire, a cookbook author, a spokesperson for the bar and restaurant world, and one of our favorite guests on the show. He’s back to talk about his really great new book, Saved by the Bellini: & Other 90s-Inspired Cocktails. In this episode we talk about deadstock sodas, muse on summer drinking, and dive into what he loves so much about the 1990s.

Fodor's - Our 11 Favorite Cookbooks by LGBTQ+ Authors

There’s no denying the ‘90s are back, and John deBary’s Saved by the Bellini offers a cocktail counterpart for just about every fad from the entire decade from foods and fashions to music and movies. If you already experienced the ‘90s once, you’ll relive everything from AIM away messages to Got Milk? commercials, but now through beverages you may not have been old enough to imbibe at the time. Complete with an introduction from Tiffani (Amber) Thiessen, Saved by the Bell’s Kelly Kapowski, herself, this fully illustrated charmer is a feel-good gift for any Millennial, a trendy approach to a decade you may have missed, or simply a lifesaver for your next themed party.