The men and women of the hospitality industry are the psychiatrists in society’s night life.
Through stress, chaos, sleepless days and hectic nights, these people orchestrate our social lives with a dash of bitter, a touch of sweet, a heavy dose of 40 proof liquor and always a cherry on top; also known as an Old Fashioned – good time. Bartender, world traveller, blogger and author Steven Nicolle takes his readers from the high profile world of serving royalty to the dodgy dwellings of vagabonds in this “whorl-wind” tour that will inspire the feeling of adventure and thirst to experience something new.
You Only Live Once begins in 1979, on the cusp of the 80s where the path of unlimited possibilities is laid at the feet of a young man by the name of Steven. With the soul of a nomad and a heart of an adventurer, he mixes drinks, observes human behaviour, and masters the subtle arts of taste and presentation. Refining his skills, he travels throughout his country, weathering terrain and demanding positions anywhere between Quebec and British Columbia. Expanding his horizons, he explores the United States, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. Whether on land or sea, he serves celebrities, wealthy travellers, and fellow nomads from all walks of life.
Tasting both the bitter and the sweet along the way, he rides the ebb and flow of the vibrant 80s and the turbulent 90s.
Observing the changing world around him while contemplating the shifting landscape within, he evolves as a highly-qualified Sommelier and Maitre’d, making a home wherever he lays his cocktail shaker and strainer.
Whether mixing a Pina Colada in Dorval, serving beer to Prince Philip in Switzerland, or enlisting in the Navy in Halifax, the question remains: Where will the insistent call to his heart’s true home finally lead?
You Only Live Once is available for order from the FriesenPress Bookstore, Amazon, and most other major book retailers. The eBook edition is available for order from Kobo, Barnes and Noble’s Nook, iTunes and GooglePlay.
About The Author
In the 35th year of a diverse career, Steven Nicolle shares his knowledge of the hospitality industry through teaching, blogging, and serving others.
