Tyler Florence Hires Bon Vivants for Wayfare Cocktail Menu

When we interviewed Tyler Florence earlier this month regarding his return to the restaurant world with Wayfare Tavern, he made a bold statement about cocktail culture: "I think the craze of muddled, precious cocktails is kinda over. I don't think people want to pay for that or wait." But then we wandered upstairs to find Scott Baird and Josh Harris, who just launched a cocktail consultancy called Bon Vivants, ensconced in the dining room.

And it looked like they were about to discuss a possible partnership with the Ty-Flo. Well according to Camper English, they got him to come around on the whole fancy cocktail thing and have already created his preliminary list. You can check it out over on English's blog, Alcademics, as proof. Today there are seven cocktails listed, almost all of which have six or more ingredients. As for the price and wait-per-cocktail, we'll have to wait and see if they push the program into precious territory. [Update: The Bon Vivants wrote into Eater HQ with encouraging words about their forthcoming Wayfare creations: "...a strong cocktail program featuring quality classics as well as a more interesting offering is the way to go, especially with a restaurant like Wayfare Tavern. Trust us, these cocktails are sure to satisfy the everyday cocktail drinker as well as the more adventurous bar patron, sans the wait."]

· Tyler Florence Sounds Off on Wayfare Tavern and SF [~ ESF ~]
· Wayfare Tavern Cocktail Menu Preview [~ ESF ~]

The Bon Vivants. [Photo: Liza Gershman]