Submitted by Triangle.com — Staff
Triangle.com brings you "Behind the Bar." This week, meet Johnny Berry from bu*ku.
Johnny grew up near Kernersville and has lived in the Triangle for more than a decade. He knows his way around restaurants, having worked in a few since he's been in the Triangle, including the Magnolia Grill in Durham.
In 2008, he was voted as the Triangle's best bartender by the users of triangle.com when he worked at Bogart's American Grill in Raleigh. He hopes to repeat that honor now that he's at bu*ku.
Hometown: Kernersville, North Carolina.
Your go-to drink: Ladies: Blueberry lemon drop, delicious and easy going. Guys: Maker's Mark and ginger ale.
Best movie(s) ever: "True Romance." Period.
Who would you rather date: Halle Berry or Scarlett Johansson? Halle. She knows what's up. I'm sure I could learn a thing or two from her. I'd have to teach Scarlett a few things.
What you drink at the end of your shift: Beer. Glorious beer.
One word would coworkers use to describe you: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"
One thing you refuse to do under any circumstances: Make you a Flaming Dr. Pepper. I've seen too many bar tops - and people - set on fire. Do that in the safety of your own home if you want. Better yet, do it at your neighbor's house (as long as I'm not your neighbor).
Drink for a hot summer night: Wheat beer or an Ice Pick (flavored vodka with unsweetened tea).
Fictional character with whom you most identify: The Brain, from "Pinky and the Brain." He's just one little mouse trying to take over the world. Aren't we all?
Fav '80s sitcom: "Diff'rent Strokes." Everybody wanted to be those kids man. Come on, "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?"
If you're not at work, you're most likely: Sadly, at the gym. No scratch that, I'm saving babies and strengthening the community.
Interesting fact about you: I have no belly button. Really, I'll show you.
Craziest thing you've seen while bartending: I've been flashed, flashed for drinks, and seen people attempt things that would make Ron Jeremy proud. However NOTHING beats the time in the middle of a Saturday late night, a bottle of Bacardi 151 got broken behind the bar and lit on fire. We tried to put it out with water, and it just spread. You don't know excitement until you're standing in a pool of blue flames.
Favorite song right now: I'm going to go old school on this. Jimi Hendrick's "Voodoo Child." It's like Jimi is wrestling a jungle tiger with his guitar, wins, and just rips into the song. "Well, I stand up next to a mountain // And I chop it down with the edge of my hand." I mean, that's power. You ever felt that good about yourself? I get chills, man.
Best thing about drinking in the Triangle: Raleigh Rickshaw. Open air, good conversations and cool people.
Ever get phone a number while working? Yeah. Duh... A better question is whether I've ever given out my phone number.
A bartender's best friend is: Comfortable shoes.
Favorite bar in the Triangle other than your own: Foundation. Those guys are preserving the true art of bartending.
