Beau Huizinga started busing tables on the Las Vegas Strip when he was just 19. When he turned 21, he began barbacking, and four years later he climbed the ladder to bartender, perfecting his craft for a handful of years before he got wind that Chica was going to open at The Venetian and was looking for a lead bartender. That was six years ago, and today Huizinga is the beverage manager at Chica, chef Lorena Garcia’s Latin-influenced eatery.
“Chef Lorena is the first woman Latin American chef to own her own restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip and we embrace that 100%,” he says. “We’re all the Chicas here.”
At the restaurant, Huizinga is responsible for all things cocktails. And although he’s not behind the bar these days mixing up the drinks, he says, “I’ll always be there for my bartenders to step in and help when needed and support them. I know how they feel when they’re in the weeds because I’ve been there.”
During his tenure with Chica, Huizinga has used his spirits knowledge not only to impress guests at The Venetian restaurant, but also to help launch the bar programs at Chica’s other locations in Miami and Aspen, Colo.
When the manager looks back on his career and working his way up that ladder toward success, he says, “When I think about my career, I think about how lucky I’ve been just to fall into the right places with the right people. I had no idea where this was going to take me. Being around people and the energy and making hospitality a part of my life—it feels incredible.”
Libation: Spicy Mamacita
With summer here, Huizinga and his team have created new seasonal cocktails that use ingredients like fresh fruits. A perfect example is the Spicy Mamacita. The sweet, slightly spiced cocktail is a mix of tequila, freshly blended strawberries and Ancho Reyes chile liqueur, all finished with a Tajin rim.
Benefit: For a showstopping dish, order The Flaming Skull dessert and make sure to get your camera out!
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