Two Sisters Bar and Books has become the neighborhood go-to for a charming date spot, quiet cocktail or literary meetup. But fans may not know about the bar's other offering: a series of cocktail classes run by Two Sisters bar chief Michael Cecconi.
"We were inspired to teach here in SF because we love what we do and we want to empower others to give these fun recipes a try at home and for their friends," manager Mikha Diaz told us. Cecconi, a 20-year industry veteran and 2012 Chronicle Bar Star, is also a teacher at the Institute for Culinary Education in NYC, and Diaz comes from an academic teaching background. "I guess it is part of our DNA to want to teach and share what we love."
Though they've had the program up and running for about a year, Two Sisters' fall and winter sessions are coming up, with a "Fall Whiskey Cocktail" class taking place on September 22nd and October 6th, and the "Holidays on Ice: Cocktails for Entertaining" class on November 3rd and December 8th. All classes begin at 6:30pm and cost $85.
Each class is two hours long, with the first 30 minutes of the class a spirits tasting and informal lecture about the history of the spirits being worked with. Then, participants move to the bar and craft four full-sized cocktails together, learning the basics of cocktailing technique as well as how to stock and develop a home bar. "Some classes, like Holidays on Ice, also include information on how to batch out cocktails to ease hosting at the holidays," noted Diaz.
During the last 10-15 minutes of class, participants get to enjoy a favorite from the cocktails they've crafted while chatting more about booze, and after heading home, everyone will get an email from Cecconi with all recipes they've learned, as well as personal contacts for any questions.
"Our classes are structured for maximum fun while developing a solid base of knowledge about spirits and how to craft with them," said Diaz. So if you're a Two Sisters fan and are curious about life on the other side of the bar, now's your chance to try your hand at making that perfect cocktail.
