Master Mixologist: Brielle DiMauro of ROONEYS OCEANFRONT RESTAURANT in Long Branch, NJ

Meet Brielle DiMauro, age 33, of Long Branch, NJ. She has been tending bar for 12 years, and is now starting her 9th year at Rooney's Oceanfront Restaurant. Brielle recently married her long time partner in crime, Zack, who works as a chef at Rooney's. When she is not mixing great cocktails, you can find Brielle working with shelter dogs at the MCSPCA, which is one of her great loves.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Brielle for our "Master Mixologist" feature.

When did you first become interested in the cocktail culture?

In my early 20's I was still serving and cocktail waitressing in downtown bars in Portland, OR. I was thrown behind the bar one busy night, mostly just popping PBR cans and pouring well whiskey shots, and never went back to serving. I started working at a little bar, once a funeral home, called Ella Street Social Club. The owner was a minimalist, attempting to create prohibition style cocktails, more with less. Tending bar there was exciting, interesting, and left me wanting more when I headed back East.

What innovations in mixology and bartending do you find fascinating?

I love local. Our team is always looking for ways to incorporate local small business owners and creatives into our kitchen and cocktails. Local organic honey's, Rose's Turmeric Tea, and Beyond Organic Farms just to name a few. Farm to table, local organic ingredients are a preference among our costumers and a necessity today. People want to feel good about what they are putting into their bodies and drink a delicious cocktail at the same time. t may have started as a trend but it's definitely here to stay.

How do restaurant and bar guests encourage your creativity?

In the dead of our dismal drawn out winters, we brighten our days by brainstorming new cocktails. Our locals, winter regulars, can and will be brutally honest when critiquing our latest concoctions. They inspire us to do better, keep it lighter, fresher. All the while, politely smacking us down when our ideas are becoming too convoluted and involved. More with less is important in a high volume restaurant like ours. Speed is tantamount to taste.

What are your preferred "classic cocktails" and why?

I love a Sidecar or an Old Fashioned. Summer days spent pumping out Cosmos and Rumrunners by the hundreds make me long for the timeless simplicity of a vintage standard.

What are some of your favorite infusions and how you like to use them in

Drinks?

For our winter infusions, my favorite was the Spiked Apple Pie. It was an infusion of Jameson with apples and cinnamon, served in a snifter with apple cider, a pie crust rim, garnished with a cinnamon stick. It has the wonderful warmth of Irish whiskey toned down by a little sweetness, the drink equivalent to comfort food.

Tell us about a few of your signature cocktails and why they are distinctive.

The Front Porch Swing is a summer twist on a timeless cocktail, an Old Fashioned. This consists of muddled blueberries with local honey, Buffalo Trace bourbon and a splash of lemonade. The Firewood Old fashioned is again, your classic Old Fashioned, however, we smoke the glass to order, over a cedar plank, offering that little something extra. For those who prefer a little spice, The Hot and Dirty. Absolut Elyx infused with jalapenos, habaneros and olives, served up with a Cayenne pepper and salt rim.

Give us your perfect pairing for a cocktail and a culinary selection.

For the casual diner, I'd pair our Jalapeno Margarita with Tanteo Clams and Shrimp Tacos. Our Island Gin cocktail, consisting of Hendrick's Gin, muddled lime and cucumber, topped with Fever-Tree tonic pairs nicely with our Wasabi Panko Tuna entrée.

Tell us a little about your company or restaurant.

Rooney's Oceanfront Restaurant has been pleasing their guests since 1995. It is a welcoming, attractive restaurant with a huge bi-level outdoor deck and the venue offers great views of the Atlantic Ocean. Rooney's serves fresh seafood at the heart of their cuisine and features innovative, seasonal dishes along with a top-notch beverage program. Guests are welcome to come by for drinks and small plates or a full delicious meal.

Rooney's Oceanfront Restaurant is located 100 Ocean Avenue North, Long Branch, New Jersey 07740. Call them at 732.870.1200 or visit their web site at http://www.rooneysocean.com/.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Brielle DiMauro

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