Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Lee.
Hi Thomas, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was named Güero through Hospitality.
My name is Thomas Lee, and 5 years ago I started in service. I’ve always been a hard worker, and the restaurant and bar industry was one that always intrigued me.
I started in a small local authentic Mexican restaurant, where I learned the basics of spirits, service, and was introduced to the bar. I started serving, but also would assist the bar at the same time, hungry to learn. About 6 weeks into serving and hospitality, I got thrown into the deep end. Alone on a Friday night, at freshly 18 years old, I had to learn how to swim.
From there, I learned under Iluggy Recinos, at Exxir. When asked to put a cocktail on the menu, we created “El Güero”. This cocktail served as one of my first big achievements, and as I served this, the name Güero and I became more and more synonymous.
I’m Hondureño, but I’m also white. The name Güero shows relation to both cultures. Here is where I truly started to build my branding and figure out what I wanted to do.
My next professional endeavor was to a venue named Royal 38. This venue, in the middle of downtown, while no longer operational, served as intense training grounds for craft. 48 piece cocktail menu, 16 ingredient gin and tonics, 30 garnishes, infusions, foams, force carbonation, the list goes on. In this space, I learned history, charisma and more. Here’s where I built intermediate and deep foundational skills I still carry with me.
My transition back to Bishop Arts at La Reunion has been one of community. This has been my main stomping ground for the past few years now. I came back to the same neighborhood that raised me, and was fully embraced. With the knowledge, connections, and skills to help build. As a space now, we’ve been acclaimed for our outstanding service and versatility; being mentioned as one of the best neighborhood bars in Dallas.
Over the past 3-4 years, throughout this entire journey. The opportunity to curate events both public and private has been a driving force for me. I’ve executed a wide array of events. Private gigs can consist of a wide array of celebrations anywhere from your standard birthday parties, housewarming, graduation, holidays, and even weddings.
Curating my own public events, has been the primary focus of my professional career for the 18 months. I love being able to create an intentional space for everyone to be able to come enjoy. I work really hard to tie the branding of the event, in with a theme, that will match the venue.
Some of my favorite projects to date:
Last Call Library
In a library speakeasy, we turned pages into cocktails, and the bar into a book room, taking down every detail. The menu was inspired by your favorite authors and their most iconic series.
Afuera Mundo
I turned a Latin steakhouse into a moon landing set to take us, “Out of this World”! Take on retro Latin space movies, and the cocktail menu was space themed of course. There was an entire lighting, production and sound team. With over 30 hands involved in total to make this come to life; this was a beast of an event, one of my favorite.
The Ayahuasca Trip
Psychedelic Cumbria inspired by the venue Ayahuasca Cantina and the professional rivalry between myself and Martin Ruiz.
The most notable being
Club Wingstop
Not just one, but twice we’ve turned wings, their seasonings, accoutrements, desserts, and sauce into cocktails. Served at high volume. Club Wingstop.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been an easy road.
I want to acknowledge how blessed I am, and the incredible opportunities that I’ve had the pleasure to receive along the way. I can’t say that I’m not very fortunate and grateful.
To be clear though, it definitely has not been easy. Starting in this industry, and behind the bar had its challenges. Learning to understand what you don’t know is tricky. And building your own business while learning the business is hard too. Growing personally while also growing professionally is tedious and can strain your life if not balanced correctly.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a hospitality professional.
I’m known for bartending, my professional experience, and curating events. I put that I am an artist and creative, because I love being creative through my work/drinks, and I express my artistry through the drinks and the rooms I curate.
I think that mindset alone is different from how most professionals in our industry move.
I want to create art through experience, and through the way we interact and meet with one another. I think the way we value social connection should change with the way our lifestyles are.
I’m very proud of my willingness to persevere through any obstacles, to put my everything into everything, and the tenacity that’s brought me here.
How do you think about happiness?
I love making good drinks and serving good people.
What makes me truly happy, is seeing people enjoy themselves without restraint. The world today is so stiff, toxic and mean. Hospitality runs through me deep, and I love being able to take care of people.
I love sustainability too. I think the more sustainable we can be; the better.
A sense of fulfillment makes me really happy, I love knowing that I can do something.
Pricing:
- For Privately Contracted Bartending my rate is $150/hr plus setup and breakdown.
- For Hosting Venues, usually my working rate when putting together a grand event is 5-10% depending on sponsorship. However, I would love to work with any and all interested individuals.
- I’ll never be too big or too busy to answer a simple text, or scheduled phone call. Please reach out! I’m always looking for new creative individuals with similar interests, ideas, and values.
Contact Info:
