Meet Eryn Dennin | Bartender & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eryn Dennin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eryn, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
From a very young age I think I always knew I was going to end up in a creative field of some sort. A lot of that had to do with my upbringing. Neither one of my parents ever tried to talk me out of embracing my more creative desires and aspirations, so growing up I tried my hand at a little bit of everything, from various dance classes to attempting to learn multiple different instruments over the years, but none of that really stuck with me in the long run. I had a lot of energy and a slight flair for dramatics, and for a while there I thought I would end up channeling all of that into being an actor when I grew up, but once I hit my teen years I really withdrew within myself and became a lot more introverted. I started focusing all of that creative drive into more ‘quiet’ outlets like reading, writing, and surprisingly a lot of cooking. Reading was an escape from reality when I needed it, writing was a way to express myself when I felt I had no other means to do so, and messing around in the kitchen was a way to be creative while getting rid of any excess energy I needed to shake out. Getting to eat something that hopefully didn’t suck afterwards was just an added perk.

Then when I was around fourteen, I discovered Anthony Bourdain after his show No Reservations premiered. I just remember thinking he was the coolest dude I’d ever seen in my life, and I loved watching him travel around the world meeting people from all walks of life, and getting to learn about so many different cultures while eating and drinking amazing food in the process. I read his book Kitchen Confidential shortly after and something in my head just clicked. He by no means romanticized what it was like being a part of the culinary world, but I think I knew deep down that eventually because of him I would find myself working in the restaurant industry in some capacity or another. That’s where the misfits ended up, and I already knew I was well on my way to becoming one.

Sure enough, I started working in restaurants when I was 17, and I’ve been doing that pretty much ever since. I started out as a server at this little hot dog place in a tourist town, which was just as glamorous as it sounds, but it was as good a starting point as any, especially for some little punk like me who had impulsively left home before I even graduated high school and desperately needed a job. Over the years I worked at all sorts of different restaurants, and I took all of the knowledge I learned from each spot to get better and better at serving and learning more about the industry. I was 23 when my first opportunity to bartend came along, and it changed everything for me. It was definitely a chaotic start to that chapter in my life, but all the pieces just sort of fell together, and I realized that everything I had done in all the restaurants I’d worked in up until that point had been so I could step behind a bar. It was like the best of both worlds- I still had the opportunity to serve and interact with people, but I was also able to make drinks, mess around with recipes, and learn more in depth about the history of cocktails and that particular aspect of the restaurant world.

It’s been 10 years since I started bartending, and it’s slowly taken over most corners of my life. I have an entire shelf on my bookcase that’s dedicated to cocktails, cookbooks, and the restaurant industry as a whole. Naturally everything Anthony Bourdain has ever written is on there, along with quite a few Death & Co books. When I’m not at work slinging drinks, I often find myself reading and researching about everything from drink trends to new bars/restaurants that are opening not only in my area, but in various cities and countries around the world that I hope I’ll be able to visit one day. Food and drink has a way of bringing people together, and some of my best memories have involved sharing a meal and a cocktail or two with not only my closest friends, but strangers I’ve randomly met just cause we ended up sitting next to one another at a bar somewhere. I feel really lucky to have made a living in an industry that brings people together like that, and it adds an even deeper sense of purpose and joy to what I do.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Like I said, I didn’t start bartending until I was 23, and the story behind that was a bit of a whirlwind experience to say the least. I had been serving at this particular restaurant in my hometown of Grand Rapids, MI for only a few months when the head chef randomly walked out with like half of our staff right before Valentine’s Day weekend. By some miracle we managed to get pretty much an entirely new kitchen and serving staff just in time before the holiday, but the bar situation was still in limbo. I was randomly selected by my manager at the time to get a crash course in bartending, because according to her I seemed like the best candidate for the job even though I had absolutely zero experience. I didn’t feel like I could say no, so I just went along with it and hoped that by the end of the weekend I would do an okay enough job to just make it through the whole ordeal unscathed. I didn’t think I was going to be as good at it as I ended up being, and she definitely had a little ‘I told you so moment’ when everything was said and done. I couldn’t tell you anything that happened to me that weekend because it was all a blur, but I remember thinking this is absolutely insane, but also some of the most fun I’ve ever had at a job in my life. They made me a full time bartender after that, and I didn’t even question it. It just felt right.

I definitely had a wake up call to it a few months in though. With my new position came more responsibilities, later nights, and added stress I wasn’t expecting. But I toughed it out because the money was good, and a part of me felt like I still had something to prove, like that first weekend being thrown behind the bar wasn’t a fluke, and I was worthy of being back there and staying there. I was working six days a week on average, and I quickly became burnt out to the point where it became normal to me, so I just kept pushing through. Eventually I had to force myself to take a step back and breathe once it became very apparent that my work-life balance was practically non-existent and I felt like a shell of my former self. Learning to establish a healthy work-life balance is really hard in this industry, but it’s so crucial and I’m thankful I eventually figured out how to put my foot down and say ‘Hey, I love doing this job, and I wanna keep doing it. But I’m gonna start hating it and end up quitting if I have to be here all the time’.

Since then, I’ve worked at some really crazy bars over the years where everything felt like it was on fire all the time, but I really think I’ve made it this far because of how I started out. I didn’t get a chance to test the waters before I got thrown into bartending, I didn’t even know it was something I wanted to do, but somehow I managed to stay afloat long enough to find out that I was good at it, and I figure as long as I’m doing it, I might as well keep learning and pushing myself to be the best that I can be, and finding a home behind the bar at The Collins Quarter has helped me do just that. I feel so lucky to have landed a position at a place where I’ve been given the trust and the freedom to really spread my wings creatively and continuously challenge myself. Being granted the opportunity to help curate new drink menus every season since I started here back in 2021 has really helped me grow creatively as a bartender. That was something I never really got the chance to do at other places I’ve worked at, and by doing so I really feel like I’ve come into my own. It’s also helped me more easily vanquish any bouts of imposter syndrome that I still occasionally deal with from time to time, which I’m sure any creative person will tell you can really make or break you depending on how much power you allow it to have over you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my favorite parts about living in Savannah is getting to show it off to my friends when they come and visit. Not only is it extremely walkable, but it’s seriously one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever lived, and there’s always something cool to do even if that means getting to walk around and explore the city.

Getting properly caffeinated is definitely the first step, I’m admittedly a little biased so I would probably take them to my work to grab a cold brew or a latte. But there’s no shortage of coffee shops in the area to check out like Perc or Franklin’s. Foodwise, I would try to show them a little bit of everything Savannah has to offer, which admittedly is a lot. Crystal Beer Parlor, Husk, E-tang, Hitch, Circa 1875, and Bella Napoli are some of the places I frequent most when I’m in the downtown area.

When it comes to bars, Savannah has plenty, and you’re also allowed to take alcoholic drinks to-go when you’re in the Historic District which definitely makes walking around more fun. Artillery is hands down my favorite cocktail lounge in the city, so that would be first on the list. Savoy Society, Totally Awesome Bar, Peregrin (the best rooftop bar in the city in my opinion) and The Original Pinkie Masters, are a few of my favorite downtown bars. Some of my favorite shops are also in that area, including Provisions, Paris Laundry, and E. Shaver Booksellers (which is home to three of the most adorable bookstore cats you could ever hope to meet).

Eventually we’d make our way down to River Street which is a tourist hot spot for a reason. There’s a ton of bars and restaurants on that stretch of road to check out while getting to walk alongside the riverfront and watch cargo ships come and go, but my favorite place to take people in that area is the Graveface Museum. It’s this super cool occult and oddities museum that’s perfect for anyone who likes all things strange and unusual.

Speaking of strange and unusual- Savannah is notoriously haunted, so going on at least one ghost tour is an absolute must. Even if you don’t believe in that sort of thing, you can’t deny it isn’t fun. Touring the Bonaventure Cemetery is also a cool thing to do if you love all things historical and spooky. Which, if you’re one of my friends, is kind of a given.

The Starland District is probably my favorite area of Savannah, so going to Starland Yard would be first on the list in that neighborhood. It’s always a good time there with a nice outdoor bar, a killer pizza place called Vittoria Pizzeria, and an ever changing selection of food trucks depending on the day. They also have trivia and live entertainment on certain days, so you could easily spend an entire afternoon/evening there. Around the corner from all that is Starland Strange which is this super cute boutique and ice cream shop, and Graveface Records & Curiosities (owned by the same owners of the museum). Also in that neighborhood is Brochu’s, which is easily one of my favorite newer restaurants. Lonewolf Lounge, Moodrights, and Two Tides Brewery would also be on the list of places to check out.

I’d probably round out their trip with a beach day out on Tybee Island, followed by dinner at Sea Wolf where you can enjoy amazing t cocktails, oysters, and believe it or not, some of the greatest hot dogs and vegan options you can find under one roof.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I honestly owe my success to every single person I’ve ever worked alongside in the restaurant industry. This is not an easy gig, and I think you have to be a little unhinged to work in it. You also need to work alongside people who are just as crazy and hardworking as you are because they’re the ones who will always have your back and push you to keep going- especially on the days when all you want to do is run screaming into the nearest walk-in cooler to blow off some steam.

That being said, the people who deserve my biggest and most heartfelt shout out are hands down the bar and barista staff at The Collins Quarter Cafe where I currently work here in Savannah, GA. For the past three years I’ve been in the trenches behind this tiny, little bar alongside some of the greatest people I’ve ever known in my entire life. Each and every one of them are just as dedicated, knowledgeable, and creative as me, and they inspire me every day. They keep me grounded, sane, and are constantly putting up with me forcing them to be my own personal test subjects whenever I’m working on a new cocktail menu, or just trying to work out some crazy new recipe because I’m bored. I appreciate their feedback more than anyone else’s because they’re always honest with what they like and don’t like about my borderline mad scientist-esque experiments at times- and that’s honestly what’s helped me grow so much as a bartender in recent years. I’m insanely lucky to have them not only as my co-workers, but as some of my closest friends.

Instagram: ginvelvetwitch

Image Credits
Photographs by Robin Elise