Gina Chersevani

Mixtress - PS 7'S Restaurant, DC

Gina Chersevani grew up in the kitchens of New York thanks to her father, a Northern Italian chef. A childhood spent playing with pizza dough exposed her to local and fresh ingredients and prepared Chersevani well for her entry into the food and beverage world. Chersevani moved to the DC metro area when she enrolled at the University of Maryland. While in college, she began bartending, and after graduating with a B.A. in psychology and fine arts, she landed her first martini-making gig at Penang in the District.

As Chersevani began to earn her chops in the local beverage community, her skills were in high demand. Acclaimed chef and fellow New Yorker Jamie Leeds tapped Chersevani to help design the beverage program at 15 Ria. Chersevani also consulted with Poste Moderne Brasserie in the illustrious Hotel Monaco, designing an imaginative cocktail menu that secured her reputation in Washington.

In 2006, Ashok Bajaj hired Chersevani as his master mixologist for Rasika, Penn Quarter’s critically acclaimed modern Indian restaurant, where she began experimenting with exotic ingredients like saffron, cloves and lotus. Chersevani’s creative cocktails landed her mentions in prominent publications, such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Washington Post.

In 2008, Chersevani found herself crossing the Potomac to assume the role of the Bar Chef for the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, stationed primarily at the group’s renowned gastropub, EatBar and upscale neighborhood restaurant, Tallula. In this post, Chersevani creates exceptional and unusual cocktails, from the refreshing Gnome’s Water with English cucumber and gin, to the sinful St. Pete’s Denial with vodka, Godiva white and blue cheese.

Chersevani’s innovative libations at EatBar and Tallula have earned her quite a following, not to mention raves in Wine Enthusiast, DC magazine and the Washingtonian. She has won numerous awards and distinctions, including being named one of The Beverage Journal’s “10 Mixologists to Watch” for 2008, winning Absolut Vodka’s 2008 “Best Martini” competition, and prevailing in the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s contest for the “Official RAMMY Cocktail” of 2008 and 2009.

In 2009, Chersevani began the newest chapter of her career: exciting culinary-beverage collaboration with Chef Peter Smith at Smith’s PS7’s Restaurant. She and Smith constantly play in tandem the fascinating relationship between beverage and food, ignoring the traditional paths of proteins and wines. Chersevani and Smith went on the launch a Food and Cocktail Pairing’s Menu, available full time at the bar and the first of its kind.

Chersevani also assisted on a multitude of projects and collaborations in 2009, including: March of Dimes, Beverage Chair; WCW; Taste of the Nation, both Washington DC and Philadelphia; James Beard awards 2009; H Street Country Club project; Capitol Area Food Fight, VIP Room; Tales of the Cocktail 2009. She has taught her own series of cocktail classes, “Happy Hour at Home.” Chersevani has continued to be an industry leader in the use of local and organic farm fresh products, and has partnered with Farm Fresh Local Markets to aid the farmers markets and educate consumers.

She also served as a judge in two cocktail competitions, the Bol’s final Competition, Washington, DC and the Cuca Fresca Competition, Chicago, IL. In 2010, Chersevani, has participated in Sugar and Champagne, Humane Society Washington, DC; served cocktails at “Sips and Bites,” a Sunday Night Supper Series 2010, an Alice Waters, Joan Nathan and DC Central Kitchen project, and presently is assisting on the Food and Wine Festival, Washington, DC as a beverage coordinator.