In my least favorite episode of Bar Rescue ever, Jon isn’t hosting, and “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion nestles itself into the back of my mind till next week’s episode when, hopefully, Jon returns, maybe.
I really don’t know what to do about these episodes where Jon isn’t the host. This is not a Bar Rescue blog; it’s a tribute blog to Jon, and I write about Bar Rescue to illustrate Jon’s brilliance. When Jon doesn’t host, I have no new data to write about.
Maybe I could discuss the parts Jon is in, like the intro or the commercials for next week or the minute-long, weird-ass Zoom meeting Jon has with Ashish Alfred, this week’s guest host? Maybe I could write that I think Ashish has the potential to win over Bar Rescue fans but only because he’s as close as we’ve gotten to Jon, at least so far? Or that Ashish reported to Jon and sought his counsel, so the whole rescue rests on Jon’s shoulders anyway, which means I should just write about the episode as if Jon hosted it?
One thing I know for sure, though, is that I can’t write about how Ashish—or anyone for that matter—is anywhere near as illustrious as Jon is.
Of course, as Jon shows us week after week, his belief that people are teachable is true, and most people can learn most anything related to owning and running a bar, so probably anyone already interested in being a celebrity chef or something akin to one, who has been through culinary school or the like, and has opened their own restaurant or starred in their own show would be able to learn enough bar science and reaction management directly or indirectly from Jon and/or his books and/or Bar Rescue and/or his seminars and/or Taffer Virtual Teaching to host the show, especially if they inherit Jon’s amazing team of 57 folks who not only plan and film Bar Rescue but also ensure every aspect of the rescue is spit-shined and polished.
So I guess, the folks at Paramount could find another “qualified” host, but seriously not one I’d want to write about. No one—and I mean absolutely no one—has Jon’s upstanding character and astonishing interpersonal skills on top of 40 years of gathering, synthesizing, and utilizing all that bar science on behalf of the hospitality industry. And absolutely no one could pull off Jon’s swagger because it’s fucking flawless. Maybe I’ll just start reviewing Jon’s podcasts if it comes to that.
Even though I’m not really interested in Bar Rescue with guest hosts, when Jon is unavailable to lead a rescue, I still watch the show, mostly because of my principles. I have loyalty to Jon and his mission of rescuing the bars and their ecosystems of staff, customers, operations, culture, and community. I know that viewership is important to sponsorship for both the rescues and, frankly, the viability of the show in general. Watching Bar Rescue when Jon isn’t hosting is probably one of the most important actions I can take to contribute to Jon’s mission and success, one I want to do because I’m a fan, and the words of my favorite bar rescuer echo in my mind, “If you love him, then show it, for Christ’s sake.” I mean, seriously, if I’m going to write a blog about Jon, I want to at least support his endeavors, especially when all it requires of me is to turn my TV to the Paramount channel Sunday nights. My actions may be small but my heart and soul are in them because I’ve learned from Jon to put my money where my mouth is and live with upstanding principles and integrity.
So, for this episode, enter guest host Ashish Alfred, a chef from Baltimore who seems to operate from both experience and principles relevant to Bar Rescue. I checked him out, and it seems he moved to Baltimore and fell in love with the idea of contributing to the city’s renaissance. He opened a couple of acclaimed restaurants and has been pivotal in transforming and revitalizing (or at least trying to revitalize) the neighborhood where they are located. He has overcome personal challenges that set him back, cares about his employees, and from what I’ve seen of him as guest host, he seems to be a practitioner, an advocate, and an enforcer of accountability—with the balls to back it up. He isn’t afraid to own the room and show off his own lil’ swagger, which makes him the most viable substitute for Jon that I’ve seen so far, at least as far as fans getting what they like with crazy confrontations and passion goes.
Jon tasks Ashish with saving Los Cocos in Port St. Lucie, Florida, in an episode riddled with intense conflicts between brothers and equal-part owners Karl, Eddie, and Evens Latortue. Ashish has an uphill battle trying to impose some order and sanity in what I affectionately call Los Locos.
From the moment Ashish walks into Los Cocos, it’s clear that this bar is a disaster. The exterior lacks any signage, making it unclear whether it’s a bar or a restaurant. Inside, the chaos is even more apparent. The bar and kitchen are filthy, the staff is untrained, and the owners are absolutely clueless about how to run the business. Furthermore, they are retirement age, and the only thing they seem energized about is fighting with one another.
Ashish immediately recognizes the lack of direction, but then again, so do I. Karl, a doctor by profession, is a backseat driver in the bar business. Eddie, the retiree, has been thrust into the role of general manager but lacks any skill. Evens, the youngest brother has experience as a court translator and realtor, knows about curb appeal but doesn’t use it, and doesn’t know a single thing about bar management. The kitchen is under the control of Edna, a chef with minimal experience whose English is limited. I could hardly believe this was a real business and these were the real owners, to be honest. I thought maybe Jon was playing a prank on us because I’ve heard he has a great sense of humor.
Ashish’s first major conflict with the brothers arises when he inspects the kitchen. The moldy food storage, raw chicken left out, and the overall unsanitary conditions are appalling. Ashish confronts the brothers with the harsh truth (which I hear in Jon’s voice), “You are gonna KILL SOMEBODY!” Ashish may not have actually said that, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Eddie, the supposed general manager, looks overwhelmed by but not particularly worried about that prospect, which scares me.
The stress test exposes even more flaws. The bartenders can’t make a simple Bahama Mama correctly, and the kitchen fails to deliver food in a timely manner. Eddie’s lack of leadership is glaringly obvious. Ashish’s frustration peaks when he sees Eddie’s reaction to the problems. Instead of stepping up, Eddie offers excuses, which Ashish sharply rebukes, and I am tickled by that. I think Jon would be proud.
Understanding that the business needs strong leadership, Ashish decides to have a heart-to-heart with the brothers. He first pulls Karl and Evens aside, making them see the necessity of having a competent manager. They both reluctantly agree that Eddie is not fit for the role.
In a tough but necessary conversation, Ashish sits down with Eddie and explains that Eddie’s lack of experience and inability to manage the bar is jeopardizing their investment. Ashish handles this well, but not as good as Jon, who, in situations like this, would have Eddie asking if he could step down for the good of the business and his brothers before Eddie could realize it wasn’t even his idea. With Ashish, Eddie is emotional and defensive at first but slowly comes to understand Ashish’s perspective. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but Eddie agrees to step down from the managerial role.
With Eddie stepping down, the focus shifts to training and restructuring the chain of command. Ashish introduces a new management structure: Renee, Evens’ wife, takes over the kitchen, and Mark, Evens’ son, becomes the bar manager. This new setup aims to leverage the strengths of each family member while keeping them out of roles they aren’t dispositionally suited for, a decision that has Jon’s fingerprints all over it.
The transformation of Los Cocos is nothing short of miraculous. The new name, Three Tides, pays homage to the brothers and their Caribbean heritage. The exterior now boasts clear signage, and the interior is clean and inviting. The bar has two proper workstations, new POS systems, an organized kitchen, and all the usual Bar Rescue trappings.
The grand reveal is an emotional moment for the brothers. The name Three Tides is particularly poignant as it was their mother’s nickname, a detail they hadn’t shared with Ashish, and that made their experience feel like a sign from above.
Even though Jon is not host of this episode, he still imparts a strong lesson for those of us willing to attend to it: Have integrity and live by your principles. Jon believes that “management is the achieving of objectives through others,” which he told J Ambroise in the previous episode of Bar Rescue. Jon was able to accomplish this and other rescues without hosting them because he surrounds himself with a great team. This episode shows that when leaders set clear objectives and empower their people, they can achieve remarkable results, even in their horrible, terrible, heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, and emotionally torturous absence.
I invite you to consider and share your answer in the Comments: Who is your favorite Bar Rescue team member (other than Jon)?
In Good Spirits 
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