ABOUT
ELIXIR BAR

I was born and raised in the United States and have been traveling to Costa Rica since 1997 when my family was part of the first generation of “eco-tours” to what was then considered the “Jurassic Park” of the west. In 2001, during my third trip to Costa Rica I met my Costa Rican family in Esterillos Oeste and have become somewhat of a local in this area. Mi “apodo” in Esterillos is “Gallino” and if you go to that town you can ask anyone about me.

From the year 2000 - 2013 I enjoyed a successful career as a film and video editor and realized many dreams editing films with the world’s most famous surfers, snowboarders, and sports athletes.

In 2007, I discovered solar energy and decided to have solar hot water installed at my home in Portland, Oregon. While sitting at my home editing videos for Nike and Red Bull, I realized that something needed to change and I needed to give back. I wanted to be a part of the solution to the ever changing climate situation and enjoyed a double career (alongside video editing) in renewable energy. I spent over 14 years working for Oregon’s solar trade association growing and developing the resources necessary to accelerate solar energy to the next level. All the while, doing this in coffee shops and tea houses.

Well before COVID arrived, as you can tell by the stories above, I became a veteran at remote work. Along with my side gig as the manager of a Sufi Qawwali band by the name of Fanna-Fi-Allah and my addiction to surfing and snowboarding the world’s best waves and mountains, I have spent 1,000s of hours working from coffee and tea shops from China to Chile and all parts in between. Many times, while dealing with the stresses of modern day business and planning global music tours I used to say to myself, “I should quit everything and become a barista!”

Look, even as an avid skier, snowboarder, and surfer, making my own work schedule and “playing” over 200 days each year, sitting behind a computer 6 to 8 hours a day definitely catches up with you. In 2016 I ended my career as a film and video editor. In July 2022 I decided to leave my career in renewable energy and see what else was out there for me. The idea of being a barista had never left my mind but, actually being a barista is not a reality for me.

Ever since my first trip to Costa Rica with my family, I have been spending anywhere from two weeks to two months each year in Costa Rica. I was supposed to be in Costa Rica for three weeks in March 2020 and that turned into a 10 month stay. In December 2020 I returned to the United States and after two months I said to myself “Que mierda!” and quickly returned to Costa Rica. For about 2 1/2 years I was spending about nine months in Costa Rica and about three months in the United States when in November 2022 I made the decision to move to Costa Rica full-time and open up the Elixir Bar. We officially opened on January 5, 2023!!!

My original idea was to just serve Kava but I recognized that there were other beverages that would be extremely beneficial for people and that Kava is not too popular just yet to support a business on its own.

I will fill you in soon as to where the other beverages served at Elixir Bar came from…

My passion for Kava began in Portland, Oregon as my search for the next “cool” coffee shop or teahouse never ends. One day a friend of mine invited me to a Kava house and it was quite an experience. After gulping down a few shells I noticed a sensation that I can only describe as “taking the edge off“ I literally felt like a square with rounded corners.

Over the years I’ve tried about every “mellow” drug available stopping short of injecting myself with anything that I felt was dangerous. I’ve been a chronic Marijuana smoker since I became a teenager but there was never enough cannabis to soothe me.

The experience of drinking Kava at that time, and still is, like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. It is so gradual and mellow in nature and leaves me stable, calm, and relaxed. Without any after affects or grogginess.

I’ve never had any problems with alcohol or other hard drugs, but since I started drinking Kava regularly I have literally no desire to smoke marijuana everyday nor drink alcohol ever. Combined with the other beverages served at the Elixir Bar like Golden Milk, Cacao, our Mushroom Maté, I live my days in complete peace and relaxation.

Over the past few years I have developed connections with several suppliers of the world’s most authentic Kava. The Kava served at Elixir Bar comes from the Vanuatu Islands, Tonga, and Fiji. The effects on the body and mind go from sociable and gradual in nature to some varieties that you don’t want to drink on your lunch break, if you know what I mean.

While I am not at all a “health nut” I do value the benefits of magical foods and have personally benefitted from the anti inflammatory, anti anxiety, and positive benefits that the beverages served at the Elixir Bar have on the body, mind, and the nervous system.

Many years ago I was a strict vegan and while those days are personally long gone, there are no animal products used at the Elixir Bar.

I have local connections to offer customers pure coconut milk made by hand from the beaches between Parrita and Jacó. The cacao used at the Elixir Bar is made from a farm in the hills east of Parrita and all of the spices (turmeric, cinnamon, pepper, and ginger) are sourced from local farms in Costa Rica.

In addition to running a business, I want to create a non-alcoholic community space where anyone can come, make a friend, play a game, listen to music, and just chill.

I invite you to come in and try our beverages and experience the benefits that come from drinking them regularly, over a long period of time!