MERLIN GRIFFITHS
GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADOR
Award-winning UK mixologist, Merlin Griffiths has the enviable role of global brand ambassador for Bombay Sapphire®gin travelling the world demonstrating the art of mixology and the many ways in which Bombay Sapphire can be used to create incredible cocktails.
Merlin is representative of a new wave of exceptionally talented UK-based bartenders who are pushing the boundaries of cocktail making and have helped establish London as the cocktail capital of the world. Merlin makes no excuses for the precision of his cocktail making, his attention to detail and his religious use of the finest fresh, seasonal ingredients wherever possible. "For me, it's the difference between a good cocktail and a great cocktail," says Merlin.
Merlin is respected by his peers for his endless creativity; his passion for his craft and his desire to challenge pre-conceived ideas of what can and can't be done to make a great cocktail. It is this attitude combined with his exceptional cocktail making skills that have won Merlin numerous awards including a number of trophies in the prestigious Drinks International Cocktail Challenge.
Merlin has spent his entire adult working life perfecting his craft in some of the world’s best bars including several in London’s West End bars and in Notting Hill. Like Bombay Sapphiregin itself, there’s also a touch of the exotic to Merlin having recently spent a year in India working as a bar consultant for one of the country’s leading luxury hotel groups.
As the global ambassador for Bombay Sapphire, Merlin can fully express his adventurous spirit and his refreshing approach to mixology. “I love sharing my passion for Bombay Sapphire gin cocktails and perhaps surprising a few people who think they know gin cocktails but don’t know how Bombay Sapphire adds a new dimension to the classics and has a mixability beyond many other gins.”
With these strong foundations in place, Merlin has gone on to achieve great things. In the UK, he is already no stranger to the spotlight having appeared as the resident mixologist on the No.1 BBC TV food and drink programme, Saturday Kitchen.
When Merlin is not travelling he can be found at the Bombay SapphireExperience in London where he has the opportunity to experiment with the freshest seasonal ingredients sourced from the neighbouring Borough Market, the most acclaimed food market in the UK.
Local Entertaining Experts
Toronto
Sebastien Centner, Senior Partner, Eatertainment
Sebastien Centner is the Senior Partner of Eatertainment Hospitality. Eatertainment has created and continues to operate some of Toronto’s most celebrated (and celebrity-frequented) restaurants including The Bloor Street Diner and Panorama Lounge, winner of Where Magazine’s “Best Bar in Toronto” award.
In 2001, Sebastien launched Eatertainment Special Events & Catering, which has grown to be one of Canada’s top event planning and catering companies and was awarded ‘Best Caterer in Canada’ by the Canadian Event Industry Association.
Sebastien has spearheaded and seamlessly executed hundreds of events for high-profile clients including Toronto Fashion Week, Toronto International Film Festival, Hugo Boss, Porsche and Playboy. Sebastien has also had the privilege of hosting events for such public figures as Martha Stewart, President Bill Clinton and Brad Pitt, to name a few.
Sebastien also contributes his savoir-faire to charitable events, most notably the annual Fashion Cares Gala in support of the Aids Committee of Toronto that garnered the prestigious award for “Best Charity Event of the Year” with Sebastien as the co-chair.
Over the past few years, Sebastien has built a reputation as an industry trendsetter and has become a go-to source for inspiring at-home entertaining concepts. Known for hosting the most stylish dinner parties, Sebastien not only has a keen eye for design and an amazing attention to detail but also never ceases to amaze his guests with creative menu selections, cool cocktails, chic décor and beautiful table settings.
Recognized as an ‘entertaining’ media personality, Sebastien’s concepts, recipes and lavish events have been featured in EnRoute, Style at Home Magazine, Toronto Fashion, The National Post, The Globe & Mail, Wedding Bells, and FQ Magazine, among others. He currently is a contributing editor to Homefront Magazine and Woman.ca. Additionally, Sebastien has developed story ideas for - and has appeared on - ET Canada, CTV’s Canada AM, Cityline, Breakfast Television, Star TV, and Rogers Daytime Toronto.
Sebastien’s interest in design led him to co-design an ARIDO award winning outdoor furniture collection called In The Round, which he created to compliment outdoor entertaining concepts. Sebastien is proud to be working in an industry that he is so passionate about. Aside from his family, his greatest satisfaction is felt when he is able to help a client produce an unforgettable event. Sebastien lives in Toronto with his wife of 13 years, Sheila and their two sons.
Vancouver
Murray Bancroft, Food Stylist and Chef
Murray Bancroft is a food stylist and chef who works with a roster of international culinary clients spreading his gospel of seasonal, healthy food. Whole Foods, Kellogg’s, Garden Protein International, McDonalds Europe, Cactus Club Cafes, Uva wine bar and Cibo trattoria are just a few of the companies who have benefited from his progressive and youthful approach to cooking. Bancroft apprenticed at Vancouver’s renowned classical French restaurant, Le Crocodile, and with the late Jean-Claude Ramond (The Smoking Dog), one of the cities foremost culinary figures.
After traveling and studying abroad, including two years in the South of France, the beauty and bounty of the Pacific Northwest lured Murray back to his native Vancouver where he continues to consult with top food companies and restaurant chains throughout North America and Europe. In addition to styling toothsome feasts for magazines such as Western Living and Condé Nast (he also has a degree in art history), Bancroft’s product development projects have garnered international awards for innovation. As one of the founding members of B.C.’s Chefs’ Table in 2004, Bancroft has always supported the use of local ingredients.
Montréal
Louis-François Marcotte, Chef/Owner Simpléchic and Le Local, Host Le Goût de Louis
By the time he was 20, Louis-François Marcotte’s long-standing love affair with fine food led him to open restaurant/catering shop Simpléchic. On Le Goût de Louis, broadcast on Canal Vie, he was able to share his passion with a wider audience. In May 2008, the young ‘chef prodigy’ opended Le Local, launched with Chef/partner Alexandre Gosselin (formerly of Ô Chalet). It wasn’t long before fresh young stars and seasoned food critics arrived in droves and left praising the pair’s inventive spirit and attention to detail.
