Ella Arentz is a favorite at TGIF in PCB

Name: Ella Arentz

Years bartending: 2 years

Bar location: TGI Friday's, 11580 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach

Do you have another job or what was your last job? I do photography on the side. It's more for the people I know. I'd like to do it professionally. 

Favorite Drink to make: I do love mojitos myself, so I like to make the double berry mojito. A lot of customers love it. It comes in a shaker so you can make a double portion.

What’s the most sold drink in the bar? Fridays has a lot of drinks and it depends on the season. A lot of times we'll have $9 drinks that we will promote and sell for $5. We sell a lot of Long Islands because it's cheap and strong. If we talk about Fridays' particular drinks, people like to buy either Barbados Punch or the Double Berry Mojito. 

When someone says “surprise me,” what’s your go-to drink? It depends. I always ask what their preference is for liquor and if they like sweet or sour and if they have any allergies. Based on all of that, I'll make them up something.  

Have you created your own concoction? Yes! I call it the Caribbean Sun (SEE RECIPE). It's sweet and tart and really good.

Which cocktail do you dread making? Frozen drinks. I hate the blender ... like most bartenders. Milkshakes ... mudslides — not my favorite just because the amount of time it takes. It slows down the flow.

What is the strangest drink a customer has ever ordered? I think it was called the School Bus and it comes from Ms. Newby's.

When do you know when a customer has had too much? The way they start acting and maybe their slurred speech. Some people get too loud. Some people fall off the chair.  

What do you think makes this bar special? We have great service. We have a lot of drinks. The drink menu always changes and we have a lot of drink options and many many liquors.  

Are there any new products you are interested in working with or are currently working with? If something new comes out in the market, we're pretty sure to get it. The only thing we don't have right now is the Ciroq apple.

What activities do you enjoy outside the bar? I go to the gym. I spend time with my family. I have a boyfriend and 4-year-old son.

What is your personal drink of choice? Depends on the occasion, where I'm at and what I'm eating. I'm a taste oriented person. So if I'm having wings, I'll have a beer. If I order spinach dip, I'll have some wine. If I go to Firefly, I'll get a martini. If I'm on a cruise ship, I'll drink mojitos.  

DRINK SPECIALS? They have different daily promotions. They have $6-5-4-3 items and they are constantly changing. Currently they have the Ultimate Blueberry-pom Long Island Tea for $6; Crown Apple Cooler for $5; Blue Moon Belgian White, Sam Adams Seasonal, House Long Island Teas, and featured shots for $4; and Bud Light and select light drafts for $3.

• Grey Goose Pear
• St. Germaine
• Margarita sour mix
• Passion fruit puree
• Soda Water
• Mint

How does it taste? "It's mildly tart. The passion puree really makes this drink and totally reminds me of passion fruit Starbursts." — Kristy Lynne Owens

Caribbean Sun

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