It's all in the family
Justin and Jonathon McKenzie
She’s mum to Flight of the Conchord’s Bret McKenzie, and Jonathon and Justin McKenzie, the owners of successful Wellington bars Hawthorn Lounge and Hooch.
Jonathon and Justin have just received a Capital Award for each of their bars – The Beam Global Outstanding Bar Team for Hooch, and The Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Best Ambience and Style for HawthornLounge.
Hooch bartender Josh Crawford also just received a third placing with his team in the 42Below Cocktail World Cup 2010.
“It must be good genes,” laughs Tarrant. “They grew up in a very busy and broad-minded environment. They’re very strong on people skills because we had a house constantly full of people. We have lots of memories of artists staying at our place all the time, and there’s always been a lot of passion.”
Tarrant is proud of Jonathon and Justin’s latest hospitality achievements, and says she likes that their bars are “mamma friendly”.
“They have a non-alcoholic ‘mamma cocktail’ for me,” she laughs.
Justin is “chuffed” to have been so successful at the awards.
“It’s nice to be acknowledged and it’s also cool because Hawthorn and Hooch are smaller in the industry,” he says. “The team are always excited and happy to be there – there’s a good morale.”
Tarrant says because both her and her husband Peter have always been self-employed, they had to take as many opportunities as they could and give everything 110%. It’s something that’s rubbed off on the boys.
“It’s more than just making a drink, it’s about making a very good drink,” she laughs.
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