PALMINA: b. 1927 Utica, NY to Italian immigrants. A life giver, a boundless creator, a remarkable cook, a fierce sass machine. A collector of songbirds and hydrangeas. She was stubborn but she was graceful. Her hands were her tools yet they were always well manicured. A caretaker until the end. And she drank vodka: one ice cube, lemon, stirred with her pinky.
Hi, I’m Nikki. That’s my Nonna. When her time on this earth was done, among many other things, she left me her kitchen skills and her bar cart, and it’s seen me through my worst of times. After being a functioning alcoholic (I have my qualms with that term, but it makes the point) for many years, it nearly cost me my life. While I don’t miss drinking, I do miss the craft of cocktails, the balance of flavor and sensory attributes, the experience of savoring a beverage like a special dish. And that need to create that itched in my grandmother is hereditary.
Her bar cart now serves as my tool kit and inspiration, and in her name I present: BAR PALMINA. A cocktail bar offering non-alcoholic drinks, crafted with the love and care that only a grandmother can teach, from a picky and obsessive former heavy drinker.
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In August of 2022 I underwent a liver transplant due to excessive drinking for many years. Throughout the process, I had the unbelievable support of my family and friends. It's with that support and a literal second shot at life that I've been able to continue my story as a sober entrepreneur. My mission is to bring artistic, creative zero-proof cocktails that both drinkers and non-drinkers alike can savor and I am once again looking to my support system to make it happen.
While the new market of zero-proof drinks is already taking off abroad and slowly picking up pace in the US, I aim to chip in and stand out by offering our cocktails with house-made syrups and quality ingredients. I am hoping to be open for business on January 1, 2024, competitively becoming one of the first zero-proof cocktail bars in Philadelphia. With your funding, I plan to secure a venue and make it feel like a second home to all. This includes lease signing, deposit, rent, legal fees, licenses, marketing, equipment, glassware, pop-up events, and of course: inventory!!
Please consider joining me in this journey by helping me reach this goal, and a million times over: THANK YOU!
