Sandrine Houdré-Grégoire has always been drawn to blends, a passion that took root at a young age and has illuminated her career.
“From the beginning, I knew that serving others was my calling,” she says. “In a bar, you find everything: the atmosphere, the conviviality, the taste and smell sensations.”
Graduating at just 17, she joined the ABF (Association Française des Barmen) as soon as she came of age. Her desire to learn led her to Australia, where she perfected her English and her bartending skills, while exploring the world (from New York to Cuba to New Zealand).
At the age of 21, the Accor group offered him a position as team leader at the Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe.
Back in France, she ran a cocktail bar in Blois before being recruited, a year later, by Le Bateau Ivre in Courchevel, a Michelin-starred restaurant.
In 2000, the legendary Byblos des Neiges hotel in Courchevel placed its trust in her, followed by an establishment in Saint-Tropez. Sandrine supervised a team of 19 people as an assistant, then head bartender.
Always looking for new challenges, she flew to Gstaad in 2003 for the opening of Chlösterli and Alain Ducasse's 7th Spoon restaurant in the world, attracting the jet set and celebrities.
In 2004, she was recruited for the opening of the new Murano Urban Resort Paris, where she led a team of 11 people and offered a selection of 200 vodka references, while revealing her creativity in terms of cocktails.
In 2006, it innovated by developing a range of low-calorie cocktails, thus launching a new trend.
Her success was recognized in 2008 by the prize for best French mixologist at the Cocktails Zone Awards.
Since 2010, Larousse publishing has chosen her as a reference author for their works on cocktails. She is notably the author of The Peaky Blinders Cocktail Book, Rhums arrangés, Mocktails, Beach Cocktails or Le Petit Larousse des Cocktails. Since then, she has founded her own company, Virgin Cucumber, which has now become Essensorium, aimed at a wide audience. The Peaky Blinders Cocktail Book Rhums arrangés Mocktails Beach Cocktails Le Petit Larousse des Cocktails
Sandrine Houdré-Grégoire embodies human warmth and pure energy, combined with a particular sensitivity towards others, all embellished with laughter and carrying the promise of success, so obvious is her talent.
Today, in addition to being an excellent mixologist, she works as an Art Therapist, which is obviously felt during her mixology workshops that she has been running regularly at OOGY WAWA since 2021!
You can discover Sandrine through her sites:
https://www.virgincucumber.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100031961722291&fref=ts
SANDRINE HOUDRE-GREGOIRE