Anthony Vitacca
Montrio Bistro, 414 Calle Principal, Monterey
648-8880, www.montrio.com
Anthony Vitacca is one part mixologist and two parts hero. He schemes up concoctions with names like Sly Rye and Hell Hath No Fury, and has a taste for new things as well as fresh takes on old classics, like his gin fizz with apricot liqueur and orange bitters, and an old-fashioned with cardamom bitters and spiced honey foam. Vitacca’s also a historian of mixology with a nose for trivia, a DIYer who makes his own infusions and bitters, while maintaining a friendly and lively presence behind the bar.