Britt Simons
The Eddy | Providence, RI
SEPTEMBER 2023
Britt Simons was born and raised in the Rhode Island hospitality industry. Her parents met while working together at Cheswick’s in Warren, and she started officially working in the industry at age 15 at a Greek pizza joint. She began as a hostess and a server, but eventually moved back to the kitchen, working the line for the next seven years and learning how to expo. Simons took her first full-time bartending position at Persimmon, where she would also meet her partner and fellow 2023 Rising Star Luke Mersfelder. They relocated to Chicago, and she landed at Heisler Group's Bad Hunter. There, Simons experienced a colossal growth in her cocktail knowledge, technique, and creativity. When a large fire closed Bad Hunter for several months, Simons took the concept and her team on the road, popping up all over the country and gaining a more holistic perspective on cocktail creation.
When Bad Hunter reopened, Simons returned as head bartender, and was given free reign over the menu, where she developed her palate and her refined style. In 2020, uncertainty and a longing for the Rhode Island hospitality community and creative spirit called Simons back home. After working around Rhode Island for a bit and feeling somewhat burnt out, Simons got a call from the Providence cocktail staple, The Eddy, that changed her mind. Now as bar manager, Simons helped establish a positive workplace culture, including advocating for full health insurance and more practical shifts for her and her team. Simons also prioritizes distillate education for her staff. Cocktails like her Aphid’s Daydream, with sotol, basil eau de vie, blanc vermouth, salted pea syrup, and lemon juice celebrate liquid as an agricultural product, as well as highlighting Rhode Island produce to keep her cocktails fresh and seasonal.
2023 StarChefs Coastal New England Rising Stars Award Winner
