The beloved New Orleans brunch destination introduces an exclusive July 22 lineup inspired by Tokyo technique, New York hustle and Southern comfort
New Orleans, LA (RestaurantNews.com) Ruby Slipper will welcome bartenders Damon Fabbo, Isabela Gonzalez and Turner Greaves from New York City’s Sip & Guzzle to its Canal Street restaurant on Wednesday, July 22, for SECOND WIND, a one-day guest bartender pop-up taking place during one of the beverage industry’s biggest weeks in New Orleans.
Each visiting bartender brings a distinct background, perspective and style to SECOND WIND while representing the acclaimed West Village cocktail destination:
- Isabela “Izzy” Gonzalez was born and raised in New York City and got her start in restaurants at 17, working at Pegu Club, Suffolk Arms and The Dead Rabbit. After spending time in front-of-house roles, she found her place behind the bar and honed her craft at Sip & Guzzle. Known for her upbeat personality and genuine hospitality, Gonzalez is passionate about making every guest feel welcome. Outside of work, she’s a dedicated mom to her 6-year-old son, Milo, and an avid anime fan.
- Damon Fabbo joined Sip & Guzzle’s Sip bar team when the concept opened after serving as head bartender at Dullboy in Jersey City. An award-winning screenwriter and comedy school graduate, Fabbo sees bartending as another form of storytelling. Whether he’s crafting cocktails or writing satire, his goal is to make people laugh, feel at home and create moments people talk about long after the last sip.
- Turner Greaves has been with Sip & Guzzle since opening, working through nearly every front-of-house role before becoming the Sip team’s newest certified bartender. A Brooklyn native, former member of the Great Jones Whiskey team and dedicated whiskey enthusiast, Greaves enjoys creating drinks that surprise guests while delivering a welcoming experience. His focus behind the bar is simple: make people feel cared for, create memorable drinks and leave every guest with something worth talking about.
Their appearance at SECOND WIND offers New Orleans locals and visitors a rare opportunity to experience the award-winning hospitality of Sip & Guzzle, recently named the No. 1 bar on North America’s 50 Best Bars list, without leaving the city.
“We’re thrilled to host Damon, Isabela and Turner at Ruby Slipper and introduce our guests to some of the most talented bartenders in the industry,” said Bryan Bass, chief marketing officer of Ruby Slipper. “They represent the best of the cocktail world, and we’ve always prided ourselves on delivering Southern hospitality and the kind of brunch experience people are looking for after a long night. SECOND WIND is a chance to celebrate what both teams do best in a way that feels authentic to New Orleans.”
Built around Tokyo technique, New York hustle and New Orleans comfort, SECOND WIND pairs the precision of Japanese bartending with Ruby Slipper’s signature brunch, creating a one-of-a-kind cocktail experience. The exclusive beverage lineup, crafted by the visiting bartenders, will be unveiled during the July 22 pop-up.
In addition to the July 22 pop-up, Ruby Slipper will offer exclusive industry specials from Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 24, for guests with an industry ID or badge, including a $10 Southern Breakfast and $7 Bloody Marys.
“We made the decision early on to approach this as a hospitality collaboration rather than a typical brand collaboration,” said Alec Kass, general manager of Sip & Guzzle. “Ruby Slipper has built something people already love, so our role wasn’t to recreate Sip & Guzzle, but to contribute talented people and thoughtful cocktails that fit naturally into that experience. With so many people in New Orleans for one of the beverage industry’s biggest weeks, we wanted to create the kind of menu that gives guests a chance to reset, enjoy a great meal with a surprising drink and head back into the day’s festivities with a second wind.”
SECOND WIND will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, at Ruby Slipper’s Canal Street restaurant, located at 1001 Canal St. Tickets will not be required.
For more information about Ruby Slipper, visit RubyBrunch.com.
About Sip & Guzzle
Located at 29 Cornelia St. in Greenwich Village, Sip & Guzzle is the second venture from world-renowned bartenders Steve Schneider (Employees Only Singapore) and Shingo Gokan (The SG Club), along with founder Justin Weitz, whose creative vision helped shape the concept from the ground up. Following the journey of Shingo’s globally acclaimed Tokyo bar, The SG Club, Sip & Guzzle is inspired by the true story of the Japanese consulate’s voyage to the United States in the mid-1800s, where they frequented the legendary Jerry Thomas’ bar in New York City, and imagines the kind of American bar those samurai would have opened upon returning to Tokyo. Sip & Guzzle represents the next chapter of this vision, with the samurai bar returning to the Big Apple, fusing the best of New York and Tokyo under one roof with a culinary program led by Executive Chef Isaac Leidenfrost, whose elevated interpretations of classic American bar food and Japanese izakaya dishes bolster Sip & Guzzle’s reputation as a coveted drinks and dining destination. Since opening, Sip & Guzzle has been named North America’s Best Bar by North America’s 50 Best Bars, ranked No. 39 on The World’s 50 Best Bars list, No. 51 on the Top 500 Bars list, and nominated for Best U.S. Cocktail Bar and Best U.S. Bar Team in the 2026 Spirited Awards.
About Ruby Slipper and Ruby Sunshine
Born from the undeniable spirit and soul of New Orleans, a place where the good times roll on no particular day of the week or time of the day, the brands set out to create a place that celebrates the craveable and creative flavor and spirit of brunch front and center every day. Ruby Slipper was founded in New Orleans in 2008 to help bring the community together over a shared love for brunch. More than 16 years since that first cozy Ruby Slipper Cafe, the group has grown to operate two brands, expanding with Ruby Sunshine, and has 26 restaurants in six states. In 2025, Ruby Slipper and Ruby Sunshine were named among America’s top breakfast chains in Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards, earning the No. 2 spot in the national poll thanks to their Southern hospitality, made-from-scratch flavors and loyal guests nationwide. Ruby Slipper and Ruby Sunshine were also named the winner of Nation’s Restaurant News’ 2025 Breakfast Showdown, earning top honors for its authentic New Orleans hospitality and signature menu items. Both brands are open seven days a week, offering everything from breakfast and brunch to lunch, coffee, and cocktails. For more, follow Ruby Slipper and Ruby Sunshine on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok and visit online at RubyBrunch.com.
Contact:
Alex Frye
Champion
214-641-0746
afrye@championmgt.com
The post Award-Winning Bartenders From Sip & Guzzle Partner With Ruby Slipper for SECOND WIND first appeared on RestaurantNews.com.
