Episode 4

Beyond the Drink: How Abe Vucekovich Turns Chaos into Creativity Behind the Bar (S12/Ep.04)

Published on: 8th October, 2025

Abe Vucekovich is one of Chicago’s most imaginative bartenders, known for bringing storytelling and creativity to his cocktails. After nearly a decade at The Violet Hour, Abe now leads the bar programs at The Meadowlark and Friends of Friends - where each menu tells a story. In this episode, he shares how his background in writing influences his approach to drink design, why collaboration fuels his creativity, and how he’s using his platform to make sustainability more accessible behind the bar. Abe also opens up about his support for No Kid Hungry and the importance of addressing food insecurity in his hometown and beyond. Enjoy this episode as we go Beyond the Drink… with Abe Vucekovich.


This season of #BeyondtheDrink is brought to you by Fords Gin, - the cocktail gin.


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About the Podcast

Beyond the Plate
Culinary Legends, Giving Back
Join Andrew “Kappy” Kaplan as he sits down in-person with the world’s culinary elite to explore their journey into the food industry and the social impact they have made in their community. Every episode will share inspiring stories of what it means to be in today’s hospitality industry.

About your host

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Andrew Kaplan