Resonation with Christophe Rossi

Shift Drink

I’ve been working on getting Christophe Rossi on the show since mid-August of last year. His bar, L’Escamoteur, came highly recommended from several Kyoto locals while I was in Japan. I dropped in expecting to have a drink or two, but ended up staying all night. And several subsequent nights. The cocktails were perfect and delivered with a bit of magic, but the real draw was the sense of customer service. He was born in Marseilles and lived in India for nearly a decade studying sitar and Indian Classical music before moving to Japan. In Japan, he spent his time as magician before diving head first into the craft cocktail business.

Christophe mentions the word “resonation” several times throughout this interview. And I couldn’t think of a better title of the episode. He strives to find that resonation of everything within himself. When he is doing some sleight-of-hand magic while handing you a cocktail, it’s the connection he makes with you that makes the experience special. That resonation is a important part of being a musician, too. Especially playing the sacred ragas of India. To say he’s an enigma would be an understatement. But he’s one of the most naturally-talented and driven entrepreneurs that has ever graced my show.