Paul Maiale has been at Corktown's PJs Lager House for six years, on and off. He started doing maintenance there when PJ Ryder first bought the bar. From there he picked up hours bartending, taking over the Sunday day shift. At the time he was also working at Grosse Pointe Farms' Dirty Dog Jazz Café. It's probably safe to say these two places couldn't have more different demographics.
"I recently made an appletini for the first time in a while since the Dirty Dog," he says.
The Lager House is more of a beer bar, in Maiale's words, and shots are another big seller. You won't find a cocktail menu here, but that doesn't mean Maiale can't mix you up exactly what you're looking for.
"You want a screwdriver, I can make you a screwdriver," he says. "You want a Colorado Bulldog, I can make you a Colorado Bulldog."
For us, Maiale poured up a twist on the bar's signature shot, the Bucket. Blue Steel isn't actually blue, but it is made with Blueberry Stoli. And yes, it got its name from Zoolander.
Drink Recipe: Blue Steel Paul Maiale, PJ's Lager House
1.5 ounces Blueberry Stoli
1 ounce pineapple juice
Splash peach schnapps
Splash Red Bull
Mix Blueberry Stoli, Peach Schnapps, and pineapple juice in shaker with ice. Pour into shot glass and top with Red Bull.
