Ginn Choe Is the 'Bobby's Triple Threat' Bartender Who Handles More Than Just Mixology

Imagine a dream team. What came to mind first? Perhaps a particularly memorable crew that took home the trophy at the end of March Madness, the World Series or the World Cup? Or maybe the Justice League? We might be a bit biased, but we think Bobby Flay and his trio of Titans are tough to top.

Besides Bobby, Ayesha Nurdjaja, Brooke Williamson and Michael Voltaggio, if you’ve tuned into any episode of Bobby’s Triple Threat, you may have noticed another cast member who is also an essential part of the elite squad: Ginn Choe. Ginn is essential in both easing anxiety on the set and acting like the “Vanna White of sorts,” she said on an episode of the Version 1 podcast.

We decided to shake up the refreshing Titan Cocktail she designed to sip on as we reflected on her unexpected journey from science to music to mixology inside one of the culinary world’s coolest clubs.

Who Is Ginn?

“I might be the only bartender on Food Network. [Bobby] really fought for that,” Ginn mentioned during the Version 1 podcast interview.

Her path to that position wasn’t a linear one. In fact, at school, Ginn studied science and spent a lot of time in the lab. But that couldn’t capture the creative’s attention for long, so she adjusted her ambitions to music, eventually moving from Detroit, Michigan, to New York City to try to make it big. Ginn quickly learned that this was much harder than she initially anticipated.

“The raw honesty of the music industry is a dark place where you don't make a lot of money [unless] you're really big and on top,” Ginn told Version 1. Otherwise, “you're at the bottom of the totem pole” and end up spending a lot of time at camps and in corners, fighting for a spot on the stage.

After realizing that singing and composing may not pay the bills, Ginn turned to hospitality “more out of desperation than anything else. But then I really fell in love with craft,” she continued during that podcast chat. Soon, she realized, “I'm a lifer.”

Mixology came to Ginn fairly naturally, especially after she learned about chemistry and the scientific method in the lab. She knew she was made for bartending once she realized she had some solid people skills, too: “I’m not in a sleepy lab or a padded room of microphones anymore. I learned that I’m actually really good with people, and that's when I really also fell in love” with curating the entire drink experience.

In terms of Ginn’s purpose and her financial security, the industry came as a lifeboat of sorts, right when Ginn needed it, and it “kind of saved my life in that regard. This is my calling.”

After opening a series of high-profile cocktail bars and lounges, including Chapel Bar in New York City, Ginn met a TV producer who asked her if she’d entertain the idea of starring on a show as the “bartender extraordinaire.” (That’s what Bobby called Ginn a few seasons into the series as they chatted about a new cocktail she dreamed up for the show.)

Initially, the producer kept quiet about the culinary talent involved. As soon as Ginn learned that Bobby was the star of the show, she was ready to Throwdown. (Sorry, we couldn’t resist!) Ginn was delighted to sign on as the cocktail pro who stands behind the bar in the Triple Threat lounge, Club 3.

The lights, camera, action of it all was intimidating at first. Ginn has admitted to a strong case of imposter syndrome when filming commenced. Still, once Michael expressed shock and awe after tasting a peanut butter and jelly-inspired mixed drink recipe Ginn crafted, she started to feel more at ease. Soon after, Bobby’s assistants began asking, “Where did they find you?” and Ginn began to cause quite the buzz behind the scenes.

Since her first season, Ginn has pioneered and poured about 120 unique drink recipes each season. That’s right: Ginn never repeats a single one. Her concoctions are custom-made to align with the cuisines and preferences of the guest chefs.

And as the seasons progress, her role grows larger and larger. These days, Ginn makes drinks for the cast, crew and audience members, delivers the plates of food to the judge, keeps score on a large pegboard and hands over the bag full of $25,000 if the competing chef reigns supreme.

Behind-the-Scenes Secrets From Ginn

During our deep dive into the wide world of Ginn, we rounded up some of the tea she has shared about the show.

Ginn has said…

• The competition is legit. None of the action is rigged. Ginn is clued in about the competing chefs at the start of the season so she can dream up drinks that align with the parts of the world they represent or the ingredients they normally use. But she and Bobby are the only two dream team members to know. The on-set staff takes the secrecy so seriously that the Titans aren’t allowed to peek at what’s in Ginn’s fridge (in case the drink components might give them a clue about the genre of food, and as a result, the potential challenging chef).
• Her bar is well-stocked. Dried citrus fruit wheels, fruit juices, bitters and bottles galore grace Ginn’s station.
• Filming can be tiring. To recharge, Ginn likes to soak in Epsom salt baths, hit the gym, eat a well-balanced diet, carve out enough time for sleep and “try not to talk to people” during peak filming weeks, she told Version 1. “Bartending is such a physical job — you're on your feet for hours at a time. Physical rest and taking care of your body is so important.”
• She keeps busy off-set. Outside of “the office,” Ginn still has a recording studio. Every so often, she grabs an instrument to jam. She’s also polishing up a spirit-free drink book, with a release date to be announced.
• None of the drinks you see contain booze. Although they look like cocktails you’d order at an upscale bar, Ginn confirmed that every single drink you see on screen is alcohol-free, so the competitors can keep a level head as they face off.

Ginn Recipes to Try

When Ginn goes to a cocktail bar for “R&D,” she often opts for the most unexpected drink on the menu. Some of those end up inspiring the medleys she shares on set. (That being said, she’s not above a classic. Ginn’s fall-back favorite is a whiskey and soda.)

If all of these drink discussions have you feeling parched, Ginn was kind enough to spill everything you need to know to make a few of her chef-approved recipes:

• Bobby’s Old Fashioned: "I asked Bobby Flay about his favorite teas and one of them was the classic English breakfast variety. I wanted to do a twist on a classic cocktail for Bobby, so I came up with an English breakfast tea-infused honey, which would complement bourbon well and become part of a type of old-fashioned. I find that an old-fashioned is always a tried-and-true elegant classic, and very real — just like Bobby." Get the recipe.
• The Club 3: "Here’s a little backstory about The Club 3, as our cocktail is our modern twist on one of my favorite classic cocktails, The Clover Club. This classic cocktail is also named after another exclusive hangout for titans of many different industries during the late 1800s, when their meetings would naturally include food and drinks. The Clover Club is a classic cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup and egg white.  Our cocktail, The Club 3, is also a berry sour with egg white, lemon and gin, but we are swapping the raspberry syrup for a blueberry-honey syrup, displaying our club colors of blue and gold." Get the recipe.
• The Triple Palmer: "This version of a traditional Arnold Palmer incorporates chai tea, cherry and lemon. The meeting of these flavors creates a triple threat of deliciousness in a mocktail that’s sweet, herbaceous and tart at the same time." Get the recipe.
• Blue and Gold Cocktail: "Inspired by the colors of Bobby’s Triple Threat, this golden passionfruit honey margarita is garnished with a vibrant Yves Klein shade of blue coconut water foam." Get the recipe.
• The 25 Grand: "Named after the $25K duffle bag cash prize, this drink puts a modern spin on the classic 'Gold Rush' cocktail. Pulling inspiration from the blue-and-gold color scheme of the Triple Threat set, this luscious libation is comprised of blue butterfly pea flower ice cubes, bourbon, honey and lemon juice with a touch of gold glitter. As the blue ice cubes melt into the golden mixture, the acidity from the lemon juice turns the beverage pink, creating a triple threat trifecta of colors for a dramatic presentation that counteracts with its smooth and well-balanced flavor." Get the recipe.
• Titan Cocktail: "This cocktail is a riff on the Saturn cocktail, a tiki drink named in honor of the Saturn rocket which propelled the first Apollo mission into space. The Saturn cocktail is made with passionfruit, orgeat (usually made with almonds), lemon, gin and falernum. For this twist, in honor of the Triple Threat Titans, I substitute a more sustainable orgeat, made with abundant sunflower seeds instead of the typical almonds." Get the recipe.