User:Ɱ/Eamon Rockey

Eamon Rockey is the founder of Rockey’s Milk Punch. He is known for his position as general manager and author of the beverage program at Michelin-starred Betony, an American restaurant located in midtown Manhattan, New York City until its closing in 2016.

Early life and education
Eamon Rockey was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to parents who were both chefs. By the age of 14, he was encouraged to start working and he started at Sakura, the only sushi restaurant in Hattiesburg.

Rockey studied at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Professional Studies degree in 2006.

Career
After a brief stint at Gilt restaurant in 2006, Rockey moved on to Eleven Madison Park in 2007 where he was captain and bartender for three years. Rockey helped to open Compose in Tribeca in late 2010 and served there as opening General Manager and Beverage Director. In the Spring of 2012, Compose re-opened as Atera with Chef Matthew Lightner and earned two Michelin stars Rockey then managed the dining room and oversaw the beverage program as a partner at Aska, a Scandinavian restaurant that he opened with Chef Fredrik Berselius.

Betony
In 2013, Rockey joined with Chef Bryce Shuman to open Betony (which closed December 31, 2016). They first met in 2007 while working at Eleven Madison Park and opened Betony together on West 57th Street. Betony earned rave reviews including “Restaurant of the Year” from Esquire a Michelin star and a spot on the Wine Enthusiast’s “100 Best Wine Restaurants” list. Betony also earned a three star review from The New York Times ' food critic, Pete Wells, in 2013. VinePair has called the milk-punch-centric drink program at Betony, headed by Rockey, “second to none.”

Collaborations
On September 20, 2016, Eamon collaborated with drum and base DJ Damian “Dieselboy” Higgins on an event called “Going Up: Advanced Dungeons and Drinking” as part of a weekly cocktail series held at VON.

Philanthropy
Rockey is a supporter of the non-profit organization No Kid Hungry, for which he serves as Spirits Chair in New York. In 2015, he hosted his culinary peers for a cook-off dinner to benefit No Kid Hungry.