Teqa

Teqa fills a void in Murray Hill’s restaurant and nightlife scene by melding a modern menu and design sensibilities with a traditional spirit. Its unparalleled liquor selection, curated by John Laymeyer and Naren Young, meets an exquisitely crafted menu by the chef. Interior designer Lesly Zamor (Seed NY) has deftly mixed a fluid floor plan with striking décor. That design was given life through the brilliant construction work of Strictly Structural, who ensured every last handcrafted detail was inspired by the cultures that shaped the 500-year-long history of tequila.

Murray Hill is a vibrant and youthful neighborhood with an energy that can barely be contained in its blocks. Blending creativity and drive, the people who live and work within its blocks are the key influencers of tomorrow. Until recently, the area was serviced by traditional bars and pubs with few upscale offerings and very little Mexican fare. Teqa fills that void by a melding modern menu and design sensibilities with a traditional spirit.

Master mixologist John Lermayer of the Morgans Hotel Group has crafted an unparalleled liquor selection, including the world’s finest agave spirits. Elevating tequila and mescal cocktails to new heights, Lermayer adds another dimension to Teqa. His pioneering approach has made him the subject of much media attention; Lermayer has appeared on MSNBC and Fox News while his recipes have appeared everywhere from the Vanity Fair to the WallStreet Journal.

Naren Young is a world-class bartender whose tireless study of mixology has brought him to Manhattan . After nearly two decades of studying cocktails and the bartending profession, Naren’s passion has taken him around the world in various capacities. He’s tended bar at some of the world’s finest cocktail establishments. He’s trained bartenders in Singapore, Buenos Aires, Germany, Brazil, New Zealand and, of course, in Australia where he was raised.Naren has also established himself as a respected and widely published food and drinks journalist and bar consultant. He currently resides in New York where he stays up way too late drinking margaritas and high-end tequila (another of his great passions). For more on Naren, check out www.forkandshaker.com.

Translating the vibrancy and flavor of the design to the menu, Teqa’s enlisted Executive Chef, Lisa Schoen to create a presentation of modern and traditional Mexican cuisine that draws from influences around the globe. Chef Shoen is the personal chef to Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, former Executive Chef for Saturday Night Live and has worked as a food stylist for celebrity chefs including Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali, Paula Dean, Lidia Bastianich and Katie Lee. In addition, Chef Schoen has worked for the past twelve years for Food Network on television programs such as Iron Chef and Throwdown With Bobby Flay and was also a finalist on Food Network’s Chopped.

Teqa’s tables rival the beauty of its chandeliers. Built from wood local to the Guadalajara region of Mexico and accented by brass molding, these tables are finely carved by expert craftsmen.

The mastermind behind Teqa, Derek Axelrod, comes from a line of successful entrepreneurs and cut his teeth early. He helped craft highly successful campaigns for his families company, French Connection. As head of the product placement division, Mr. Axelrod was responsible for outfitting celebrities in French Connection apparel. It was a position that he excelled at and it helped shape his unique approach to public relations. Since that time he has acquired, expanded, and built a number of restaurants. His vision for Teqa is a neighborhood bar and restaurant that can be expanded to other locations that embody the same creative energy and hip spirit found in Murray Hill.