Library Bar Loses Its Mascot, Muse and Maestro

Last night, among friends and regulars inside Library Bar at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, bartender Matthew Biancaniello announced his resignation. He confirmed it in a Facebook post, too: "2 weeks from tonight will be my last night at the Library Bar, thank you everyone for your support over the last 4 plus years!!! All the best."

Best known for creating cocktails that combine unusual, hard-to-find and often savory ingredients, Biancaniello is a pioneer of the modern bespoke cocktail. His bar was one of the first in LA to offer drinks based on a guest's taste or mood. Often spotted at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market on Wednesdays, Biancaniello picked seasonal ingredients as a chef would, splurging on fraises de bois strawberries, dragon fruit, finger limes and chilis. He remains an occasional guest on KCRW's Good Food with Evan Kleiman and appears at food and drink events throughout the year. While Biancaniello has not yet said where he plans to go next, he occasionally takes consulting gigs (FigOly) and has more than once been offered his own bar. [EaterWire]

[Photo: Tatsu Oiye]