Paul Taylor is the chef and co-owner of the forthcoming cocktail and sandwich concept Your Only Friend.
Paul has refined his palate through his experiences working in nearly every position in the restaurant and bar industry throughout his fifteen-year career. During his time as Bar Manager of Southern Efficiency in Washington, D.C., Paul was voted Washington, D.C.’s “Best Male Bartender” by One Love Massive. Paul is a 2018 graduate of the Bar 5 Day Program, the acclaimed “World’s Most Comprehensive Distilled Spirits & Mixology Program.” He is also a 2018 graduate of the Gonzalez Byass Sherry Master Program, an intensive program where he was able to spend 2 days with winemaker and Master blender Antonio Flores, absorbing in-depth knowledge of the region and wines.
The COVID-19 Pandemic, as it did for all of us, changed everything. Turning lemons into lemonade, or sandwiches, in this case, Paul stepped into the kitchen to fulfill his destiny as a sandwich maker.
This role suits Paul well, as he loves to cook and has studied techniques from many famous chefs, but the food he has become most immersed in is sandwiches. He even goes so far as to call himself an expert on the subject.
Paul lives in Virginia with his wife, Kaitlynn, baby Kasey, and dog, Franklin, where they love to cook and entertain in their super green backyard garden. And if he isn’t making sandwiches, he is probably working on a recipe or perusing a cookbook from his extensive collection, possibly with a glass of natty wine, all while Action Bronson serenades the gang in the background.