Having earned a following for his craft cocktails at places like Julep's, the Fanhouse and Bistro 27, Bobby Kruger is taking his expertise to New York City's Soho neighborhood, where he's starting a new job Monday at Back Forty West, which opened in April.

He says he'll be bartending and creating the cocktail menu for the restaurant in the former home of the Savoy. "I'll go to the market every day and come back and put a cocktail menu together," he says, adding, "They have someone who knows a lot about wine and beer that I hope to learn from."

Kruger still plans to maintain Richmond ties, though, and says he'll be back in town fairly often to spend time with his girlfriend and do guest bartending shifts, which he'll announce on his website and via Twitter. Yesterday, for example, he was at Amour Wine Bistro making Jack Skellingtons, a signature pumpkin-flavored drink (topped with toasted marshmallows) from his days at Julep's and other cocktails. (Amour is celebrating its second anniversary. Click here to read more about that.) Kruger also plans to make appearances behind the bar elsewhere in Richmond tonight and Saturday night, but didn't want to say where yet. 

In addition, he's working Hardywood Park Craft Brewery to come up with flavorings for one-of-a-kind casks that will be offered at local restaurants once a month. The first such event is set for July 16 at Balliceaux. "It will be a refreshing summer beer," Kruger says. And yes, on those occasions, he'll also be making cocktails.

"I think it will be fun," he says. "It will also give me a chance to highlight some places in town that aren't getting as much traffic as they deserve."