Neal Bodenheimer
Managing Partner – CureCo.: Cure, Cane & Table, and VALS | New Orleans, LA
Partner – Dauphine’s | Washington, D.C.
Runs Beverage Operations – Peychaud’s | New Orleans, LA
Co-Chair of the Board of Directors – Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Author of Cure: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em
Neal Bodenheimer is the Managing Partner of CureCo., the acclaimed group behind Cure, Cane & Table, and VALS in New Orleans; Partner of Dauphine’s in Washington, DC; and runs beverage operations at Peychaud’s at The Celestine.
A New Orleans native, Bodenheimer discovered his passion for the beverage industry during his very first bar job at just 18 years of age. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, he embarked on a year-long trip around the world to explore global food and beverage traditions. Eager to put his experience to work, Bodenheimer then moved to New York City, where he worked for six years at respected restaurant groups including Steve Hanson’s B.R. Guest Corporation and Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group.
When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Bodenheimer felt called back home to New Orleans. In 2009, he opened Cure, which quickly gained national recognition as a pioneer of the New Orleans craft cocktail movement. Among other accolades, Cure has received the James Beard Foundation Award for “Outstanding Bar Program,” was featured on both The World’s 50 Best Bars and North America’s 50 Best Bars lists, received Excellent status from the Pinnacle Guide in 2024, and in 2025 was named the “best bar in the U.S.” by Food & Wine Magazine as part of their annual Global Tastemakers package.
In 2012, Bodenheimer and his partners opened Cane & Table in the historic French Quarter. The concept garnered significant critical acclaim, including being named one of the “Five Best New Cocktail Bars in America” by Bon Appétit, one of the “Best Bars in America” by Food & Wine, and one of the best restaurants in New Orleans by The New York Times.
In 2018, Bodenheimer took the helm of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, the non-profit that hosts the premier, global Tales of the Cocktail conference. He continues to serve as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the organization, working to further the foundation’s efforts to educate, support, and advance the global hospitality industry.
In 2020, Bodenheimer joined partners Matthew Kohnke, Turk Dietrich, and Fredo Nogueria for CureCo.’s newest concept, VALS. A true neighborhood spot located just up the road from Cure, VALS features traditional and regional Mexican-inspired cuisine with an emphasis on agave spirits.
In 2021, Bodenheimer partnered with the team behind Long Shot Hospitality to open Dauphine’s in Washington, D.C. For the Michelin-rated restaurant, Bodenheimer developed a menu built around the playful spirits and iconic cuisine of New Orleans, fulfilling his dream of opening an establishment that pays homage to his hometown. Later the same year, Bodenheimer introduced Peychaud’s to the French Quarter with a focus on perfecting classic drinks such as the Sazerac, French 75, and Vieux Carre, treating guests to a true New Orleans experience in the heart of the French Quarter.
In October 2022, he debuted his first cocktail book, Cure: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em, co-authored by Emily Timberlake and published by Abrams Books. The book received an IACP award and was a finalist for a James Beard Media Award, both in 2023.
In October 2023, Bodenheimer was recognized as “Drinks Professional of the Year” by the annual VinePair Next Wave Awards.
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