My Life
I am Gal A. Pilko. I was born just outside Ljubljana, Slovenia — only about 45 minutes away. Because Slovenia is so small, people often think I’m from somewhere far away, but I’m not. I’m 28 years old, born in 1997. I went to school in Celje, which is near where I’m from, and I also completed gymnasium there.
My mother works in events, so from an early age, I was exposed to guests and the world of hospitality. After school, I wasn’t really sure what to study. One thing I knew for certain: I didn’t want to stay in Celje or Polzela, my hometown — I would’ve gone crazy from boredom. I told my parents I’d take a gap year and move to Ljubljana. I planned to pick up student jobs, cover my rent, and just live month to month.
After about six months in Ljubljana, I started working at a random bar. Right away, I knew I really enjoyed working in such an environment. Most bars in Slovenia operate all day — coffee and tea in the morning, and later drinks, wine, and beer — so I got to learn the business from the ground up. During that time, I also discovered specialty coffee, which fascinated me with its flavors, acidity, and fruitiness. That’s when I realized I wanted to work in this industry for the rest of my life. Coffee was my first love — cocktails followed.
