Martini tips from a Musso and Frank’s veteran

Written by

Ruben Rueda is the longest tenured bartender at Musso & Frank Grill, one of the fabled watering holes mentioned by writer Andrea Richards on this week’s cocktails show. Musso’s is Hollywood’s oldest restaurant, and Rueda has been working the bar there for nearly fifty years. He recently spoke with Richard Parks III about his career, including how he makes a proper Musso’s martini and what it was like to kick Steve McQueen out of his bar. This interview is a sneak preview of an upcoming episode of Parks’ sound-rich, playful “gastrocomedy” food show, “Richard’s Famous Food Podcast.”

Follow Richard’s gustatory adventures on Twitter or Instagram.

Ruben Rueda has been working the bar in some capacity at Musso and Frank Grill in Hollywood for nearly fifty years. Photo credit: Richard Parks III (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)