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Happy Hour: A conversation with Ronda Parker
Sheila Mesulam/Staff
Drink - Appletini.
Sheila Mesulam/Staff
Bartender - Ronda Parker.
Applebee's - North Naples
10750 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, Fl
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Title: Bartender and front house manager of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 5082 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples, 434-7744.
Hometown: Pennsville, N.J.
How long have you been here? Fourteen years. ”I started as a server and have been a bartender for 12 years.”
What is the first drink you ever had?
A mudslide.
What is your favorite drink? “A perfect margarita.”
What is the last drink you had out?
“A perfect margarita.”
What is your favorite bar besides Applebee’s? “I like Outback Steakhouse. We generally go there.”
Do you have any back of the bar advice? “Get to know your guests. Learn their name so they come back to see you and build a good clientele.”
Do you have a pet peeve? “When guests are on their phone. We are supposed to greet our customers within a certain amount of time and when they are their phone, it makes it difficult.”
What was your largest tip? “It was $200 from a regular customer. They were moving and gave me a large tip.”
What is your favorite bar food? “Our appetizer sampler is enough to share and snack on while you have drinks.”
When is your happy hour? “All day every day we have two-for-one on almost everything.”
Do you have any superstitions before you start working? “I set up the same way all the time. I have a routine.”
What is your favorite time of day?
“I don’t like mornings. I like it when I get home at dinner time and hear about my kids’ day. I also like to see my husband come home.”
What is your favorite garnish?
“Apple balls. They are interesting and are really good.”
When was the last time you had to look up a drink? “About a week ago.
It is the old school things that I have to look up.”
What brand is asked for by name? “Absoluts are the most popular.”
Who would you like to have a drink with? “My dad. I would have the perfect margarita with him.”
Did you ever serve a celebrity? “Edgerrin James of the Colts.”
Did you ever invent a drink? “No, we have to stick with the corporate specs.”
Parker gave us this recipe.
The Apple Bee Tini
Ingredients
1 ounce Shakka red apple liqueur
1 ounce Smirnoff green apple twist vodka
1 ounce apple juice
1 ounce sweet and sour mix
Chilled martini glass
2 apple balls on a spear
Preparation
-- Fill a shaker with ice.
-- Pour in the liqueur and vodka.
-- Pour in the apple juice and sweet and sour mix.
-- Shake and strain into the chilled martini glass.
-- Garnish with 2 apple balls on a spear.
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i didnt know that apples have balls
#1 Posted by kbeechnw on July 16, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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