Bartender of the Month – Art Huerta
When you go to a bar you don’t hope the bartender makes an average cocktail. You don’t have your heart set on a mediocre martini or a so-so highball. You want the best drink they can make. You want someone who cares about what they are creating for you. You want Art Huerta.
Art started his adventures in bartending in Mexico as a bar back at a club helping out the bartenders and cleaning up along the way. He learned the ropes, and when the staff learned he knew some English, he was pushed up to be a bartender and help with the crowds. Twelve years later he has picked up skills and knowledge along the way as he learned his craft. From bartending at a club to creating his own signature drinks, Art learn the ins and outs of fine dining. He worked at Havana concocting the weekly specials and trying new flavor combinations. Amerigo’s Grille has been Art’s home for the past four years, and he gets to perfect his drinks for regulars there. He perfected his Manhattan and even competed against the best in Houston in Woodford Reserve’s Manhattan competition. Last year alone he competed in 12 bartending showcases. He came in third in Miami’s Quest for the Best, and Barstool Magazine called him one of the top 10 bartenders in Houston. Art isn’t a bartender who knows what he knows and calls it a day. He’s eager to hone his skills and show off his talent.
Even with his drive to be the best, Art never forgets that making great drinks does not automatically make you a great bartender. One thing he prides himself on is his relationship with his customers. Amerigo’s Grille in The Woodlands is known for its award-winning Italian food, but regulars see this place as their own personal Cheers. Art knows most of the people there by name and by what they drink. He makes quality cocktails because he says he’s not just making them for his customers, he’s making them for his friends.
Visit Art at Amerigo’s and sample his perfected Manhattan while you try Shrimp and Crab Cheesecake or the Beef Carpaccio. There’s no need to have your dinner at a table. Stay a while, see what Art comes up with next and meet his friends.
