Collection:LPB

Genre: Interview

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1998-08-02

Duration: 00:25:38

Subjects: Fertel, Ruth | Ruth's Chris Steak House | Business | Food | RESTAURANTS

Contributors:

• Weill, Gus Host
• Fertel, Ruth Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from August 2, 1998, features an interview with Ruth Fertel conducted by Gus Weill. Fertel, a native of New Orleans, is the founder and CEO of Ruth’s Chris Steak House. She discusses: growing up in Plaquemines Parish; studying chemistry and physics at LSU; teaching at McNeese Junior College (now known as McNeese State University); her job as a lab technician at Tulane Medical Center; her decision to buy a steak restaurant; the early stages of her restaurant; her vision for growth; expanding the restaurant to Baton Rouge with T.J. Moran; how her steak is cooked; the Ruth’s Chris Steak Houses outside of the country; the attributes to her success; corporate numbers; advice; Prime beef; and the importance of consistency.