One of the smaller restaurants in Gruene will receive one of the country’s biggest culinary awards this week.
The River House Tea Room will get the Achievement of Excellence Award at the 2008 American Culinary Federation’s National Convention in Las Vegas that takes place Monday through Thursday.
The Tea Room, along with restaurant from Cincinnati, Ohio, and two others from Texas, earned the honor in the federation’s casual dining category.
The restaurant originally opened by Certified Executive Chef Carol Hill and her family in 1997 with the idea of hosting private parties, but over time its menu has expanded along with its reputation.
“It tells me that somebody recognizes hard work and the goal of doing the best that you can do,” Hill said of the award. “This is a big pat on the back for me,” she said.
It’s also a pat on the back for employees of the tea room.
“I’m very proud of my staff, I just happen to own the place but they really run it,” Hill said.
The tea room is a small restaurant with only several tables on the inside and a comfortable outdoor patio. The cozy restaurant specializes in sandwiches, desserts, tea and wine.
Mark Segovia, a chef and the general manager at New Braunfel’s Fork and Spoon restaurant worked under Hill as an apprentice and then was subsequently employed at the tea room as a kitchen manager.
He said he was happy when he heard that the tea room and Hill would be receiving an award from the federation.
“The restaurant business is usually cutthroat and it’s rare to see someone with her kind of heart,” Segovia said.
Local chefs and restaurateurs are planning to hold a party for Hill on July 21 at Segovia’s restaurant.
“We’re a tight-knit restaurant community in New Braunfels,” Segovia said.
“This award is a big eye opener for New Braunfels and it’s going to benefit everyone in our business here,” Segovia said.
