Chef Tirzo Hernandez grabs some mushrooms as he makes chicken marsala at Brando’s Bistro and Bar. The Sun City Anthem homeowners’ association board of directors voted Jan. 22 to start lease contract negotiations Hernandez and his associate Daniel Kamer to bring international cuisine to the community-owned Trumpets restaurant.
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009 | 2:12 p.m.
Vacant for more than a year, the Sun City Anthem community-owned Trumpets restaurant in the Anthem Center may soon be serving international cuisine.
The homeowners' association board of directors voted Jan. 22 to start lease contract negotiations with chef and restaurant manager Tirzo Hernandez and his associate, Daniel Kamer.
The restaurant has been a site of conflict in the 55-plus community. A District Court judge ordered the previous tenant, S&D Cafe V, to vacate in late 2007 for failure to pay rent.
With a community anxious to return restaurant and in-house catering services to the center, the board tried to bring in another tenant this summer. Negotiations fell through with an Italian restaurant because of conflict within the board, that operator said.
Despite this unfavorable history, and a recession that doesn't encourage expansion, Hernandez said he is looking forward to bringing his own affordable menu to Trumpets, which is in the center of activity for the community of 12,000 residents.
"I have to be diverse and provide the residents with a variety of things," Hernandez said Thursday at the Brando's, 2801 N. Green Valley Parkway. "I believe they will be happy."
He said the affordable menu will include a "blue-collar plate" of steak and potatoes, house roasted turkey and beef, seafood, Mexican, Italian and French dishes in addition to a regular lunch menu.
This variety may help Hernandez' chances of success. The last operator who attempted to move into Trumpets found the diverse tastes of the board a little hard to swallow.
Dale Valenti, co-owner of Boulevard Bar & Grille, which pulled out of lease negotiations in July, said the board was divided on what type of food it wanted, even though he informed the selection committee about his Italian menu.
"It's tough enough getting into this business, especially in this economic situation, and when you have residents or board members coming to you and saying, 'We don't like this' or 'We want to change that'..."
Hernandez said he doesn't plan to change much in the recently renovated 3,065-square-foot restaurant, which seats 160 in the bar and restaurant and has an expansive view of the Strip. He said he could add "Bistro" to the name and would like to bring in an interior decorator.
Lunch and dinner hours are tentatively set for 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday with a reservation-only brunch 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
He talked passionately about his career goals and what it's taken to start his own restaurant.
Hernandez completed his culinary apprenticeship at the Culinary Institute of Arts in Mexico City, he said. In 2002 he started a restaurant inside a local bar and grill. When the lease ended, he continued the catering business, Walnut River Catering. Hernandez has lived in Green Valley with his family since 1993.
For about 4 1/2 years Hernandez has worked as the chef and manager of three Brando's locations, which include the bar and grill on Industrial Road and the sports bar on Blue Diamond Road.
If lease negotiations go as planned, Hernandez said, he would like to hire about 30 workers for Trumpets.
"My motivation for this is to help some individuals that need work by creating jobs that are well needed," he said. "Some people think it's crazy doing this in this economy, but I strongly believe the economy will turn around in the next few months."
A friend living in Sun City Anthem encouraged him to apply for the lease, Hernandez said. He plans to bring a team in to Trumpets, including Kamer as general manager and a banquet and events coordinator.
Hernandez will move his catering company into Trumpets, he said, and continue to oversee the Brando's operations while working as chef and kitchen manager for Trumpets.
The next step is to finish lease negotiations, said Roz Berman, president of the seven-member board. The board could approve the lease in late February.
Berman said the restaurant could be open "May or June, but it's all an estimate."
Becky Bosshart can be reached at 990-7748 or [email protected].
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