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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Ernest Servantes has distinguished himself through |
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his accomplishments as a pitmaster and co-owner of Burnt Bean Co. in |
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Seguin; and |
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WHEREAS, A self-trained chef from Uvalde, Ernest Servantes |
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began his restaurant career as a dishwasher and busser; he went on |
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to work as a corporate trainer for Outback Steakhouse and as a cook |
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for Huisache Grill in New Braunfels, and he later enjoyed a 15-year |
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tenure as an executive chef with Sodexo, overseeing dining services |
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at Texas Lutheran University; and |
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WHEREAS, After honing his barbecue skills on his backyard |
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grill, Mr. Servantes joined a competitive team, and they entered |
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and won their first cook-off in 2009; over the succeeding years, |
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they continued to overcome the competition at local, regional, and |
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state barbecue contests; he went on to earn national attention with |
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his victory in a 2012 episode of the Food Network show Chopped Grill |
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Masters; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2019, Mr. Servantes and former rival |
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pitmaster-turned-teammate Dave Kirkland joined forces to launch a |
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pop-up restaurant, which consistently sold out within an hour of |
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opening; despite the pandemic, they took their business to the next |
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level, establishing the brick-and-mortar Burnt Bean Co. in 2020 to |
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wide acclaim; known for its traditional meats, its Mexican-inspired |
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sides, and its rotating brunch menu, the eatery has been ranked |
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among the best barbecue joints in the state by both Texas Monthly |
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and The New York Times, and it received a Michelin Bib Gourmand |
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Award in 2024; moreover, Mr. Servantes and Mr. Kirkland were |
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recognized for their culinary prowess as James Beard Award |
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semifinalists in the Best Chef: Texas category; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his inventive and skillful take on a classic |
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Texas cuisine, Ernest Servantes is elevating Seguin's place on the |
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culinary map, and he has earned the admiration and appreciation of |
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his fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Ernest Servantes for his contributions as |
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a pitmaster and restaurateur and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for continued success in all his endeavors; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Servantes as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |