Friday, Jul. 04, 2008

LaSierra Grille Serves Community More than Quality Menu Items

By John English

Contributing Writer

When Betty Becker-Steele and her husband, Jerry, took over ownership of the La Sierra Grille nearly two years ago, they wanted to give something back to the Flower Mound community.

With almost monthly fundraisers for a variety of local charities, the restaurant has done just that – and plans to do more.

"We do a variety of things, such as sponsor different charities or donate food," Becker-Steele said. "We just do what we can to help out the various charities in Flower Mound and in the surrounding area."

The Mexican restaurant has provided assistance to such groups as CASA, Lamb of God Youth Organization, MedMissions, Community Christian Action, Habitat for Humanity and a number of local schools.

"We hit them all," Becker-Steele said. "If they come in and ask for one [a fundraiser], we try to do it for them whenever we can."

Becker-Steele said the reason she and Jerry try to support so many organizations is because the community those groups serve, help support La Sierra.

"We considered it to be a local, family restaurant," Becker-Steele said. "In our minds, it was important that we be a part of the community. It’s a neighborhood restaurant and they were supportive, so we need to give back to the neighbors. That’s our way of thinking, and to be honest, it feels good."

Becker-Steele said the only times the restaurant has turned anyone down were when some clubs were looking for sponsorship items, saying that is not the way the way they prefer to help.

"What we try to do usually is make it a win-win situation for both of us," Becker-Steele said. "What we will typically do is work to get people into the restaurant and then donate a percentage of our sales."

Becker-Steele said she is not sure exactly how much La Sierra has donated to various organizations over the years, but did say on the "Lamb of God" night at the restaurant, they usually give about $200 to the organization.

Becker-Steele said she and her husband decided to buy La Sierra after they had been customers there, saying they were very particular about what they wanted in a restaurant.

"My husband and I both have day jobs," Becker-Steele said. "We laugh and call the restaurant the science experiment. It was a restaurant that we liked to eat at and that we used to frequent several times a week. The reason that we liked it was because we always felt that the food was really good there, it’s a laid-back atmosphere ... and you can just come in and be yourself and be comfortable, cut up with the waiters and waitresses and just enjoy yourself."

Becker-Steele said charitable work is such a passion for her and Jerry because of the hand they have been dealt, themselves.

"I look at life, and I realize that my husband and I have been very fortunate, and we’ve been very blessed," Becker-Steele said. "We both have good jobs, and I look around, and there are a lot of people that have not been able to have that good fortune. We just want to be able to help out wherever we can."