The Frontier Restaurant has been named Restaurant Neighbor of the Year by the New Mexico Restaurant Association.
The award was recently presented to Larry and Dorothy Rainosek, the owners of both the Frontier and Golden Pride BBQ Chicken and Ribs Restaurants in Albuquerque, at the annual Hospitality Industry Awards.
“The Rainoseks are tireless advocates for UNM and the Albuquerque community in general,” said Belinda Vogel, UNM development specialist, adding that at any given time at least 25 percent of the restaurant’s employees are UNM students. “They are involved in so many aspects of the University on so many levels. They have been incredibly generous and strive to remain well connected to UNM.”
The award names the Frontier as the New Mexico nominee for the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant of the Year Award, to be presented later this year.
Several individuals and groups from UNM sent letters in strong support of the Rainoseks and the Frontier’s nomination for the award.
Among them are Roger Schluntz, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning; Thomas Dodson, former dean of the College of Fine Arts; James Moy, the current dean of the College of Fine Arts; Leslie Elgood, president of the UNM Foundation; Jada Martinez, executive director of the New Mexico Lobo Club; Michael Emerson, chairman of the Friends of the UNM Presidential Scholarship Program and Mary Woolford, development associate of the Presidential Scholarship Program.
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Carol Wight, executive vice president of the New Mexico Restaurant Association, said that the Frontier’s nomination was above and beyond its counterparts and there was no question that the association wanted the restaurant to represent New Mexico nationally.
“The Rainoseks and their employees at the Frontier Restaurant have demonstrated a dedication to both the UNM and Albuquerque communities that is rarely seen in establishments that size,” Wight said.
She added that the Frontier was named as the award recipient by a representative committee of past winners of the award, and that the restaurant should stand a very good chance at the national award.
Shannon Rainosek, Larry and Dorothy’s daughter, said the pair are tremendous Lobo supporters. They are charter members of the President’s Club, a group of high-level donors who support initiatives designed to reduce the freshman dropout rate.
Additionally, as advocates for the Presidential Scholarship Program, the Rainoseks helped raise more than $53,000 in new scholarships last fall. The Frontier co-sponsored the Lobo Club Tip-Off Dinner in 1999 and the Lobo Legends Dinner last year. The restaurant owners are season ticket holders for football and men’s and women’s basketball, and they have been members of the Lobo Club as cash and gift-in-kind donors for more than 30 years.
Mrs. Rainosek is also a member of the UNM Foundation’s Board of Directors.
“We strive to do so much for the community, it’s nice to be recognized for our efforts,” Rainosek said. “We have found that the secret to giving back to UNM and at the same time helping make Albuquerque a nice place to live, is by supporting education, the arts, sports programs and serving great food.”
Rainosek added that the Frontier Restaurant’s relationship with UNM is mutually beneficial; it nurtures the University’s programs and in turn UNM supports their business as much as possible.
According to the Frontier’s Web site, the restaurant, which was established in 1971, serves 5,400 lbs. of hash browns and 4,600 breakfast burritos per week. By the end of 2003, it will have roasted a total of 122.5 tons of green chile.
“We appreciate the support of UNM and the Albuquerque community in general, and this award is proof that together we are progressing in making our city great,” Raisonek said.
