Lone Star Court Announces Head Chef
Paul Nelson to Launch The Water Trough
AUSTIN - January 9, 2014 - Lone Star Court has announced its executive chef, who will create and launch the exciting food and beverage options at its new upscale, retro-inspired, motor court concept boutique hotel by Valencia Group which opened December 24, 2013.
Paul Nelson was previously interim executive chef and sous chef at Citrus, the acclaimed restaurant at Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio. As executive chef at Lone Star Court, Nelson will be in charge of both The Water Trough, a full-service restaurant and bar; and The Feed Store, the signature food truck that will anchor Lone Star Court's innovative food truck court.
The Water Trough will feature a Texas-centric menu including Smoked Brisket Tacos, Soon-to-be Famous Chili with absolutely NO beans, and Cajun Spiced Pork Ribs with apple-jalapeno slaw. The Water Trough will have a specialty cocktail menu featuring signature drink The Chill Cowboy, with vodka, hibiscus liqueur, peach puree, lemon juice, honey syrup, mint leaves, and peach bitters served in a mason jar.
The Feed Store will serve quick breakfast plates including Fried Chicken and Waffle, breakfast tacos and more; and its all-day menu will have quick plates, big plates, and sweets. Just a few of the stand-out items at The Feed Store will include Roasted Poblano Mac & Cheese with chopped bacon and sour cream; Traditional Texas Chili Frito Pie with cheddar, onions, and avocado salad; and Cinnamon Bread Pudding.
At just 27 years old, Nelson has had a rapid rise to star chef status. He first discovered his passion for food as a junior in high school, when he signed up for a cooking class. He attended the Le Cordon Bleu Program at the Texas Culinary Academy in Austin as a scholarship recipient from the San Antonio Hotel & Lodging Association. Upon graduation in 2005, Nelson accepted a position at the award-winning Citrus Restaurant at Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, where he worked with the award-winning and innovative Executive Chef Jeffrey Balfour.
“I could not be more thrilled to have the opportunity to help develop a unique menu benefiting the Valencia Group's new hotel concept,” Nelson says. “In one of the most dynamic cities in the country, with a food and beverage scene that attracts international recognition, Lone Star Court will bring some exciting and fresh ideas to the table.”
Lone Star Court's concept was created by Valencia Group, a Houston-based company known for its luxury independent Hotel Valencias in San Antonio and San Jose, and Hotel Sorellas in Houston and most recently, Kansas City. Hotel Sorella Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, is the first of the Sorella brand expansion from the award-winning Hotel Sorella CITYCENTRE in Houston.
About Lone Star Court
Set to open in fall 2013, Lone Star Court is a new upscale, retro-inspired, motor court hotel coming to the Domain in Austin. True to Austin, Lone Star Court will feature live music by an outdoor fire pit and a dipping pool reminiscent of Hill Country swimming holes. Lone Star Court will draw business as well as leisure travelers to its unique “ranch-tech” property, and the restaurant and bar will be a destination for Austinites as well as visitors. The architect for Lone Star Court is RTKL Associates of Dallas, led by Jim Suggs, who was part of the design team for Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio and Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose. The designer for Lone Star Court is Lauren Rottet of Houston-based Rottet Studio, and the landscape architect is Christine Ten Eyck of Austin-based Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. For more information, please visit http://www.lonestarcourt.com.
About Valencia Group
Houston-based Valencia Group provides management, development, branding, and repositioning services for independent, full-service boutique hotels owned by the company, in addition to third parties. Recognized both nationally and internationally for their exceptional service and style, Valencia Group hotels fuse a crisp, globally-inspired modern design aesthetic with warm Mediterranean influences. All three of the Valencia Group hotels have earned coveted spots on the Conde Nast Traveler Gold List for 2013. This year is one of substantial growth for the company with the second Sorella-Hotel Sorella Country Club Plaza—slated for an autumn opening in Kansas City, Missouri and a new concept: Lone Star Court. A 21st century reinterpretation of the nostalgic motor court, Lone Star Court will premier Austin at The Domain. For more information please visit www.valenciagroup.com.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
