Mother-daughter team open Reno teahouse

Laila Jarzynka knows Warren Buffett.

The former America West flight attendant spent the last three years of her airline career flying on Buffett's private jet.

But when Jarzynka decided to go into business for herself, she didn't get any advice from the billionaire businessman and investment guru.

She did, however, follow his wellknown words of wisdom: Invest in what you know.

"I was ready to stay on the ground," said Jarzynka, after 17 years of flying.

"I wanted to use my service skills, but with a bigger kitchen than before."

So Jarzynka with her mother Lois Sorgen, who moved to northern Nevada from Phoenix to start the business, combined the daughter's skills with the mother's vast collection of antiques and opened High SocieTEA in Reno.

The restaurant, opened August 6, is located on California Street, in a 1,750 square foot stucco house well suited for the scones, sweet cream and lemon curd served there.

It's furnished with mahogany chairs, oriental rugs on hardwood floors, white linen table clothes and plenty of antiques including an eight-foot leather giraffe named Jessica.

It's open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m.

to 5 p.m.

for lunch and tea, and can be reserved for large parties on Sundays.

The menu has a mix of salads and sandwiches and, of course, teas.

Despite the rarified atmosphere, Jarzynka said they strive to just serve good food at a decent price.

"With a little tea house we didn't want it to be pretentious," she said.

All sandwiches, for example, come with pasta salad and fruit, and the kitchen will prepare it anyway the customer likes.

"Nothing is a la carte.We don't nickel and dime you to death.We want people to feel they're getting something for their money and to be comfortable."

Jarzynka said it was slow going at first since the restaurant opened its doors during summer vacation time.

"But it kicked in after Labor Day," she said.

Since then the restaurant has been buzzing with an eclectic lunch crowd including visitors to the nearby Nevada Museum of Art.

"Especially the ones who go up on the roof of the museum," said Jarzynka.

"They come by and say they saw the restaurant from the roof."

Attorneys from California Street firms come in, too, but Jarzynka said High SocieTEA is not designed to be a quickie lunch place.

"We tried doing take out at first, but people from the office buildings would come in and they wouldn't order just five sandwiches," she said.

"They'd order 40."

Instead, patrons are encouraged to linger over lunch or tea in one of the three rooms that seat up to 44.

In its short life, the tea house has already attracted a regular clientele, said Jarzynka.

"We've been open six weeks, and I have one customer who has been in probably 15 times already."

It's also attracted a number of large party reservations, including baby showers, teachers' meeting and a gathering of about 30 sorority sisters one day celebrating what looked like their 50th reunion.

Jarzynka and Sorgen also have plans for some special events.

On the four Saturdays leading up to Christmas, they plan to serve high tea with Victorianclad carolers and seatings at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

They will likely do something similar for Valentine's Day, and next month they hope to hold a series of what Jarzynka calls white glove manner parties for children aged six through 11.

In the meantime, Jarzynka has her hands full with her new venture.

She's the main cook and scone maker and is in the restaurant six days a week from about 4 a.m.

to 5 p.m., after which she usually shops for supplies.

She employs three waiters and her sister-in-law who "volunteers," in the kitchen.

"The hardest part is being a boss and delegating work," said Jarzynka.

"I've always been team player.

But it's a good concept and something different, and as long as you offer a good product at a decent price it will work."