The Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association is asking members of the hospitality industry to help choose the best of the best from the state’s dining scene.
Each fall, the KRHA puts on an event called Hospitality Night Out, which is attended by restaurant owners, employees and other industry professionals, and the evening always includes a “Stars of the Industry” awards ceremony. Among the categories are Restaurateur of the Year, Hot New Concept and Chef of the Year. There’s also a Hall of Fame award that honors a person who has demonstrated years of service in the Kansas restaurant or hotel industry.
This year, the association is asking the many people who work in the state’s restaurants, hotels, country clubs and breweries to help by nominating potential winners from among their peers. Nominations are due by Monday, Sept. 14. The link for the nomination form is www.krha.org/page/IndustryAwardsNom
One caveat: Winners in every category except one — Hot New Concept — must be members of the KRHA, an organization that lobbies the state Legislature on behalf of the industry, offers food safety training and sells insurance to its members. If nominees aren’t members, said KRHA director of marketing and communications Jacque Waite, the organization will invite them to join so that they can be in the running for the award. Members pay dues on a sliding scale based on sales.
Meddys owner Alex Harb, center, was named Restaurateur of the Year at the 2022 KRHA awards.
This year’s Hospitality Night Out event is scheduled for Oct. 13 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 2098 S. Airport Road. It doubles as a fundraiser for the KRHA Educational Foundation, whose mission is to grow and educate the industry’s workforce in Kansas.
Nominees come from across the state, but because Wichita is the largest city in Kansas, many winners tend to be local. Among those who won last year: Chef of the Year Jen Reifschneider of The Belmont, Craft Brewer of the Year Cody Sherwood from Wichita Brewing Company, and Hot New Concept KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot.
Here are all the categories:
Allied Member of the Year
Kansas Craft Brewer of the Year
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