A Wichita chef and a popular restaurant manager win big at Monday’s restaurant awards
The annual Kansas Restaurant & Hospitality Association awards were handed out at a big party at the Kansas Star Casino on Monday night.
Why Monday? Because that’s about the only night of the week that chefs, servers and restaurant owners are available to get together for a big party.
A few Wichita favorites walked away with awards and bragging rights.
Perhaps Wichita’s biggest victory was in the Chef of the Year category — a new one this year. The winner was Ben George, a local favorite and all around nice guy who has worked in lots of Wichita restaurants but who for several years has been in charge of food service at Intrust Bank Arena. (Successfully feeding the thousands of people who attended the NCAA tournament in Wichita last spring no doubt bolstered his nomination.)
It was strange to see George in a suit instead of a chef’s coat, and his win was celebrated loudly in the room when his name was called. His competitors were Kayson Chong, the chef at 6S Steakhouse in Wichita; Adam VanDonge of Topeka’s The White Linen Restaurant; and Chris Cochran, a Wichita-based chef with Sysco Kansas City.
Another recognizable Wichita restaurant figure who won was Robin Monroe, a manager at Doo-Dah Diner. She won the Heart of the Industry award, designed to recognize support staff who keep restaurants running smoothly. Monroe has been with Doo-Dah since its start, and her cheerful presence and friendly customer service makes her a Doo-Dah customer favorite. She split the award with Eugene Isaac IV, who works at LongHorn Steakhouse in Manhattan.
Other Wichitans who were recognized were Alison Draut, who leads the culinary students at Northwest High School and who was named the ProStart Teacher of the Year, and Michelle Stein, who runs the Wichita Marriott and won Hotelier of the Year.
Rob Little, who manages the popular Shindigs Bar & Grill in Winfield — which I profiled last year — was named Restaurateur of the Year.
Several Wichita restaurants were nominated for the Hot New Concept award, including Piatto Neapolitan Pizzeria, Chick N Max, Dempsey’s Biscuit Co., Headshots Bar & Grill and The Sweet Spot. But the award went to Sierra Grill in Lenexa.
The Hall of Fame award went to Tom & Marilyn Dobski, who own McDonald’s restaurants in Atchison, Lawrence, Leavenworth and Topeka.
Members of the restaurant association pay dues to be a part of it, and they’re the only ones up for awards — except for the Hot New Concept of the Year award, which is open to anyone.
This story was originally published October 23, 2018 at 10:19 AM.