Wichita wins big at state restaurant awards, can claim state’s top chef, craft brewer
The Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association distributed its Stars of The Industry awards on Monday night, and several Wichita businesses and restaurant pros were among the winners.
Wichita is home to the year’s Best Craft Brewery, Chef of the Year and Hot New Concept, and the winners picked up their awards at a banquet at the Kansas Star Casino that attracted a who’s who of the state restaurant industry.
Below is a list of the winners and all who were nominated.
Hot New Concept
Three Wichita restaurants were nominated for this award, which recognizes restaurants across the state that have opened over the past three years and that are forward thinking and likely to grow. The winner was Chicken N Pickle, which started in Kansas City but expanded into Wichita earlier this year. This is the only category where non-KRHA members are eligible to win. Here are all the nominees:
- Chicken N Pickle, Wichita/Kansas City: Winner
- Prost, Wichita
- Norton’s, Wichita
- Q39, Kansas City
- Free Style Poke, Kansas City
- The Pennant, Topeka
Restaurateur of the Year
Wichita also had several nominees in this category, including the son of the founders of Angelo’s Italian Restaurant, who opened a new version of the restaurant back in 2016, the owner of Wichita’s Hog Wild Pit BBQ chain, and the man who runs one of Wichita’s favorite breakfast spots. The winner was Kevin Timmons, who owns Nick and Jake’s, a chef-driven restaurant that has four locations in the Kansas City area.
- Copper Oven – Phil Schoenhofer, Wichita
- Hog Wild BBQ - TD O’Connell, Wichita, Hutchinson, Salina,El Dorado, Topeka, Lawrence, Derby
- Radius Brewing Company – Chad Swift/Emporia
- Angelo’s Italian Restaurant – John Fasciano, Wichita
- Nick and Jake’s – Kevin Timmons, Kansas City: Winner
- Merchants Pub & Plate – Ty and Emily Peterson
Chef of the Year
Wichita also can claim this year’s Chef of the Year, despite stiff competition from other newcomers. The winner was Adrian Prud Homme, the chef at Wichita’s reliable Italian restaurant on West Street, Bella Vita Bistro, which has been open since 2010.
- Alex Staab, Chicken and Pickle/Wichita
- Kayson Chong, 6S Steakhouse/Wichita
- Greg Fox, Rowhouse/Topeka
- Adrian Prud Homme, Bella Vita Bistro/Wichita: Winner
Craft Brewer of the Year
This award is given each year to one craft brewer in the state. This year, it was awarded to Jeremy Horn, co-owner of Wichita Brewing Company, which earlier this year was recognized by The Brewers Association as one of the 50 fastest growing breweries in the country in 2018.
Heart of the Industry
This award recognizes an outstanding member of a restaurant team. This year, it went to Ashley Childs, a Freddy’s Frozen Custard employee who is known for her bright smile and work ethic.
- Ashley Childs – Freddy’s/Wichita — Winner
- Drew Perry – Reverie Coffee Roasters/Wichita
- A & M Management (Oak & Pie)/Wichita
- Jessica Harris – McDonalds/Emporia
- Assistant Chef Devin/Sysco
Hall of Fame
The newest member of the KRHA Hall of Fame is Loren Unruh, who owns two hotels and two restaurants — Perkins and The Page — in Great Bend.
- Vic Allred – Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, entrepreneur, restaurateur and Missourri Representative
- Bill Rowe – Blue Moon Caterers, member since 2005
- Bob Carmichael – Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, member since 1994, past KRHA board member and current KRHA Insurance board member
- Loren Unruh - Two hotels, Best Western & Travelers Inn; Two restaurants, Perkins and The Page in Great Bend. Former Insurance Board Member and on the KLA Board prior to the merger with KRA (forming KRHA). — Winner
Hotelier of the Year
The winner in this category was Bill Cunningham, a hotelier from Dodge City.
- Bill Cunningham –Best Western Country Inn & Suites, Best Western North Edge Inn, Dodge City — Winner
- Bill Michaud – Sleep Inn, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Atchison
- Rita Madl (‘Peach’) – The Lodge, Baldwin City
ProStart Mentor of the Year
These nominees are people who help train high aspiring school chefs in Kansas through a program called ProStart. The winner was Les Padensky, a longtime employee of Warren Theatres.
- Sarah Samuels/Chicken and Pickle
- Patrick Shibley/Doo-Dah Diner
- Les Padsensky/Warren Theatres — Winner
ProStart Teacher of the Year
This award honors a public school teacher in Kansas who offers courses for aspiring chefs.
- Cara Poole/Maize High School
- Jack Low/Eudora High School — Winner
This story was originally published October 15, 2019 at 10:18 AM.
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