Meet Jennifer Reifschneider, Executive Chef at 6S Steakhouse
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Changing of the guard
Wichita’s new generation of chefs is young, passionate and earnest, and they’re focused more on sustainability and creativity than their predecessors could be.
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Wichita’s “new guard” of chefs are passionate young men and women who are local celebrities.
For them, food is an art, a passion and a career, not just a job. They’re not competitors but colleagues. They’re pumped about local vegetables. They’re friends with local farmers. And they’re leading Wichita on a new culinary course. Read about Jennifer Reifschneider below; read about more of the new guard here.
Jennifer Reifschneider
Job: Executive Chef, 6S Steakhouse, 6200 W. 21st St.
Age: 33
Hometown: Wichita
Training: The Art Institute of Colorado, Denver
Resume: Dave & Buster’s, Denver. Line cook, sous chef and executive sous chef, Woodfire Grille at the Kansas Star Casino.
How did you become interested in cooking? “I got interested in cooking for a living when I was in high school. I always loved to cook and really enjoyed taking food classes in school. I would religiously watch ‘Emeril Live’ and just decided that’s what I wanted to be.”
What makes Wichita a special place for dining? “I think Wichita’s diverse culture makes for a special place for dining. You can find some incredible food from just about any place on the map.”
One thing you’d like to change about Wichita’s restaurant scene: “One thing I would like to see changed is the number of corporate restaurants and more support for the small local restaurants. The trend has definitely shifted in the last few years, but we have a ways to go yet.”
Favorite Wichita restaurant besides your own: “I’m a sucker for tacos. I love Tacos tj 664.”
Your philosophy on your job: “My philosophy on my job is to never stop learning and growing as a chef. I try to read and study up on what the top chefs around the world are doing and see how I can apply that to the Wichita diner. I also believe it’s important to be a mentor for the younger cooks just starting out. Any knowledge we can pass on as chefs will only help the future of the Wichita restaurant scene.”
This story was originally published October 31, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
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