Wichita wins big at state restaurant awards, can claim Restaurateur, Chef of the Year
Monday night marked the annual return of the Kansas Restaurant & Hospitality Association’s Stars of The Industry awards banquet, which gathers members of the state’s restaurant, bar and hotel industry at the Kansas Star Casino to eat, drink and watch each other win awards.
This year, Wichita swept many of the major award categories, including Restaurateur of the Year, Chef of the Year and Hot New Concept.
In most categories, restaurants had to be members of KRHA to win. One category — Hot New Concept — is open to nonmembers as well.
Below is a list of winners and nominees:
Restaurateur of the Year
This award is given to a restaurant operator who is involved in the community and/or KRHA:
Winner: Tory DeMarce, The Belmont, 3555 E. Douglas, Wichita: Back in 2020, a group of friends from Scottsdale, Arizona, with lots of restaurant experience and Wichita roots decided to open a restaurant in Wichita’s College Hill neighborhood. One of them moved to Kansas to run the place: DeMarce, who has become the friendly, welcoming face of The Belmont and has shepherded it through growth and challenges over the past three years.
Other nominees:
Melad Stephan, Sabor Latin Bar & Grille, 3096 N. Mead, Wichita
Carla Dryer, Wandering Vine at the Castle, 12401 Johnson Drive, Shawnee
Jordan Rickard, FioRito Ristorante, 3134 E. Douglas, Wichita
Hot New Concept
This award recognizes a restaurant concept that is a “forward-thinking brand at the leading edge of food service and positioned for growth.”
Winner: Station 8 BBQ, (Alex Eftekhar,) 1100 E. Third, Wichita: Last year, Eftekhar — a longtime local Wichita chef — finally fulfilled his longtime dream of opening a barbecue restaurant in an old fire station where Jet Bar-B-Q once operated. Since then, it’s become one of Wichita’s most buzzed about eateries, and Eftekhar is now working on a sister restaurant: He’s purchased the old Walt’s Klassics diner building that was previously at Kellogg and Tyler, moved it across the street from Station 8 and is turning it into a lunch restaurant focused on sandwiches.
Other nominees:
Wandering Vine at the Castle, (Carla Dryer), 12401 Johnson Drive, Shawnee)
The Glass Cat, (Stephanie Cashion), (11657 Kaw Drive, Bonner Springs)
Copps Pizza Company, Kris Copp (6301 W. 135th St., Overland Park)
Chef of the Year
This award recognizes a working chef who has “set new or consistent standards of excellence in the Kansas food scene.”
Winner: Jordan Rickard, FioRito Ristorante, 3134 E. Douglas, Wichita: Jordan Rickard and his brother Jason both worked in restaurant kitchens all over Wichita — and in other states — before finally opening their own place in the spring of last year. Since then, FioRito has become known for its house-made, upscale pasta dishes, its homemade bread and its top-rate service.
Other nominee:
Josh Rathbun, Lotte (opening later this month), 320 S. Market, Wichita
Hall of Fame
Winner: Larry Doss, Walt’s All American Bar & Grill (Wichita) Doss’s father, Walt, founded local hamburger chain Walt’s at 4003 W. Maple in 1947, and Larry bought him out in 1972. Over the years, he helped open and run many of the local Walt’s restaurants. In 1996, he opened a restaurant called Penguins at 7732 E. Central, eventually turning it into Walt’s Great American Sports Bar & Grill. That restaurant is now one of Wichita’s favorite east-side hangouts.
Heart of the Industry
This award recognizes “a staff member who goes above and beyond to keep the restaurant or hotel running smoothly and exemplifies dependability, teamwork and dedication to the industry.”
Winner: Ofelio Gonzales, Rolling Hills Country Club, Wichita: Gonzales, who has been deaf since birth and has no verbal skills nor uses any contemporary sign language, has worked as a full-time dishwasher, prep cook and inventory stocker for 19 years at the club. His employers said he “exudes positivity despite his life-long physical challenges.”
Hotelier of the Year
Winner: Rob Bergquist, Cyrus Hotel, 920 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka
Other nominees
Jim Barnard, The Clarion Inn & Convention Center, Garden City
Pam Anderson, Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, Wichita
Kansas Craft Brewer of the Year
Presented by the Kansas Craft Brewers Guild
Dan Norton, Norton’s Brewing Company, 125 N. St. Francis
Prostart Mentor of the Year
These nominees are people who help train aspiring chefs attending Kansas high schools through a program called ProStart.
Winner: Ben George, WSU Tech Culinary Arts Program
Prostart Teacher of the Year
This award honors a public school teacher in Kansas who offers courses for aspiring chefs.
Winner: Lacey Woods, Andover Central High School
