The Utah Restaurant Association (URA) invited Utah’s restaurant community to come together for an evening to celebrate each other’s contributions with the prestigious Utah Restaurant Industry Awards. This exciting annual event was held at The Tower at Rice-Eccles Stadium and MCd by ABC4′s very own, Nicea DeGering.
“The restaurant industry in Utah is the third largest economic engine in the state. And when we come together, it’s less about competition and more of a community of peers cheering each other on,” says Melva Sine, president and CEO of the URA.
The URA, a non-profit membership-based advocacy organization, has been securing the success of Utah restaurants whether they are members or not. Now in its 75th year, the Utah Restaurant Industry Awards Gala is all about Utah’s restaurant industry coming together for one night to honor those who contribute to Utah’s outstanding culinary community.
“Over our nearly 80-year history, the Utah Restaurant Association has always worked side-by-side with you, and in service to you, to secure the future of our restaurant and food service industry.
“Our sole mission is the success of each and every Utah food-service and restaurant operation statewide. The last two years have been unbelievably difficult for owners, operators, food professionals and all our employees as the industry shifts and flexes to cope with food and general supply issues along with employment and staffing issues while supporting the needs and demands of our guests,” says Sine.
(The Utah Restaurant Association) | Utah Restaurant Association’s Industry Awards Gala.
The Nomination Process
The awards are nomination-based by industry peers, then every award is thoughtfully selected by the executive committee. On this evening, the URA also honors the ProStart winners for the state culinary management competition.
ProStart is a nationwide, two-year culinary program for high school students that cultivates the brightest talent for tomorrow’s restaurant industry leaders. The URA has administered ProStart in Utah high schools for over 20 years, pioneering the program on a national level.
“It is important to recognize the industry and our collective accomplishments as well as individual contributions. We love involving ProStart students because then, together as industry, we are crafting a stronger infrastructure through inspiring and feeding the dreams of our future. And our culinary future is brighter than ever.”
The Gold Sponsors of the 2022 Utah Restaurant Association’s Industry Awards Gala included: ABC4, Heartland Payment Systems, Sysco Intermountain, the Utah Labor Commission, and WCF Insurance. Due to their support—these generous sponsors made it all possible.
The remarkable evening celebrated the front of the house and the back of the house featuring the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Golden Spoon: Restaurateur of The Year, Hall of Fame, the Heart of the Industry Awards, the Taste Utah Awards, the ProStart Awards, the Vendor Recognition Awards, the Workplace Safety Awards, and more.
Highlights from the Gala
Chef of the Year: Tyler Stokes
Tyler Stokes grew up on a farm and took his first restaurant job at age 17, which is when he fell in love with cooking. After honing his cooking skills in Sun Valley, Idaho, the chef entrepreneur made his way back to Salt Lake City where he opened his first Utah restaurant, Provisions SLC. One restaurant wasn’t enough—Tyler partnered to open the Asian fusion restaurant, Ginger Street. With a devoted following, Tyler loves to connect with people through food.
Golden Spoon Award (Restaurateur of the Year): Jason Neeley
Southern Utah’s culinary offerings have grown in the past decade and at the forefront of this development is restaurateur, Jason Neeley, the chef behind restaurants like Sego in Kanab, wood•ash•rye in St. George, and Il Posto Rosso in Moab. Jason and his culinary team have made it their mission to bring culinary sophistication to southern Utah while honoring the community’s historical roots.
Lifetime Achievement: Lucy Cardenas and Bill Coker of the Red Iguana
In 1985, the Cardenas family introduced Salt Lake City to their unique recipes inspired by regions all over Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Lucy grew up working at her family’s restaurant, the Red Iguana where she cooked, greeted customers, and did whatever was needed to support the family restaurant. Decades later, Lucy and her husband Bill continue to contribute to Utah’s food culture and honor the family tradition through Red Iguana, Red Iguana 2, and Taste of Red Iguana.
Hall of Fame Award: Kris Capparet of the Blue Iguana
A seasoned entrepreneur, Kris took a giant leap of faith into the restaurant industry when she was offered the Blue Iguana in 1997. More than 20 years later, her passion for the historic downtown eatery shines through every inch of the restaurant from the colorful décor to the authentic menu. As the pandemic tested her passion, she could be found at the restaurant almost daily, constantly working with her team to maintain her loyal fan base’s classic dishes while updating the menu with new and exciting selections to delight patrons.
Quick Service Concept Award: Thirst Drinks
Fast Casual Concept Award: ROCTACO
Casual Concept Award: Manoli’s
Fine Dine Concept Award: The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection
Silver Platter: The Salt Lake Tribune
(The Utah Restaurant Association) | Restaurant Awards.
ProStart Awards
Teacher of the Year: K.C. Gray
Student of the Year: Sierrah Mower
Culinary
First Place: K.C. Gray, instructor at Murray High School
Students: Brooke Bodily, Miguel Mejia, Ozzie Gutierrez, and Angel Gonzalez
Management
First Place: Troy Chilcott, instructor at Carbon High School
Students: Mikell Furner, Alyssa Ellis, and Sydnie Callahan
“One of the big takeaways of the Utah Restaurant Association’s Industry Awards Gala is that restaurant professionals, owners, and operators are salt of the earth kind of people. They’re in the business of service and that’s really what they want to provide,” says Sine.
“The Utah restaurant community is inclusive and supportive of one another—they don’t see each other as competition, they see each other as colleagues who seek to build one another up and not tear each other down. In the business world, that’s really rare, but it’s this idea of hospitality of service and making everyone feel like they belong somewhere.
“This is what restaurants do, it is what they want to do, what they want to offer. Not just to their guests, but to their colleagues. An event like this celebrates and highlights that unique and special contribution.”
If you’re hungry for more restaurant engagement, visit the URA’s website, and you can always watch Taste Utah on ABC4 Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. To participate in the community as a foodie fan, hashtag #tasteutah on Instagram and all social media. For information on the Utah food culinary landscape and more restaurant stories, tune into Taste Utah’s YouTube channel.