IOWA, USA — There's no shortage of beloved restaurants and bars across central Iowa, but now, a few local spots can officially say they are "award-winning".
The Iowa Restaurant Association released its 2023 Industry Award Winners Wednesday, honoring chefs, restaurant owners and partners from across the state.
In total, the Iowa Restaurant Association gave out 14 awards, 12 of which went to winners in central Iowa.
Brenda Tran of Vietnam Cafe at Merle Hay Mall was one of the people honored this year, receiving the "Faces of Diversity Award".
Local 5 spoke with Tran in August, after hundreds of customers banded together to support the beloved Vietnamese restaurant.
“The only way I feel like I survive is to turn to my lovely customer," she said.
Another honoree, Taufeek Shah of Lola's Fine Hot Sauce ("American Dream Award") shared his company's vision with Local 5 in January.
"We're local. We started here. We're born here. Everything about Lola's is from here. So we're a generational family recipe," Shah said. "My mom came in the 80s to take care of local Iowa farmers, and I had been eating this since I was a kid."
Read the full list of award winners below:
- Restauranteurs of the Year: Dave and Jean Thompson, Greater Des Moines (District 36, Urban Grill, Urban Cellar, Urban on the Square)
- Chef of the Year: Chef Mon Sayasit, Cedar Rapids (Black Sheep Social Club)
- Hospitality Employee of the Year: Andy Hoffman, Clive (Down Under)
- Emerging Leader: Sammy Mila, Des Moines (Cremé)
- Rural Operator of the Year: Chelsea Johnsen, Madrid (Sisters in Cheese)
- Purveyor Partner of the Year: Scott Ites, Des Moines (Atlantic Bottling Coca Cola)
- American Dream Award: Taufeek Shah, Des Moines (Lola's Fine Hot Sauce)
- Faces of Diversity Award: Brenda Tran, Des Moines (Vietnam Cafe)
- Restaurant Neighbor Philanthropy Award: Willie Ray Fairley, Cedar Rapids (Willie Ray's Q Shack)
- Industry Champion: Joe McConville, Greater Des Moines (Gusto Pizza, The Breakfast Club, Anna Dolce, Juniper Moon)
- Legislator of the Year: Representative Dave Deyoe, Nevada
- Sustainability and Innovation Award: Dan Moore, Big Grove Brewery – Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Solon, Des Moines
- ProStart Educator of Excellence: Chef Rolando Molina, Norwalk (Norwalk High School)
- Mentor of the Year: Chef Andy Walsh, Waukee (Mickey's Irish Pub)