A Heart for Hospitality

A Heart for Hospitality

I recently attended the Iowa Restaurant Association’s Hospitality Showcase & Celebrating Excellence Awards. The evening was a time to recognize and celebrate those in the hospitality industry who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to excellence.

I was inspired by seven competing chefs and their culinary creativity during the Grand Tasting Gala. This competition was sponsored by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and The Soyfoods Council, which are both valued Iowa Food & Family Project (Iowa FFP) partners, and new this year, central Iowa-based Lola’s Fine Hot Sauce. Each chef was tasked with creating a unique and delicious dish using petite shoulder tender, a soy side dish or sauce and Lola’s hot sauce. It was an excellent way to display the versatility of the selected beef and soy products while showing how both plant and animal proteins can share the dinner plate.

The second part of the evening featured the Celebrating Excellence awards, a celebration of outstanding individuals in the Iowa Hospitality Industry. The categories included Chef, Employee, Educator, Purveyor and more. It was inspiring to hear the stories of individuals who have worked tirelessly, overcome obstacles and achieved amazing successes.

I especially enjoyed watching Mike and Cindy Breitbach of Breitbach’s Country Dining in Balltown receive the Restaurateurs of the Year award. As recently featured in Fresh Pickings magazine, they are fifth-generation owners of Iowa’s oldest restaurant, which is famous for its customer service.

Also recognized during the awards were the “40 Women to Watch in Hospitality.” This award honors women who exemplify the critical roles women play in the industry’s evolution and the creative ways women can chart their own course. I was honored to be chosen as an award winner this year, representing the collaborative work of Iowa FFP in connecting consumers to food, farming and agriculture.

As I watched these women walk across the stage and heard a few sentences about their stories, I was filled with pride and humility, knowing I was included in this group. The honorees included well-established restaurant, bakery and bar owners; homebased businesses with devoted followings; and women in industries that support hospitality, such as tourism and marketing.

Their stories were inspiring. One woman purchased a local theatre and contributed to the revival of her community, another owns a specialty cake bakery and was featured by Stephen Colbert twice, and a third honoree owns a full-service meat locker and will open a small bar and grill soon.

All these award winners had one thing in common – heart for hospitality.

In reading each honoree’s comments, I was especially inspired by Sheri Hansen's quote below and the perspective it shows. “The hospitality industry is where hard work, spirit and energy bring opportunities.”