2016 Utah restaurant industry: awards announced.

The Utah Restaurant Association hosted their annual "Restaurant Industry Awards Dinner" Tuesday, May 24, 2016 in the Grand Americas Grand Ballroom. Joining the Utah Restaurant Association as presenting this years awards was Utah Business. The Awards Dinner honors professionals working in the Utah Restaurant Industry. It also affords the opportunity for busy owners, chefs, operators, employees, vendors, ProStart teachers and students, businesses and industry allies to gather in support and celebrate one another and the food service industry.

This years awards began on a somber note as Melva Sine, the President / CEO of the Utah Restaurant Association began the ceremony by paying tribute to John Williams. She referred to him as a "pioneer in Utah's restaurant industry who single handedly saved many historic buildings from demolition, a gentle giant who genuinely cared about the success of those around him and a dear friend and supporter of the Utah Restaurant Association." She ended her thoughts by announcing the "John Williams Gastronomy Memorial Scholarship Fund" which will provide an annual scholarship to a worthy student pursuing a business or culinary degree in the food service industry. The fund has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank and anyone is welcome to contribute by referencing the "John Williams Gastronomy Memorial Scholarship Fund". The members of the audience then participated in a moment of silence on behalf of Utah's restaurant community, in honor of Mr. Williams.

The stage was then Bob Evans, who MC'd the event. He invited Melva Sine and URA Chairman Terry Capener on stage to assist him in handing out the awards. Among the individuals, restaurants and businesses the Utah Restaurant Association recognized were: The "Taste Utah Awards" and "Utah ProStart Teen Chef Masters Awards" were presented by Big Budah of FOX13 and Katy and Jami, co-hosts of Taste Utah. The awards honored restaurants, vendors and farmers from around the state as well as those students and chefs who participated in the culinary education program "Utah ProStart Teen Chef Masters".

The event also recognized Utah ProStart, the nation's premier ProStart program awarding Regional and State winners for Utah's...