Restaurateurs Honored by Utah Restaurant Association

Several restaurateurs were honored at the Utah Restaurant Association Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner on  December 3 at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City. 

Dave Parrish, a McDonald’s owner/operator received the prestigious Golden Spoon Award. Parrish, who is also Mayor of Ephraim, told those in attendance that he worked his way up through the ranks of McDonald’s and now owns 9 McDonald’s franchises in Southern Utah. The Golden Spoon is given to an individual owner/operator who has devoted his or her life to the restaurant industry creating high standards that impact for good the restaurant industry and the communities in which we live and do business. 

Bill Mouskondis, chairman of the board of Nicholas & Company was inducted into the Utah Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. 

The Roof Restaurant was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given to a restaurant operation that has been in business for more than 50 years. The Roof has changed names a couple of times since its inception in 1911, however has been held by the same ownership for the duration of its operation. Temple Square Hospitality president Brent Shingleton along with Spencer Herzog, vice president; Neil Wilkinson, director of marketing; Roof restaurant manager, Barbara Roberts and executive chef Pedro Mauricio accepted the award. 

Sherri Hayashi, Utah Labor Commissioner, presented the Workplace Safety Awards to Café Rio, Hires Big H, Gastronomy, Chuck A Rama and Temple Square Hospitality all who met and or exceeded national workplace safety standards.

Restaurateurs from around the state heard words of encouragement from URA President Melva Sine, who told those in attendance that the restaurant industry is the cornerstone of the economy in the state of Utah and throughout the nation. “The restaurant industry is very resilient,” Melva Sine told restaurateurs. “You are skillful, tactical entrepreneurs who have found ways to move forward regardless of the ever changing economic conditions.” 

The restaurant industry is expected to provide over 110,000 jobs in Utah by 2015.