Johnson County Community College
Press Release
College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122
1/02/08
Story by Peggy Graham
JCCC Master Chef Series Hosts Famed Chef
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Named as one of
Esquire Magazine’s “Best New Restaurants,” Travel & Leisure’s “Best New American Restaurant” and “Hot 50 Restaurant” by Bon Appetit, Chef Kevin Rathbun’s Atlanta restaurant is a culmination of 31 years of experience.
Owner of the nationally acclaimed Kevin Rathbun Steak and Krog Bar, the JCCC alumnus will return to his alma mater as the inaugural chef in the JCCC Master Chef Series during two events on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in the Capitol Federal Conference Room, Regnier Center, at Johnson County Community College, with proceeds to benefit the JCCC culinary team.
• Master cooking class – Rathbun will reveal some of his award-winning recipes during a master cooking class from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Cost of the class is $35.
• Reception and dinner with Rathbun - A reception of hors d’ouevres and sparkling beverages begins at 6 p.m., and a four-course dinner of Rathbun’s menus prepared by JCCC faculty chefs and culinary students begins at 7 p.m. The cost of the reception and dinner is $130.
In his Atlanta restaurant, Rathbun pays homage to his Kansas City roots serving the best steak money can buy. His mother operated fine restaurants in and around Kansas City, and his father was a jazz musician, who had friends working in a Kansas City meat packing company. Rathbun comes from a heritage of dinners created as true productions with china, silver, quality steak and multiple guests.
Previously, Rathbun was chef at Baby Routh, Dallas, and corporate chef of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, overseeing Nava, BluePointe, Kyma and The Buckhead Diner, all in Atlanta. Rathbun has worked with celebrity chefs and restaurateurs such as Bradley Ogden, Emeril Lagasse, Stephan Pyles, Ella Brennan and Pano Karatassos.
Rathbun’s cuisine and service have been recognized by national magazines like Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Oprah Magazine, Esquire, Travel & Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, The Wall Street Journal, Southern Living, Veranda, Sky Magazine, USA Today as well as every major Atlanta magazine.
Rathbun is the first presenter in the JCCC Master Chef Series, a fund-raiser for JCCC’s award-winning culinary team. Two more chefs are scheduled for April and October 2008. To make reservations for Rathbun events, call the JCCC Foundation Office, 913-469-3835.
