A Seasonal Culinary Series

Every Season Tells a Story

More than a chef’s table, Cultivate is an invitation into Executive Chef David Ruiz’s creative process. Each intimate evening features a thoughtfully curated multi-course menu inspired by the season, paired beverages, and the stories that bring every course to life.

Through thoughtfully curated multi-course menus paired with wines and spirits, Chef David explores the flavors, techniques, and experiences that have shaped his culinary journey. Each menu showcases the seasons through ingredients sourced from local farms and Chef David’s on-site garden, celebrating the people, places, and stories behind each course while highlighting the culinary innovation, sustainability, and award-winning hospitality that define the Overland Park Convention Center.

Reserve Your Seat

MEET CHEF DAVID

Executive Chef David Ruiz is redefining what convention center dining can be. A James Beard Foundation award winner, 2025 Meetings Today Trendsetter, 2024 International Fresh Produce Association Fine Dining Chef of the Year, and Food Network champion, Chef David brings nationally recognized talent and a passion for storytelling to every menu he creates.

Rooted in seasonal ingredients, local partnerships, and sustainability, his approach blends culinary innovation with meaningful hospitality. From sourcing ingredients from regional farms and his on-site chef’s garden to leading one of the industry’s few zero-waste kitchens, every dish reflects his commitment to creating memorable dining experiences with purpose.

Learn More About Chef David →

FROM GARDEN TO TABLE

Every Cultivate menu begins with the season. Chef David sources ingredients from trusted local farmers, regional producers, and his on-site garden at the Overland Park Convention Center to create menus rooted in freshness, sustainability, and a true sense of place.

From fresh herbs and edible flowers grown just steps from the kitchen to thoughtfully selected local ingredients, every course reflects Chef David’s commitment to craftsmanship, seasonality, and one of the hospitality industry’s few zero-waste kitchens. The result is a dining experience that is fresh, intentional, and deeply connected to the people, places, and stories behind every plate—creating one of Overland Park’s most unique dining experiences.