Chef David Ruiz, a James Beard Foundation competition-winner, brings a wealth of experience and a fresh, innovative approach to the dining experience at the convention center.

With 20 years of experience, he joins the Overland Park Convention Center with an impressive culinary background. Chef Ruiz has honed his skills in award-winning restaurants in Aspen, San Jose, Yosemite, and Albuquerque, drawing inspiration from mentors like Chef Scott Baumann of the Bay Area and Boris Revilla of Albuquerque at the intersection of culture, creativity, and consistency.

Throughout his career, Chef Ruiz has been recognized for his culinary talents on national platforms. In 2024, he was named the International Fresh Produce Association’s, Fine Dining Chef of the Year. His accolades also include winning the James Beard Blended Burger Contest in 2018, a competition created in an effort to expand into and recognize more sustainable foods via a partnership with the Mushroom Council. He was also the winner of Food Network’s “It’s CompliPlated” in 2022 and has been featured on shows like “Chopped” and “Guy Fieri’s Family Road Trip.”

Of Mexican and Jewish descent, Chef Ruiz’s culinary roots are inspired by summers at his grandmother’s northern California farm. A graduate of the California Culinary Academy, he is an active proponent of food education and the connection between food and farming.

Ruiz is responsible for elevating the menu and cultivating new ideas at the convention center, in addition to enhancing the culinary team and the customer experience for the venue’s high-profile banquets and catering events ranging in size from small meetings to large galas of 3,500 plus.

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