Hospitality Industry Leaders Honored at 28th Annual Taste of Nebraska

The Necropolis Group and Pepsi received the Nebraska Restaurant Association hospitality awards at the association’s annual banquet, Taste of Nebraska. This year’s event was held Monday, April 16 at the Embassy Suites, La Vista Conference Center.

Winners of the award are selected for the contributions they make to both the hospitality industry and the communities in which they do business. Brent Lindner accepted the 2017 Restaurateur of the Year Award for The Necropolis Hospitality Group.  The Necropolis Hospitality Group has five restaurants, Wave Pizza Company, J Alfred Prufrock’s, Sin City Grill, The World Famous Glass Bar in Grand Island and Wave Pizza/Staple Brewing in Hastings. Allied Member of the Year was presented to Pepsi and accepted by Chuck Parker.

Additionally, Denis Hall, Fernando’s Café & Cantina was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years in the hospitality industry. Michelle Daize, The Eatery, was acknowledged as Volunteer of the Year for her significant time commitment and dedication to the Board of the Hospitality Education Foundation.

Hillis & Co. added the finishing touches to the evening with an “Island in Paradise” theme and “Dance of a Parrot Head, a Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band” ended the evening rocking the stage with well-known classics by Jimmy Buffet.

Money raised at Taste of Nebraska supports the mission of the Nebraska Restaurant Association to represent, educate and promote the hospitality industry across the state.  Additionally, money is used to support Nebraska ProStart – a two-year high school curriculum to get students interested in the hospitality industry.

The Nebraska Restaurant Association acts as the principal advocate for Nebraska’s hospitality industry and promotes the qualities of strength, unity, and excellence in and of its membership.  The association is dedicated to serving Nebraska’s restaurant and retail beverage industries by providing comprehensive industry education, proactive representation, aggressive industry promotion and the highest quality member benefits. (Find them on Facebook: facebook.com/NebraskaRestaurantAssociation.)

The Nebraska Restaurant Association would like to thank special guest, Lt. Governor Mike Foley, and the many sponsors and guests that made the 28th annual Taste of Nebraska another success.