Kent Rathbun facts for kids

Kent Rathbun, born on April 17, 1961, in Kansas City, Missouri, is a famous American chef and restaurant owner. He has been nominated four times for the James Beard Foundation Award, which is a very important award for chefs in the United States.

Kent Rathbun owned several popular restaurants. These included Abacus in Dallas, Texas, which was known as a top restaurant. He also had Jasper's, with locations in Dallas, Richardson, Texas, and The Woodlands, Texas. His restaurant Hickory, which served burgers and BBQ, is now closed. Kent Rathbun also ran a catering business called Kent Rathbun Catering. In February 2008, he and his brother, Kevin Rathbun, appeared on the TV show Iron Chef America. They won against Chef Bobby Flay in an episode where they cooked with elk meat.

Chef Kent Rathbun's Journey

Kent Rathbun started working in the food world when he was just 14 years old. He began by washing dishes at a local restaurant. He even told a small fib about his age to get the job! After only one day, he asked to help the night cook. Within three weeks, he was promoted to a cooking station.

Learning to Cook

At 17, Kent became an apprentice at a fancy restaurant in Kansas City called La Bonne Auberge. His mother worked there too. This experience changed how he thought about food. He learned to cook with fresh vegetables and special ingredients. He realized that the way he had cooked before was very different from fine dining.

Opening His Own Restaurants

After gaining more experience, Kent Rathbun worked for the Dallas Museum of Art's catering service. He also served as a sous chef at The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas. In 1999, he decided to open his very own restaurant, Abacus. A few years later, in 2003, he opened Jasper's in Plano.

Both Abacus and Jasper's were smoke-free restaurants from the start. This was before Dallas made it a rule for all public places. Abacus received high ratings from the Zagat Survey in 2007 and 2008. This guide said the food, decor, and service were "extraordinary to perfection." Abacus also earned the Forbes Four-Star and AAA Four Diamonds awards for over 14 years. Jasper's was recognized for having some of the best ribs in America by Bon Appetit magazine.

Kent Rathbun's Family Life

Kent Rathbun is married to Tracy Rathbun. She is also a restaurant owner in Dallas. Tracy co-owns Lovers Seafood and Shinsei restaurant. The family's connection to the restaurant world was highlighted when chefs from their restaurants appeared on the TV show Top Chef.