chefs

Some of Kansas City's most highly regarded culinary figures are among this year's nominees, including Helen Jo Leach and Johnny Leach at The Town Company. The list also includes several new area restaurants.

Kids in the Kitchen, a yearly event sponsored by Alphapointe, a nonprofit that serves people with vision challenges, focuses on getting young people ready to navigate in the kitchen. The goal is for them to be able to prepare their own meals while living independently.