Patrick Ryan is the Chef and Owner of the Port Fonda food truck and restaurant. He was nominated in 2013 for Food and Wine Magazine’s People’s Best New Chef Award. After having worked in restaurants across the country, he created much local buzz and pioneered the food truck movement in Kansas City with the opening of his Port Fonda food truck. He later opened Port Fonda restaurant in the historic Westport neighborhood and continues to support the urban core and historic neighborhoods through his personal and business endeavors.

Q: What is the best thing to happen to Kansas City recently?

A: It’s the Wild West again. I see people living out their dreams here in KC; they’re doing things that 10 years ago they’d have to leave this city and try somewhere else.