Former five-star hotel chef becomes newest cook at senior center
BY BECKY UEHLING
GRANT TRIBUNE Correspondent
It isn’t every day a chef with decades of experience at America’s biggest hotel chains comes to be a cook in small-town Nebraska, but that is exactly what has happened in Grant.
On November 3, 71-year-old Dennis Boitnott became the newest cook at the Perkins County Senior Center, and even after years of cooking experience in many, many different states and venues, Boitnott is excited for this newest adventure and learning opportunity.
“The main way a chef can learn and grow is by experiencing new jobs and opportunities,” he said. “I love Grant, and I am excited to be here doing what I love.”
Boitnott’s daughter, Hannah McGannon, lives in Grant and is married to Trent McGannon, the son of the Perkins County Senior Center’s Executive Director Trish Jimenez. The couple has 6-year-old daughter, and Hannah is also the cook when the senior center serves meals in Venango.
Originally from Michigan, Boitnott grew up an only child on a farm doing chores with his dad and 4-H with his mom. Boitnott said he has always loved cooking.
After high school, Boitnott serving in the Army and worked in the oil fields in Texas for eight years. After injuries slowed him down, he decided he needed a way to make money that wasn’t so hard on his body. Cooking seemed like a natural fit.
His first cooking job was as a fry cook in a little café in Corpus Christi, Texas called the Wayward Lady. He loved it.
At the time, Boitnott’s father-in-law had connections with the Hyatt Hotel chain and knew about a 3-year cooking apprenticeship that was available through the chain. He helped his son-in-law get into the program. After his training, Boitnott got a job with Ritz-Carlton Hotels, where he went on to manage several of their restaurants.
Boitnott earned a reputation as a top-notch cook in America. So much so, that he was invited to be one of 60 American and French chefs to cook for Julia Child’s 80th birthday in February 1993 at Marina del Rey, California at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
He was also invited to serve as one of the cooks for the G8 Summit in 2004 hosted by the United States on Sea Island, Georgia, under the chairmanship of President George W. Bush.
Along with the Ritz-Carlton, other chef positions took Boitnott to the Caribbean, working in Puerto Rico and St. Lucia. He also opened his own fresh pasta factory in Katy, Texas for five years.
His love of motorcycles took him to South Dakota where he owned the well-known Hitch Rail Restaurant in Pringle for six years, and then he was a chef at a dude ranch in Arizona for a bit. It was after this, as the age of 70 was approaching and he was looking to slow down and enjoy his family, that he moved to Grant to be near his daughter and her family. Boitnott also has a son, Jason, who is in the medical field in Colorado.
After taking some time off and healing from some health issues, Boitnott found out about the cook opening at the Perkins County Senior Center, and decided he was ready to jump back into what he loves.
Boitnott is already creating the December menu for the center, with plans to start making most everything served from scratch.
“I’m focusing on improving the food quality and adding some new dishes, and just getting to know the people here. I love this town and the people,” he said. Besides spending time with his family, Boitnott also enjoys gardening and canning.
Everyone, not just senior citizens, is invited to come and experience Chef Boitnott’s cooking during the week at the senior center, which serves its meals from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday for a small fee. Carry-out and delivery are also offered to anyone, and transportation to the center is provided with the county’s mini-bus service. Those wanting to eat are asked to RSVP by 10 a.m. the day of by calling 308-352-4236 or emailing pcsenior@gpcom.net.
The center also hosts a senior meal in Venango every Tuesday at 12 noon. RSVP is requested by 10 a.m. the day before for the Venango meal. Please visit the Perkins County Senior Center’s page at https://pcsenior.org/ for more information