The Owner of a Coralville Restaurant is Iowa’s 2026 Chef of the Year

Congratulations to Chef Cory Barrett of Coralville! The owner and head chef at Barrett's Quality Eats has been recognized by the Iowa Restaurant Association as Iowa's Chef of the Year for 2026!

About Cory Barrett

Before moving to Iowa, Ohio-native Cory Barrett traveled all over the country working in the restaurant industry. A post from the Iowa Restaurant Association reads:

"For nearly three decades, Cory’s culinary career has been shaped by a willingness to say 'yes' to opportunities that challenge him to learn and grow. That journey has taken him through acclaimed kitchens in Michigan, Las Vegas and Cleveland, nearly seven years working with Michael Symon, some 17 appearances on Iron Chef America, three James Beard Award semifinalist honors and a decade spent teaching culinary arts."

Cory settled in Eastern Iowa in 2022 to open his own restaurant, which he called 'Barrett's Quality Eats.' He saw a lot of potential in the area, and wanted to showcase the "rich and vibrant" local food culture. The Corridor Business Journal quotes Cory's statement from the official press release, which reads:

"When we moved here to build Barrett’s, we saw an unbelievable opportunity—not just to open a restaurant, but to plant roots in a community that genuinely cares about good food, local sourcing, and warm hospitality."

Three years after opening, Barrett's Quality Eats is still going strong!

About Barrett's Quality Eats

Located at 3242 Crosspark Road in Coralville, Barrett's Quality Eats opened its doors in the Corridor back in July of 2023. The business is a combination of a bakery, a coffee shop/cafe, and a sit-down restaurant, and is best known for its daily brunch and fresh-baked pastries. Customers especially seem to love the 'Deep Dish Cinnamon Rolls,' which are only available on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Barrett's Quality Eats via Facebook

In addition to breakfast and lunch favorites, Barrett's Quality Eats also features dinner service Tuesday through Saturday night. The menu features a variety of appetizers, salads, pasta, pizzas, steak, pork chops, seafood dishes, and more, as well as signature cocktails, wine, and beer. You can check out the current menu options on the Barrett's Quality Eats website HERE.

Barrett's Quality Eats is open daily for brunch from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Tuesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner. The restaurant also offers catering, which you can read more about HERE.

Additional Award Winners

Chef Cory Barrett isn't the only Iowan to be recognized by the Iowa Restaurant Association in 2026! Here are some of the other award winners the organization has announced:

• Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year - Chef Bartholomis Manning of Martini's Grille, Burlington
• Restaurateur of the Year - Simon Goheen of Simon's, Des Moines
• Rural Restaurant Operator of the Year - Gwen Page of Whatcha Smokin' BBQ + Brew, Luther

The Iowa Restaurant Association also honors women in the hospitality industry with their annual '40 Women to Watch' list. The Eastern Iowans on the 2026 list include:

• Arianna Whetstone of Dodici’s Shop, Washington
• Ashley Williams of Martini's Grille, Burlington
• Faith McRae of LongHorn Steakhouse, Waterloo
• Jackie Gonzalez of Montage, Cedar Falls
• Jaimie Kahle of Big Ass Cookies, Van Horne
• Jaymie McGrath of I'll Meet You There, Cedar Rapids
• Malayah Zanders of The Fun Station Quad Cities, Eldridge
• Marcela Barrera of The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, Cedar Rapids
• McKayla Peake of Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center, Coralville
• Melanie Abu-Nameh of Feedwell Kitchen & Bakery, Cedar Rapids
• Missy Walton of Lebowski’s Bar & Grill, Robins
• Molli Torres of The Merrill Hotel, Muscatine
• Samantha Peyton of Elmcrest Country Club, Cedar Rapids

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