INA, Ill. - After nearly three years in business, local restaurant entrepreneurs Katie Karcher and Troy Ray have had many things to celebrate, from their successful business on the square in Benton to the birth of their two children, and good things don芒鈧劉t seem to be slowing down for the 海角视频 alumni.
Karcher and Ray opened their own restaurant, Seasoning Bistro, in August 2011 after leaving RLC芒鈧劉s Culinary Arts program. The duo named the restaurant for their love of seasoning food and interest in switching up the food on the menu, depending on the season of the year.
芒鈧揥e rotate the menu twice a year. We just like to switch it up,芒鈧� said Ray. 芒鈧揥e芒鈧劉re still going pretty strong. Recently, we芒鈧劉ve been really busy on the weekends. There are some people who come in every weekend.芒鈧�
Katie Karcher, LEFT, and Troy Ray, RIGHT, stand inside Seasoning Bistro, located on the square in Benton. The RLC alums opened the restaurant in August of 2011. Click on the image for a larger view.
Seasoning Bistro芒鈧劉s forte is home-cooked, hearty food at an affordable price. And no matter what芒鈧劉s on the menu, patrons can eat assured that it芒鈧劉s fresh.
芒鈧揥e try to get as much food and ingredients as we can at the Farmer芒鈧劉s Market. If they have fresh tomatoes, we don芒鈧劉t order tomatoes, it just depends,芒鈧� said Ray.
Outside of their thriving business, Ray, originally from Herrin, and Karcher, a native of Dahlgren, have since brought home their first child, Stella, and second child, Harvey.
芒鈧揥e芒鈧劉ve started a family and we芒鈧劉re still trucking along,芒鈧� said Ray.
The couple both became interested in the culinary arts while in school prior to RLC. Ray started working with his mother, JoAnn Dempsey, at the Marion Holiday Inn, where she was food and beverage director. Before Seasoning Bistro, he ran a catering business with his mother and worked at Walker芒鈧劉s Bluff in Carterville as a chef.
Likewise, Karcher was always interested in cooking, but decided to become a chef while in high school. A fresh graduate from Hamilton County Senior High School, she enrolled in RLC芒鈧劉s Culinary Arts program. Like Ray, she worked her way up at Walker芒鈧劉s Bluff to pastry chef. Together, they have said their education at RLC in the Culinary Arts program was essential for their success.
芒鈧揑 loved my experience there,芒鈧� Ray said. 芒鈧揑 wouldn芒鈧劉t have it any other way. The program was affordable and close to home, so it was an easy decision to make. Katie and I really enjoyed our time there and we would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to go into the culinary arts industry.芒鈧�
When asked about the future, Ray said expanding would be a nice option to look into; however, no serious plans have been put into place.
芒鈧揑f we could do it, we芒鈧劉d definitely like to. Right now, we have around 15 employees, and we芒鈧劉d like to be a bigger part of the community. If we could expand, that would be more people with jobs around here. That would be great,芒鈧� said Ray.
Still on the square, patrons are in for a treat by visiting Seasoning Bistro at 506 Public Square in Benton. The restaurant is also Facebook at www.facebook.com/SeasoningBistro. Ordering ahead is also available at 618-439-3003.
For more about the Culinary Arts program at 海角视频, visit online at or call 618-437-5321.