Five executive chefs unite for charity dinner at historic Midway ranch

River Bottoms Ranch in Midway. Photo: Pepper Nix Photography

MIDWAY, Utah — For Brooks Kirchheimer, co-founder of Hill Top Hospitality, the idea of bringing together all five executive chefs from his restaurant group has been a long-held dream. On Nov. 15, that dream becomes reality at River Bottoms Ranch—with all proceeds benefiting the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

“This is an event that I have been dreaming of having for quite some time,” Kirchheimer said. “It provides all five of our executive chefs and our two pastry chefs to come together for one rare night and execute an absolutely delectable menu at a stunning venue.”

The venue itself tells a story spanning four generations. River Bottoms Ranch has been in the Horner family since Jared Horner’s great-grandfather settled in Midway from Switzerland. The 30-acre property, with its sweeping mountain views, was purchased by Jared and his wife Janica from his grandfather—with a focus on preservation and family gathering.

For the Horners, the decision to benefit Huntsman Cancer Institute comes from their own experience with the place that helped save Jared’s life.

Just days before Christmas 2023, Jared Horner was diagnosed with myelofibrosis, an aggressive blood cancer. What followed was a 100-day battle that would test the limits of medical science and a family’s endurance.

Jared underwent three stem cell transplants at Huntsman Cancer Institute. The first two failed. His body, stripped of its immune system by chemotherapy, fought sepsis and organ failure. The Horners’ three youngest children were cared for at home while Janica lived in isolation with her husband at the hospital, watching him fight for his life.

Then came the third attempt—this time with stem cells from their 22-year-old son, who returned home from serving a mission in Bogota, Colombia, to save his father’s life. Despite being only a half match, the transplant worked.

“Huntsman is a place of hope and healing and also trauma and heartache at the same time, but the workers there, the physicians and the nurses and all of the staff, just truly are angels,” Janica Horner said.

Today, Jared Horner is cancer free. His blood cells have completely transformed into his son’s. Even his blood type changed.

When Hill’s Kitchen and River Bottoms Ranch—already partners through catering collaborations—began planning this farm dinner, the choice to support Huntsman was immediate. For the Horners, it’s about finding ways to give back to the place that gave them hope. For Kirchheimer and his team, it’s a chance to celebrate their growth while supporting a meaningful cause.

“Hill Top Hospitality has grown a lot over the past few years and this farm dinner in some ways is a celebration of who we are today,” Kirchheimer said. “We are celebrating our team and in the process really excited to be able to give back to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.”

That celebration will take shape across six courses, with each executive chef from Hearth and Hill’s Park City and Sugar House locations, Hill’s Kitchen in Park City and Sugar House, and Urban Hill contributing their signature style. The menu spans smoked elk loin carpaccio to ancho chile and coffee-rubbed antelope, concluding with curated desserts from Hill’s Kitchen pastry chefs—a rare convergence of culinary talent in service of a cause that hits close to home.

It’s the kind of evening where Swiss heritage, culinary artistry and hard-won gratitude converge on 30 acres that have witnessed a century of family gatherings—and now, a new chapter of giving back.

Event Details:
The farm dinner begins at 5 p.m. Nov. 15 at River Bottoms Ranch, 1374 N. River Road, Midway. Tickets are $225 for food, with an optional $100 wine pairing. Reservations can be made at hill-top-hospitality.com/farm-dinner-2025 or by emailing josiem@hearth-hill.com.

River Bottoms Ranch will also host Christmas at the Ranch, its annual charity event benefiting Huntsman Cancer Institute. The community celebration features family photos with professional photographers, food and entertainment from Hill’s Kitchen, offering families another opportunity to support cancer research while capturing holiday memories.