September 5, 2025 - "Bringing Out the Best: Team Building". Wayne Kostroski is a successful and nationally known restaurateur. His career includes experience with some of the country’s finest restaurants and restaurant companies. Kostroski is a co-owner of Cuisine Concepts, which includes Bar Abilene in Uptown Minneapolis, Tejas at 50th and France in Edina, the Franklin Street Bakery in Minneapolis, and the consulting division of Cuisine Concepts. In 1992, Kostroski chaired the Restaurant Committee for the Super Bowl XXVI Task Force, as well as creating and producing the first Taste of the NFL, an annual event that brings top chefs and alumni players from each of the NFL cities to the Super Bowl host city for a fun-filled, food-sampling gala. Read more below for more details about Mr. Kostroski and his many accomplishments.Originally a professional musician in Wisconsin, Kostroski made the transition to restaurants in the late 1970s.
His introduction to the restaurant business came as the beverage and entertainment manager for the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and the St. James Hotel in Red Wing, Minn. While at the St. James Hotel, Kostroski participated in the restoration of this historic hotel property. Kostroski consulted with John Dayton and Stephan Pyles on the 1987 opening of Tejas and Goodfellow’s restaurants in Minneapolis. In the fall of 1994, Kostroski again teamed with Dayton and Mark Haugen to form Cuisine Concepts.
Kostroski is a co-owner of Cuisine Concepts, which includes Bar Abilene in Uptown Minneapolis, Tejas at 50th and France in Edina, the Franklin Street Bakery in Minneapolis, and the consulting division of Cuisine Concepts.
His introduction to the restaurant business came as the beverage and entertainment manager for the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and the St. James Hotel in Red Wing, Minn. While at the St. James Hotel, Kostroski participated in the restoration of this historic hotel property. Kostroski consulted with John Dayton and Stephan Pyles on the 1987 opening of Tejas and Goodfellow’s restaurants in Minneapolis. In the fall of 1994, Kostroski again teamed with Dayton and Mark Haugen to form Cuisine Concepts.
Kostroski is a co-owner of Cuisine Concepts, which includes Bar Abilene in Uptown Minneapolis, Tejas at 50th and France in Edina, the Franklin Street Bakery in Minneapolis, and the consulting division of Cuisine Concepts.
He has served on the national board of the End Hunger Network, which was founded in 1983 by Jeff Bridges, and has chaired the Minnesota Taste of the Nation, which raised more than $1 million in the initial 10 years for hunger relief. Locally, he has served as a member of the board for the Second Harvest St. Paul Food Bank. In 1992, Kostroski chaired the Restaurant Committee for the Super Bowl XXVI Task Force, as well as creating and producing the first Taste of the NFL, an annual event that brings top chefs and alumni players from each of the NFL cities to the Super Bowl host city for a fun-filled, food-sampling gala. The 2008 Taste of the NFL will be held Saturday, February 2nd at the Phoenix Convention Center. Proceeds from the 1992 Taste of the NFL topped $90,000. Subsequent Taste of the NFL events have followed each year in the host city at the Super Bowl. To date, in excess of $6 million dollars has been raised for hunger relief through this event. Kostroski also was one of the principals in establishing the “Jam Against Hunger” events at the Mall of America.
In 2004, he earned the “Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year” award from the National Restaurant Association as a result of the success of TNFL. In March 2005, Kostroski was named Restaurateur of the Year in Minneapolis by Mpls. St. Paul Magazine.
Kostroski resides in Edina with his wife Eda. He has two daughters, Lya and Judith, and a son, Peter. He is active in the Edina community and has served on the board of directors for the Edina Soccer Association and is past chair of the Edina Chamber of Commerce. Kostroski also serves on the board of directors of the 50th & France Business Association.
Kostroski resides in Edina with his wife Eda. He has two daughters, Lya and Judith, and a son, Peter. He is active in the Edina community and has served on the board of directors for the Edina Soccer Association and is past chair of the Edina Chamber of Commerce. Kostroski also serves on the board of directors of the 50th & France Business Association.