Tag Archives: Guest Chef on the Waterfront

Food, Restaurant

Judgment Day at Guest Chef on the Waterfront

Last night was the 7th annual Guest Chef on the Waterfront. Each year, restaurants, breweries, and wineries make the annual pilgrimage to the pier to serve up specialties to benefit FareStart– a job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals. The event is always well-attended, with participants buzzing about the best bites and beverages.

As mentioned previously, I’ve been honored to be part of the judging panel for GCOW, which means that I can’t just buzz about the best offerings, but I have to commit to picking my favorites. Votes get tabulated, and in the end, the judges select their top appetizer, entree, dessert, and overall best dish of the night. This means eating a lot of food, but we do it knowing it’s for a good cause.

Many laughed at the “do not disturb the judges” sign, especially as Lee Callahan, emcee of KZOK/Jack-FM fame, encouraged participants to visit our table to see us stuffing our faces. Undaunted, and up to the task, we devoured more than two dozen dishes and bestowed the following honors:

  • Best appetizer: Chef Jay Bartleson, Bell Harbor International Conference Center, for his cold smoked monkfish, Yakima corn pancake, horseradish-lemon cream cheese, and caviar creme fraiche.
  • Best entree: Chef Jose Chavez, Washington State Convention & Trade Center, for his halibut ceviche, mango, and avocado.
  • Best dessert: Chef Matt Kelley, Barking Frog at Willows Lodge, for his jivara cremeux, peanut butter powder, caramel mousse, and fleur de sel.

And the winner of the Best Overall dish was…Chef Jose Chavez for the halibut ceviche with mango and avocado.

Drinks, Eats, Food, Restaurant

Get Your Tickets for Guest Chef on the Waterfront

We’re exactly four weeks out from the 7th Annual Guest Chef on the Waterfront, in which over 1,200 guests will feast on food and beverages from over 60 of the Seattle area’s best restaurants, breweries, wineries, and other purveyors.

“This event is our chance to give a big ‘thank you!’ to all the restaurants and chefs that support FareStart throughout the year,” says Christina Starr, FareStart’s marketing communications manager. “Lives are transformed at FareStart because of their support–when they hire FareStart graduates or volunteer to work with students at one of our Thursday evening Guest Chef Nights. They help FareStart have a positive impact on our community and we are so thankful for their support.”

I’ve long known that FareStart (winner of this year’s James Beard Foundation “Humanitarian of the Year” award) is a job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals. When I first moved to Seattle twelve years ago, I did some volunteer work at one of the organization’s events. But only recently did I learn just how extensive the program really is.

The apparent focus of the 16-week program may be about culinary training, but it also teaches students how to survive and thrive in the working world. The funds from FareStart businesses provide for each student’s housing, transportation, and medical needs. Students also receive assistance with goal-setting, crisis management, life skills, and job placement. This holistic approach helps explain why more than 85 percent of FareStart’s graduates find employment within 90 days of program completion.

This is why I’m pleased each year to stuff myself silly as one of the judges at Guest Chef on the Waterfront. The judging panel picks winners in appetizer, entrée, and dessert categories, as well as the best overall dish. This year, I’m curious to see what last year’s overall winner, pastry chef Lorna Stokes of Cantinetta, will come up with as an encore. I’m also expecting big things from the likes of Dan Gilmore at Urbane and Joshua Henderson and Brian O’Connor at Skillet.

If you can’t make it to Guest Chef on the Waterfront, there are plenty of other ways to help support the cause. Those Thursday Guest Chef Nights are extremely popular; that’s not surprising, since you can score three-course meals from some of Seattle’s best chefs (who work with FareStart students to prepare the meal) for $24.95. There’s also service downtown for one of FareStart’s lunches (the menu includes sandwiches, salads, and a variety of specials). And if you’re as humbled as I am by FareStart’s contribution to the community but can’t attend an event, you can always contribute a donation.

Guest Chef on the Waterfront takes place on Wednesday, July 13, at 6 p.m. at Bell Harbor’s Elliott Hall on Pier 66 (2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66, Seattle). General admission tickets (21 and over) are $75 per person.