FareStart, the local non-profit organization that provides culinary job training and placement for homeless and disadvantaged individuals, is kicking off new annual celebration of the talented chefs and restaurants that support FareStart’s training programs throughout the year. FareStart’s first annual Guest Chef Spectacular will take place May 23, 2013 at the Showbox SoDo and will feature tastes from more than 40 of the area’s top restaurants, wineries, breweries and distilleries.
Over the past 21 years, FareStart has provided opportunities for more than 6,500 people to transform their lives, while also serving over 5.5 million meals to disadvantaged men, women, and children—made possible in part by the support of the local restaurant community. FareStart’s Guest Chef Spectacular will permanently replace the organization’s well-known Guest Chef on the Waterfront event, which was retired in 2011 after seven successful years. Guest Chef Spectacular will follow a similar tasting format to FareStart’s past events, though new this year will be a wine store where guests will be able to purchase bottles from participating wineries, and a VIP Lounge where guests will have access to exclusive tastes.
FareStart’s Guest Chef Spectacular will be open to the public (21-and-over) and will take placeThursday, May 23 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Showbox SoDo (1700 1st Avenue South, Seattle). Early bird tickets for general admission will go on sale April 1 and will be $70 per person (beginning May 1, general admission tickets will be $80). VIP tickets will also be available for purchase beginning April 1 for $125 per person and will include access to a VIP Lounge at 5:30 p.m. for special pre-reception featuring exclusive tastes from local restaurants, premium wines, early admittance to the main tasting event, and a special gift bag filled with goodies from local restaurants. Tickets will be available online at www.farestart.org. Tickets will not be available at the door.
FareStart’s Guest Chef Spectacular will feature:
- Tastes from more than 20 top Northwest chefs and restaurants, including: Chef Craig Hetherington, TASTE Restaurant; Chef Mauro Golmarvi, Assaggio Ristorante; Chef Paul Hyman, The Capital Grille; Chef Jeff Maxfield, SkyCity at the Needle; Chef Bill Ranniger, Duke’s Chowder House; Chef Varin Keokitvon, FareStart; Chefs Thomas Horner and Kevin Kacprzak, Hook & Plow; Chefs Craig and Kristina Bartleson, Sand Point Grille; Chef Dan Gilmore, The Hunt Club at the Sorrento Hotel; Chef Ryan Davidson, The Sexton; Chef Chris Zarkades, Margaux; Chef David Buchanan, Tulalip Resort & Casino … and many more!
- Wine and beer from more than 20 local wineries and breweries, including: Ambassador Vineyard, Hedges Cellars, Purple Star & Native Sun, Two Mountain Winery, Lobo Hills/Anthony Cellars, Smasne Cellars, 14 Hands Winery, Columbia Crest, Kerloo Cellars, O Wines, Van Camp Cellars, Batch 206 Distillery, Letterpress Distilling, Sidetrack Distillery … and many more!
- Live music, a wine store… and more! Plus, a raffle featuring a prize package of $100 gift cards from participating restaurants (valued at $2,000).
Since its inception, FareStart has become a beloved Seattle institution with talented chefs from the area’s best restaurants donating their precious time, experience, and food to help train FareStart students. Each week, a generous local chef donates their time to work alongside FareStart students to prepare a delicious three-course pre-fixe dinner at FareStart’s Guest Chef Night. Since 1994, Guest Chef Night has helped raise more than $4.5 million—all of which has directly supported FareStart’s training programs. In its more than 20-year history, FareStart has celebrated the graduation of 1,400 students from the Adult Culinary Program and the Barista Training & Education program for at-risk youth—including 182 graduates in 2012 alone.
FareStart’s Guest Chef Spectacular is sponsored in part by Coinstar, Sysco and Starbucks. To learn more about FareStart, the Guest Chef Spectacular, and other upcoming events, please visit www.farestart.org.
FareStart provides a community that transforms lives by empowering homeless and disadvantaged men, women, and families to achieve self-sufficiency through life skills, job training and employment in the food service industry. Over the past 21 years, FareStart has provided opportunities for nearly 6,500 people to transform their lives, while also serving over 5.5 million meals to disadvantaged men, women, and children. Every day, men and women transform their lives in the adult program, which includes culinary training, life-skills classes, counseling, and assistance with housing, food, clothing and other support services to assist FareStart students as they change their lives. In 2013, FareStart will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Barista Training & Education program for at-risk youth, in partnership with YouthCare. FareStart, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, generates approximately half of its annual operating revenue through business operations, such as Guest Chef Night at the FareStart Restaurant. For more information, visit www.farestart.org.