Cooking with Class 2017

Talk, cook, and nosh with your favorite chefs

September brings Cooking with Class, your chance to cook with chefs, chat them up, then eat what you've made together, paired with great wine paired specifically with the dish by the wineries involved. Good times!

Salty's Seafood Grills throws immense support behind the fundraiser, donating the venue (their entire banquet floor at Salty's on Alki), feeding our volunteers before the event, and hosting an after-party for chefs and volunteers. More good times!

In one evening, 22 chefs gather to teach their recipes to you. You choose three chefs to work with; there are eight guests in each class. Salty's provides gloves so you can jump in and make those dishes hands on. Once made, it's time to eat and enjoy, with the backdrop of the Seattle skyline.

You might learn to make a vegetarian dish from Aaron Willis of Ciudad Grill, harissa-braised octopus from Christian Chandler of Serafina/Cicchetti, or salmon belly three ways from Raymond Southern of Rosario Resort. Dessert options are a baked Alaska sundae by Kurt Goddard of Salty's, and chocolate truffles and tips from Chloe Lee of the new SLS hotel (slated to open in August). Returning restaurants include Salty's on Redondo Beach and Salty's on Alki, Racha Thai, Purple Café, SkyCity, Copperleaf at Cedarbrook Lodge, Columbia Hospitality's Talaris Conference Center, LloydMartin, Hoist House at Swiftwater Cellars, Sushi Chinoise, Collections Café, and FareStart. New restaurants this year are Le Pichet, Elliott's Oyster House, Six Seven at the Edgewater, Dahlia Lounge, Salish Lodge & Spa, Ciudad Grill, Rosario Resort, and Serafina/Cicchetti.

Evening openers include a cocktail from Heritage Distilling, fresh-shucked oysters from Taylor Shellfish on the front deck, and oyster-friendly wines. New this year is Esquin Wine & Spirits manning the oyster wine tasting table. Inside, the tasting table offers tastes of each wine that is being paired with chefs' dishes. Also new and on hand this year: Mac 'n Jack's Brewery and Sur la Table.

While hard to pinpoint, there is something very special about this event. Guests and chefs are like old friends, the atmosphere is relaxed (until the auction starts!), and guests enjoy picking the raffle items they want to win. It's a wonderful thing to have this much fun while doing so much good for our senior neighbors. Proceeds benefit the Pike Place Market Foundation, specifically the senior programs including Heritage House at the Market, the senior center, food bank, and medical center.

If you haven't registered yet, please go to www.seattledining.com/cwc. Check out the chefs, their dishes, wine pairings, and then head to the registration page. Simple! See you on September 14, at 6 p.m.

*Cooking with Class 2017 has sold out. Please go to the registration page to get on the wait list or on the list for 2018. Thank you!

Connie Adams
Event Manager