The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America tasting series is coming back to Seattle, bringing a walk-around food and drink crawl to the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle with local chefs, beverage stations and sponsor activations. James Beard Award-nominated chef Ethan Stowell, who runs more than 20 restaurants across the greater Seattle area, is among the chefs on the roster, and he stopped by Arc Seattle to talk up what guests can expect.
According to KOMO, the event takes place Sunday, November 1, 2026, and will feature chefs from across Washington state. A Four Seasons release about the 2025 event described a tasting on Sunday, October 26, 2025, with more than 35 food and drink stations showcasing local cuisine. The James Beard Foundation’s event page lists the 2026 tasting for Sunday, November 1, with Premier entry at 5:30 p.m. and General entry at 6:30 p.m.
Whichever Sunday it lands on, the format follows the national Taste America blueprint: a ticketed gathering that brings together chefs, special guests and diners to celebrate independent restaurants, according to the James Beard Foundation. The Seattle stop’s food stations are hosted by TasteTwenty chef Jhonny Reyes of Lenox, alongside other local chefs, with beverage stations and additional activations from national and local sponsors rounding out the evening.
Stowell Previews the City’s Food Scene
Stowell joined Arc Seattle host Holly Menino in the Arc Lounge to discuss Seattle’s food culture and the kinds of cuisines attendees can expect at Taste America. The segment aired on Arc Seattle, which runs weekdays from 7 to 8 a.m. and 10 to 11 p.m. on KUNS, the CW Network, with staff member Idrissa Gaye also part of the Arc Seattle team. On the Foundation’s event page, Stowell is listed alongside his presenting partners.
Stowell and Andrea Ferrandi of Goldfinch Tavern are among the chefs on the Seattle lineup.
A Returning Fixture on the Foundation's Calendar
Seattle has hosted this tasting before. A Four Seasons Hotel Seattle release documented a comparable 2025 event held Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the hotel’s ballroom, featuring more than 35 tasting stations with dishes inspired by both the Pacific Northwest and international culinary traditions. That lineup included Stowell alongside Andrea Ferrandi and Danielle Grogan of Four Seasons Hotel Seattle and Goldfinch Tavern, paired with Washington wines, regional craft spirits and cocktails.
The 2026 event’s TasteTwenty Host Chef is Jhonny Reyes; Stowell is listed separately as a James Beard Award nominee. The Foundation’s broader TasteTwenty program represents chefs across 20 markets nationwide who host dinners and walk-around tastings in their home cities. The Foundation says each TasteTwenty chef is chosen not only for culinary talent but for meaningful contributions beyond the kitchen, and the 2026-2027 cohort will showcase its members’ talents while representing their cities’ independent restaurant communities throughout the national Taste America series.
Tickets, Age Rules and Where the Money Goes
Guests hoping to attend should know the fine print: all reservations are non-refundable and must be made in advance, per the Foundation’s event listing. Attendees must also be at least 21 years old and present valid identification at the door.
Proceeds from the Taste America series support the James Beard Foundation’s national impact programs, including work on equity, sustainability, women’s leadership and building a more resilient culinary industry, according to the Four Seasons release. The Seattle stop arrives as the city’s restaurant scene has already had a busy October, with Seattle Restaurant Week running October 18 through 31 and offering meals starting at $20, per KIRO 7.
