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…