PHOTOS: Scenes from sold-out Taste of West Seattle, raising $53,000 for WS Helpline

(UPDATED Friday afternoon with fundraising total and more)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 10:07 PM THURSDAY: When you see the advance warning every spring that the Taste of West Seattle will probably sell out, so you’ll want to get your tickets early – it’s not just a sales pitch. Tonight’s benefit for the West Seattle Helpline sold out days in advance and the line above was just for ticketholders waiting to get into The Hall at Fauntleroy! Once inside, you had the chance to sample the tastes and sips brought by dozens of local food and beverage purveyors. From north to south, here’s who we photographed:

Up from Alki were Nadia and Inaam Khazaal from Phoenecia (WSB sponsor) – where giving back isn’t just something they do for occasions like this, but also on Give Back Tuesdays (which raised money for Helpline in March). From East Alki, Chef Paolo Carey-DiGregorio and Corporate Pastry Chef Douglas Taylor from Salty’s (WSB sponsor):

From North Admiral, Cary Kemp from Pizzeria 22:

Also from Admiral, Jude and Megan from Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor):

From the north end of The Junction, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) proprietor Lora Swift (below right) with Janie and Dan Jacobs:

From the east side of The Junction, at outer Jefferson Square, Dream Dinners (WSB sponsor) proprietor Leslie Thomson and assistant Amanda, with Brooks Riendl from the Helpline board:

Heading south to just north of Morgan Junction, members of the Harry’s Chicken Joint team:

Tom DiStefano from nearby West Seattle Cellars, which raised more than $1,300 for Helpline in honor of their recent 20th anniversary:

More than 40 participants in all – and about 500 people there to be delighted by what they ate and drank. We’re waiting to hear the final tallies on tonight’s Helpline-helping success and will update when we have the info.

ADDED EARLY FRIDAY: A popular feature of The Taste is voting to choose best bite and best sweet – Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes, which operates The Hall, won the former, while Stuffed Cakes for the third consecutive year won the latter.

ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: The fundraising total is in from new Helpline executive director Chris Langeler, $53,000, the most for a “Taste of West Seattle” so far. That includes a $10,000 day-of donation from Metropolitan Market.

6 Replies to "PHOTOS: Scenes from sold-out Taste of West Seattle, raising $53,000 for WS Helpline"

  • Darbari May 21, 2015 (10:53 pm)

    Love Phoenecia, Pizzeria 22, and the Met martket! Need to check out the rest.

  • SuperAwesome May 21, 2015 (11:33 pm)

    Such a great night! Good food and drink for a good cause, does it get better than that?!

  • Derek May 22, 2015 (12:13 am)

    Thanks for having me play piano again. You guys are always so awesome and it’s such a great cause.

  • Dusky May 22, 2015 (7:55 am)

    Oh my gosh, Derek the piano player was awesome! This is a great event and well worth the money; my husband, neighbors and I had a fantastic time.

  • Francesca May 22, 2015 (10:03 am)

    This was amazing! I wish I could rewind and do this all over again, but eat MORE! lol. Stuffed cupcakes, I’ve got your number!

  • David Pedack May 22, 2015 (3:31 pm)

    @derek: thanks for playing, your music and jokes made a great evening even better!

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