January 4-29, 2009 (Sunday - Thursday)

Kurt Stolte - Chef

Kurt Stolte became interested in food at a young age as he watched his mother prepare dinner for the family. He liked being in the kitchen to observe, and though he was mostly in his mother's way, she never chased him out. As Kurt grew up he was often found in the kitchen between meals conducting culinary experiments and learning from his mistakes. Soon he was turning out dishes for family and friends and their positive praise encouraged him to pursue his hobby. His first job was in the kitchen of a nursing home, where he learned how to bake cakes and properly handle knives without cutting himself.

After cooking under chefs at a dozen Seattle restaurants he decided to take the leap and become a chef himself. Kurt takes a simple approach to food, letting the natural flavor of the ingredients take center stage. He pays attention to the seasons and likes to use locally grown produce. He looks forward to cooking for his guests each night and hopes they will continue to enjoy his thoughtful dishes as much as he enjoys preparing them.