“Opportunity.” Seattle’s Art Institute President Elden Monday has to sum up the evening in a word, and he’s chosen this one. “No matter employment or economic statistics, opportunity is always a good thing to bring to the table.” A handful of these students in white chef coats are particularly captivated. We’re talking about their opportunities here tonight.
Chef Tiffany Derry is at the front of the crowd, here at W Seattle’s Trace restaurant to attest to the Art Institute’s ability to provide such opportunities. A native of Beaumont, Texas, Derry decided to pursue a culinary education at the Art Institute of Houston, working long hours at IHOP to pay her way through a deep swamp of tuition bills. Ever since, the arc of her career has been an upward one – a participant on Bravo’s Top Chef, she was voted Fan Favorite of Season 7, and was invited back for the All-Stars season, finishing among the final four chefs.
But Derry isn’t the type who never looks back, which is part of the reason she’s in Seattle throwing her charisma and clout behind a partnership that ties Trace to the local Art Institute. The program will allow students from the Institute’s culinary program to join the Trace team. Derry cannot overstate the importance of community support in this venture.
Tonight the support of the community has been mobilized – W Hotel General Manager Tom Limberg mingles with the enthusiastic crowd, and everyone is happy to pledge support to whatever kitchen made these sumptuous duck and mushroom confits.
Derry, who is taking a step back from her successful Dallas restaurant PrivateSocial beginning on Monday, is also looking forward to new projects. She recently mused that she’d like to own five restaurants one day. (What kinds? “Oh gosh, I don’t know. I want a taco stand!”) But she plans to carve time out to return to Seattle as the Trace-AI partnership moves forward. Plus, the city intrigues her – this is her first visit, and she’s amazed by all the flannel. Is there anything in the Seattle restaurant scene that stands out? She laughs with her head thrown back: “Y’all LOVE your bread!” She swears it’s abnormal how much of it we eat, but let’s be real – that’s probably why she’s already planning a return trip.
