Eat Seattle, based in Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Market, offers chef guided food tours; highlighting the best local artisans, telling their stories and uncovering this special community.

Led by founder and Cordon Bleu Paris graduate, Chef Liz Philpot, we are a team of chefs passionate about uniting both travelers and locals alike, tasting and learning about seasonal food and the vendors of Pike Place Market. Our chefs inspire and entertain as you explore the market and nibble on freshly prepared snacks along the way.

CHEF & OWNER LIZ PHILPOT

Chef Liz, is a classically trained chef from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and has spent the last 15 years perfecting her craft. Just as important to her time spent in the kitchen, is her time spent understanding where ingredients come from in their natural environment. The perfect meal starts outside of the kitchen; from the conditions in which the ingredients are raised and treated to the preparation. Using the freshest, sustainable products is essential to maximizing flavor. Once the ingredients are in her hands she focuses on proper seasoning, temperature and complimentary flavor-profiles to enhance her dishes. Creating delicious food is Liz’s outlet to inspire others by opening up their minds to new possibilities in the kitchen.

CHEF ERIC OLINSKY

Chef Eric grew up with frequent family trips to Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. His love of public markets was established from an early age and he found his calling leading food tours around Eastern Market and other historic neighborhoods in Washington, DC. Eric moved to Seattle and quickly learned the local history while leading Bill Spiedel’s Underground Tour and immersing himself in Pike Place Market with the guidance of Liz and the Eat Seattle chefs. He honed his culinary experience at several downtown restaurants, including pastry responsibilities at The Pink Door, Sabine and the Purple Cafe and Wine Bar. Eric embraces his market guide experience and the relationships with local artisans he’s cultivated as a member of the Eat Seattle team to enhance his cooking classes and all his culinary pursuits. Eric also heads up the South Lake Union Street Food Tour which launched in May 2022.

CHEF NOAH HAFTER

Noah brings over 12 years of experience as a professional chef and restaurant manager in Seattle. A true jack-of-all-trades, Noah has expertly managed coffee shops, bakeries, pizzerias, restaurants, and bars, gaining a deep and well-rounded knowledge of the food industry. Whether sharing insightful advice or captivating you with behind-the-scenes stories, Noah’s passion for cuisine, local ingredients, Pike Place Market and hospitality shines through in every interaction.

CHEF SEAN WELSH

Chef Sean grew up around his family’s pizza business and from there his passion for food evolved into a profession in it. In the off season when Sean isn’t guiding tours, he is working in the kitchens of a nearby ski resort “on the hill”, as he likes to put it. He’s done it all from managing restaurants to rolling up his sleeves in the kitchen and now he hosts his groups in Pike Place Market to tell them about our amazing food scene.

CHEF JONATHAN OXORN

Originally planning to enter the world of politics, Jonathan first took an interest in food when his family would have paella parties cooked by Seattle chef James Kuhn. Fast forward to 2019, He had taken over Jim’s catering company “The Paella King”, cooking for private parties all over the northwest. Jonathan loves to engage with his tour guests, and learn about what foods they love..

CHEF SCOTT PERMAN

Originally from Seattle, Scott grew up traveling across the United States with his family of “nuclear construction nomads.” His journey in the entertainment world began at Walt Disney World in Florida, where he spent 20 years as an actor, dancer, and Stage Manager in the Entertainment division. In 2004, he graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute in Scottsdale, AZ, with an associate degree in Pastry Arts. For Scott, pastry has always paralleled show business, from the spark of an idea to formula development, through to the grand finale—and the applause!

After returning to Seattle, he contributed his culinary talents to a few notable spots, including Rumba on Capitol Hill and the Snohomish Pie Company, but his experiences span numerous memorable culinary roles across the country. Proud of Seattle’s rich food scene, unique history, and global influence, Scott loves to share the stories of his hometown. Welcome to Pike Market, y’all… let’s snack!

CHEF STONE JOHNSON

Chef Stone started trying to replicate restaurant dishes at home when he was just 12 years old because he loved food and his parents were decidedly not chefs. In 2013 he moved to Seattle and began cooking professionally, though previously he had been working on a Bachelor’s Degree in history. Since then he has worked in top restaurants in Seattle (The Unicorn, The Butcher’s Table) , DC (Arroz, Requin), and New Orleans (Restaurant August), where he discovered a true passion for quality ingredients and unique food experiences. Stone returned to Seattle in 2023 and in addition to participating in pop ups and catering events, loves sharing his passion for fresh, exciting ingredients in Pike Place as well as his interest in all things old, esoteric, quirky, and ironic. Fortunately for him, the market is positively overflowing with all of these things.

CHEF SYLAS CARBINE-PANCHOT

Chef Sylas always knew he wanted to cook professionally whether it became his chosen career path or not. Now, after spending a significant amount of time in Seattle kitchens, like the Goldfinch at the Four Seasons, he has a greater appreciation for the unique community and the quality food available at Pike Place Market.  Sylas loves sharing the stories of owner operated business in Pike Place and inspire Eat Seattle guests in their own home kitchens.