Edmonds CC Foundation’s 28th annual gala auction to benefit students is Feb. 22
1/27/2014
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| Josh Henderson and Autumn Martin |
The Edmonds College Foundation’s 28th annual fundraising auction and dinner will feature two well-known figures in the Seattle foodie scene — chef Josh Henderson of Huxley Wallace Collective and chocolatier and Edmonds CC distinguished alumna Autumn Martin, owner of Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery.
Henderson and Martin will oversee the gala event’s dinner menu and work with students
in the college’s culinary arts program. The Foundation’s “Lights, Camera … Auction! A Vintage Evening” dinner and auction will be Feb. 22 at the college in Woodway Hall 202. The auctioneer
will be KOMO News anchor Brad Goode. Co-chairing the gala event this year are Meg
Rankin and Alex Muhlestein. Maria Montalvo and Ruth Arista will serve as emcees.
In addition to a unique dinner, participants at the auction can bid on a variety of
one-of-a-kind items, such as vintage wines, dinner at the prestigious Canlis restaurant
in Seattle, private chef dinners, a Hollywood weekend getaway, and a diamond and aquamarine
necklace on a diamond studded chain in white gold. Many additional items and experiences
have been donated by local businesses and other gala supporters.
Last year’s dinner and auction raised more than $230,000 in support of access, success, and excellence for students, faculty, and staff at
the college. The Foundation awards more than 100 scholarships each year to help area
students succeed.
Henderson and Martin’s participation follows award-winning chef Thierry Rautureau
(Loulay and Luc restaurants) in 2013 and four-time James Beard finalist Ethan Stowell
in 2012. The auction has welcomed a regional food scene veritable who’s who in recent
years, including Peter Levine (Waterfront Seafood Grill), Wayne Johnson (Andaluca),
Lynne Vea (PCC Natural Markets), Doug Wilson (Ten Mercer), and Holly Smith (Café Juanita).
Huxley Wallace Collective, which Henderson formed in 2012, is a collection of restaurants, experiences, and
gathering spaces. They include Skillet Diner in Ballard and Capitol Hill, Westward
and Little Gull Grocery in Seattle, the Hollywood Tavern in Woodinville, and the new
Cone & Steiner, a cafe/corner store on Capitol Hill. His background includes being
executive chef at Aramark, chef de cusine at Avalon Hotel, and chef instructor at
Art Institute of Seattle. Henderson, who grew up in the Edmonds area, received a bachelor’s
degree at Western Washington University and an associate’s degree from the Culinary
Institute of America.
Henderson received the StarChefs Rising Stars Award in 2009, was named the most influential
person of 2010 by Seattle magazine, and was recognized in Puget Sound Business Journal’s
2012 top 40 under 40.
Martin graduated from Edmonds CC’s Culinary Arts program in 2002 as student of the
year, and received Edmonds CC’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008. She founded Hot
Cakes in 2008 and in May 2012 opened the buzzworthy Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery in Ballard. Her experience includes being pastry chef at Canlis and head chocolatier
for Theo Chocolate, where she crafted chocolate bars and award-winning confections.
“We are so thrilled to have Josh and Autumn with us to prepare an amazing dinner menu
and to work with Edmonds CC students,” said Rankin, who owns J. Rankin Jewellers in
Edmonds along with her husband, John. “Their commitment to excellence will assure
that our auction attendees, donors, sponsors, volunteers, and culinary students will
be part of a truly special evening.”
Edmonds CC students preparing for careers as cooks, kitchen managers, bakers, pastry
chefs, and other jobs in the food service industry will benefit from the experience
and the interaction with Henderson and Martin as they help prepare and serve the meals
to auction attendees.
To reserve your spot, go to www.edmonds.edu/foundation. There are still a number of auction sponsorship and table sponsorship opportunities
remaining. You can become a sponsor at www.edmonds.edu/foundation or call Susie Beresford at 425.640.1982. Join others such as The Boeing Co., Premera
Blue Cross, Comprehensive Wealth Management, Whole Foods, Arista Wine Cellars, J.
Rankin Jewelers, and Total Wine & More.