Guest Chef Night with Chef Stuart Lane

Guest Chef Night with Chef Stuart Lane of Spinasse and Artusi

Please join us as we welcome Chef Stuart Lane of Spinasse and Artusi for a special evening as we celebrate our students, build community and enjoy an incredible meal. Guest Chef Night pairs premier local chefs with FareStart students to create a three-course meal served by volunteer community members. All revenue and donations from Guest Chef Night support FareStart’s job training and placement programs

Following a creative writing degree from Western Washington University, Stuart found his passion for cooking after watching an episode of “Great Chefs of the World” on PBS, noting: “it was a revelation for my career.” Shortly after, he enrolled at Bellingham Technical College and worked at a local Italian restaurant. In two years, he graduated with a degree in culinary arts but decided that he wanted additional training. Stuart moved to Seattle and saved money to attend culinary school in Italy, working simultaneously at Flying Fish under Chef/Owner Christine Keff and Cafe Campagne under Chef Daisley Gordon.

In 2004, he left for Costigliole d’Asti to attend the Italian Culinary Institute in a castle in Piemonte. He later staged at the Hotel Monte del Re in Dozza Italy outside of Bologna in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. While there, he made tortellini by the thousands and was immersed in the Italian food culture. Upon returning to the U.S., he headed to Cafe Juanita in Kirkland, Washington, looking for work. With some convincing, Stuart landed a job at Cafe Juanita as a prep cook, later moved to pastaoli, and finally, chef de cuisine.

In 2010, Stuart came to Spinasse as co-sous chef under Chef Jason Stratton and furthered his expertise with the cuisine of northern Italy. In 2015, Stuart assumed the role of executive chef at Spinasse and adjacent, casual Italian eatery and bar, Artusi, leading both restaurants to local and national acclaim.