I have been working tirelessly, visiting happy hours all around Seattle expanding my knowledge of the food and drinks that make this city great. As a reformed vegetarian, I now enjoy eating meat daily and will often order the strangest sounding body part on the menu, since I am making up for lost time. When not eating bone marrow, tongue, or sweetbreads, I can usually be found acting on a Seattle stage somewhere, or in a park playing with my daughter. I’m also a rabid sports fan, decent cook, and enjoy solving and creating crossword puzzles on those notorious rainy Seattle days.

If you wanna talk to someone from out of town who's still in her honeymoon phase with Seattle, look no further than this gal right here! I was born and raised in southern California, and have fully assimilated to Pacific Northwest culture; I get grumpy if I'm away from trees and water for too long. Believe it or not, I migrated up here in 2010 to be a professional actor -- the Seattle theatre scene is inclusive and thriving. However, in order to make rent, I spent a lot of time post-college doing the other thing I'm good at: working front-of-house in restaurants. Being in the food industry has enriched my life in a couple ways; first, it taught me to be present with, and appreciate, my food -- which is probably why I now work for a company called "Savor." Secondly, it further reinforced for me the idea of community-building through the sharing of quality food. Pike Place is one big jewel-colored, seafood-throwing, guitar-strumming, cinnamon-and-patchouli-smelling community, and it is still my absolute favorite place in the city to spend time in. When I'm not giving food and cultural tours at the Market, you'll find me onstage in various theatre productions all over the Seattle area, singing karaoke in one of the magnificent dive bars in Greenwood, or doing very important work research at local brunches and happy hours.

Born and raised in the eastside suburbs of Seattle, I have always been proud to be from the Pacific Northwest. The funny thing is, I had to move away from home for a while to really understand that. I studied musical theatre in college and with stars in my eyes moved to New York City after graduating. It is there that I became a professional foodie! For six years I led food tours of Greenwich Village. All along, my heart was home in the Northwest, so two years ago I made the move back to Seattle.

There are few things I miss about New York, but I do find myself missing my Greenwich Village community. I would walk down Bleecker Street in the morning before my tour and I felt like “Belle” in the opening of Beauty and the Beast, waving to the butcher and the baker. I know I am comparing my life to a Disney movie, but that really is the way it was. I have rediscovered that in Pike Place Market, where the motto is “Meet the Producer.” Today, I am thrilled to work as a food tour guide again, but this time in my favorite city!

I moved to Seattle in 1988 at the age of six and immediately fell in love with the Emerald City. I love roaming around the area's parks and beaches while finding tasty rub all over town. I'm a musician and avid member of the Seattle music scene, as well as a pastel artist, photographer, and writer. I enjoy all of the arts and adore a good book. On weekends, I try to spend as much time as I can hiking, camping, and backpacking my way through Washington State's myriad forests and wilderness areas.

I'm a born-and-raised Seattleite and love sharing the sights, sounds and flavors of my hometown with people. Prior to working for Savor Seattle, I spent 13 years at the Museum of History & Industry where I developed a passion for informal education (the fun kind of learning!) and amassed a wealth of local history and knowledge. I'm excited to bring that background to the wonderful world of food tours, and to help visitors get a sense of context for our city's amazing food scene. When not leading tours, I'm also the Youth Programs Manager for the historic steamship SS VIRGINIA V and a freelance actor and stage combatant. I love gardening, baking, reading, and getting out to the woods or on the water whenever possible. 

I'm originally from Ormond Beach, Florida and moved to Seattle in May of 2015. I started working in food in 2008 while in high school. In 2012, I graduated from Daytona State College with a degree in Culinary Management and a certificate in Baking and Pastry Specialization. I've worked in kitchens and bakeries, and loved the daily challenges and fast-paced atmosphere, but decided that I missed being a great host and talking to people! I moved to the front of the house and worked my way up to management. While in management, I realized that it was a fun challenge, but I missed learning about food and being in a more creative role. After I left my management position I took some time off and set out to find a position to do just that, which is how I landed at Savor Seattle! I'm able to learn about food and restaurants in Seattle, and am able talk to people all day long! 

When I'm not at work, you can find me attending local art events like First Thursdays in Pioneer Square and Second Thursdays in Capitol Hill, attending music events around the city, or at home working either on a variety of art projects or making food!

Kat Hjelte is a rare gem in this city, in that she is a local who was both born and raised here! Kat has a unique perspective of the Pike Place Market because she is one of the buskers here! She dazzles and delights the streets of Pike Place Market with both music and magic, and considers the Market to be her home away from home. If you ask (or even if you don't) she will show you a magic trick with sleight of hand on the tour and you're welcome in advance. When she's not confusing you with her illusions, you can find Kat busking with her greatest passion: Playing the ukulele and singing on the streets, fundraising for her next travel adventure. Last  year she made her dreams come true when she used her busking funds to go on her first solo backpacking trip through Europe. This year she is thinking Thailand or Peru! When she is not in the Market, you can find her cooking delicious dinners, hiking, bouldering, and swing dancing across town. 

You can follow Kat's music, magic and travel shenanigans on Instagram! @Kat_Hjelte