A Seattle native, I’ve performed in over 50 local productions, 3 original one man shows and several notable regional commercials. To supplement my joy of acting, I was a server and bartender for 15 years. It was this exposure to chefs, food, wine, beer, and craft cocktails that opened my palate and gave me an insatiable curiosity to explore “the finer things.” Being a food tour guide feels like the perfect marriage between my two backgrounds and I’m constantly “researching” by eating out, and regularly enjoy Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, French, Italian, Ethiopian and Indian cuisine, as well as a good burger and pizza.

I also enjoy travel, tennis, chess, constant book-reading and film-watching, having a cat on my lap, and dancing around my well-decorated living room with my cordless headphones to my substantial music collection.

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 have been changing lives with Savor Seattle for six years now. As self-professed history nerd trapped in a foodie’s body, I have made it my mission is to cultivate and plumb the depths of Seattle’s 150-year development. Naturally, I am always eager to share my culino-historic findings with anybody who dares show even the slightest interest. My time with Savor Seattle has afforded me the opportunity to take that latent passion for history and food to a whole new, civic-wide level. Be it the history and development of Seattle’s gourmet scene, or the global diaspora of chocolate in the 16th and 17th centuries, my insatiable appetite for history is rivaled only by a deep and undying love of sushi. And pizza. And roast lamb. And dark chocolate. And barbecue ribs. And tacos. And margaritas. And scotch. And absinthe.

For the last year, I have stepped into the role of Tour Guide Manager. My new challenge is turning my experience inwards, and pushing my team to ever greater heights. I take great pride in being an active participant in the social force that is Savor Seattle in particular, and culinary tourism in general. Come take a tour, and your life will never be the same!

Katya was born in raised in the delicious and diverse melting pot of Miami, FL.  She ventured west to Seattle, WA to earn her BFA in Theatre & Original Works at Cornish College of the Arts.  She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2015 and has been working as a professional Actor, Director, and Dialect Coach ever since.  However, the rumor is true -- artists do need day jobs!  Working as a Food Tour Guide in Pike Place Market is by far her favorite.  Katya was fortunate enough to have been raised by two culinary-inclined parents and food has been one of her many passions since she was toddler gobbling down mussels at Dim Sum.  You can follow all of her theatre and foodie adventures @ stages_and_plates on Instagram.