Tacoma Aroma Flavor is grateful to its many partners who’ve offered support, advice, and encouragement. We couldn’t do this without you!
Artists
Chefs & Mixologists
Farmers, Producers, & Markets
Nonprofits
Retail Outlets
Sponsors with Grit
Artists
Ric Matthies Design: If you’re a fan of Wayzgoose Steamroller Prints, or have a red deck of Tacoma Playing Cards, you’re already familiar with Ric’s artwork. We’re so in love with the Tacoma “Spoonscape” he designed for us, we’re tempted to have it tattooed!
Genevieve Denise Visual Artist: A professional photographer with 20+ years of experience, Genevieve has honed her visual story-telling skills while photographing weddings, fashion shows, farm-to-table imagery, brand photography, and more.
With the Tacoma Aroma: Savor the Flavor cookbook series, Genevieve channels her expertise to photograph chefs and mixologists in action – vividly capturing their culinary creations, their personalities, and the atmospheres of their kitchens and restaurants. Her photos are as expressive as her subjects, and in the case of her food imagery, they are mouthwatering!
Visit Genevieve’s Instagram page for a glimpse into her colorful world.
Cari Schindler, Graphic Design: We met Cari through the Spaceworks Business Incubator program and were impressed with her knowledge, talent, and passion for her work. She loves designing brands for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses – so when we needed a strategic approach for the design of our book cover and layout, Cari was our first call.
Check out Cari’s initial designs for the front cover. Which one is your favorite?
Chefs & Mixologists
We have a wonderful lineup of recipe contributors for Tacoma Aroma: Savor the Flavor! These chefs and mixologists are committed to bringing you Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonal, Sustainable food and beverages in their eateries, bars, and kitchen classrooms:
Charlie McManus; Jacqueline Plattner | Primo Grill
Deanna Bender-Hicks | Over the Moon Café
Yu Nanakornphanom | INDO Asian Street Eatery; Moshi Moshi
Chris Keil | en Rama
Jackie Casella (Fender) | JackieFender.com; Creative Colloquy
Jon Maley | ChūcH
Kris Blondin | Founder of Vin Grotto, Stink Cheese & Meat, and El Tufo Wine Bar (all have been sold to new owners)
Blake Lord-Wittig; Alex Russo* | BlakeLordWittig.com; *De La Terre (permanently closed 2019)
Shawn Tibbitts | Tibbitts@FernHill
Jan Parker | Jan Parker Cookery; Reyna Filipino Kitchen (opening in 2024)
Thad Lyman; Katie Doherty*; Will Rieck* | Brimstone PNW Smokehouse; Brix 25°; Iscreamery; NetShed No. 9 *Not pictured
Hudson Slater | Asado Cucina Argentina
Blanca Rodriguez; Dennis Espinoza | Pimienta Bistro & Bar
Alex Anton | The Mill Steakhouse + Spirits
Jason Alexander | Devil’s Reef; Room 428 (opening late 2023)
Jennifer Johnson | Happy Belly Eatery + Juice Bar
Derek Bray | The Table
Elisa Marzano | Marzano Italian Restaurant
Not pictured: Kyle Campisi | previously with Table 47 at Ocean 5, now owner of Subtle Approach Catering
Check out this map of restaurant locations!
See the list of recipes that these talented folk have contributed.
Nonprofit Organizations
25.3% of the profits from Tacoma Aroma Flavor books* will go directly to local 253-area-code nonprofits in five categories: Arts, Education, Human Services, Animal Welfare, and Nature Conservancy. *Yes, that’s a plural. The plan is for this to be a series!
For the first book, we’re partnering with two organizations that make a huge difference in the 253 community:
The mission of Emergency Food Network (EFN) is “to provide Pierce County with a consistent, diverse, and nutritious food supply so that no person goes hungry.” Serving as the center of Pierce County’s emergency food effort, EFN obtains, produces, transports, processes, and stores food and non-food essentials for distribution to 76 food pantries, meal sites, and shelters throughout Pierce County.
EFN provides 13.9 million pounds of healthy, nutritious food annually to families and individuals in need. There are 1.3 million visits to food pantries and meal sites in Pierce County each year—and 56% of these visits are children and seniors! EFN makes sure these hungry families and individuals receive the nutritious food they need to stay healthy. For every $1 donated, EFN provides 5 meals to a family in need.
Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region uses thrift store revenue, community support, and their training campuses to provide career skills, other education, and job placement in a variety of career fields. Goodwill’s programs help people with limited income, disabilities, and disadvantages overcome barriers to employment.
As a result of Goodwill’s training and placement programs, people are offered office, culinary, catering, retail, custodial, warehouse, transportation and logistics careers across Washington. This year alone, Goodwill Industries will help 8,500 people with education, job training and placement so they can become independent self-supporting citizens.
Retail Outlets
Get your Tacoma Aroma goodies! Here’s where you can find vinyl stickers and colorable postcards featuring the Spoonscape:
Located in the heart of downtown, Stocklist Goods & Gifts works hard to bring you the best Tacoma has to offer! You’ll find fabulous gifts, souvenirs for folks near and far, beautiful jewelry, and fantastic customer service. Stocklist promises to provide a well-curated gift-shopping experience, to show you things you have not seen before, and to wrap it all up in a beautiful package. Stock up!
Paper Luxe is a mother-daughter team that adores unique greeting cards, gifts for your loved ones (and yourself!), and party décor—including balloons and custom printing options – that you can order online or in person. In addition to the constant influx of fresh, fun items, Paper Luxe offers creative classes and pop-ups at their Fircrest and Gig Harbor shops. (Check out their sister stores in Fircrest: The Crest Home and The Curious Bear Toy & Book Shop.)
The next time you visit Happy Belly Eatery + Juice Bar for breakfast or lunch, take a peek at the shelves filled with local products from woman-owned businesses. Yummy edibles share shelf space with sparkling jewelry, honey-based body care products, hand-crafted pouches, imprinted reusable bags and tea towels, and other Tacoma-proud swag.
Nestled among a community of shops and eateries at historic Freighthouse Square, you’ll find a treasure trove of gifts and goodies at Adorned Abode. Whether you’re waiting for the Sounder or wandering with friends, you’ll be inspired by the array of travel-related gifts; fun zodiac-themed items; gourmet chocolate, candles & incense, soaps & essential oils; jewelry, houseplants, greeting cards, and more!
Located in the historic urban village of Proctor, in the North End of Tacoma for over 40 years, The Pacific Northwest Shop offers products from across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. Check out their volcanic ash glass artwork, specialty foods such as smoked salmon and huckleberry snacks, jewelry, books, bath and body products, and decorative items for the home – including a selection of North Coast Indian design products.
On the University of Puget Sound campus in the lower level of Wheelock Student Center, the Bookstore has textbooks and Logger logo gear of course. But you’ll also find sundry art and office supplies, snacks, novels, gift items, and more. Next time you’re on campus walking your dog or grabbing a latte at Diversions Café, pop downstairs and check out what the Bookstore has to offer!
>> Follow Tacoma.Aroma.Flavor on Instagram and Facebook for first notice of new publications & swag!
Farmers, Producers, & Markets
As Chef Derek Bray said when asked what kind of sherry vinegar to use in his Sofrito recipe… “The better, the better. ” 🙂 Here are a few of the better PNW ingredient sources our chefs and mixologists recommend:
Adam’s Mushrooms
Alvarez Organic Farms
Blue Max Meats
Chambers Bay Distillery
Dave’s Meats & Produce
Early Bird Farm
Farmers Markets
Filbert Acres
Honey’s Healthy Hive
Hempler’s
Heritage Distilling
Jack Mountain Meats
Kurtwood Farms
Lilliwaup Oysters
Metropolitan Market
Mt. Townsend Creamery
Nicky USA
Northern Fish
Penn Cove Shellfish
Sari-Sari Store
Share the Wealth Organics
Zestful Gardens
Sponsors with grit
Want to get in on this celebration of the 253? To have your logo and website featured here, or to discuss other ways of collaborating, drop us a line!
Tacoma Aroma Flavor 
