October Evening Event: Rotarians Sit Down to Dinner

Join us for a night of insight into world hunger and food insecurity with renowned local figure, Chef Tom.

 

Chef Tom French is a seasoned chef, advocate, and humanitarian who lives by the belief that food is never just food. With over 50 years of culinary experience—spanning five-star restaurants, homeless shelters, and public schools—he brings both technical mastery and a deep sense of purpose to the table. For more than 25 years, Chef Tom has partnered with non-profits, meal programs, tribal organizations, and public agencies across the Pacific Northwest to advance food security. His work with organizations such as FareStart and Mary’s Place has delivered innovative, lasting solutions to some of the community’s most complex challenges. Most recently, he has collaborated with Safeway Albertsons, Seattle Public Utilities, and King County to tackle critical infrastructure issues, helping divert thousands of pounds of edible food from landfills. His current projects focus on schools, where he engages students in project-based learning to better understand food systems—not only from a nutritional standpoint, but also through the lenses of human impact, environmental sustainability, and cultural connection.