There was a time when events like “The Soul of Seattle” were the only ones of their kind in the city, where the Black population is less than 7% of all residents. Enter restaurateur and provocateur Donna Moodie.  

It was Moodie, who opened the third version of Marjorie in Midtown Square in Seattle’s Central District last fall, who created the CD Forum benefit gala “Food as Art” in 2000. The event featured some of the best Black chefs in Seattle, including Moodie; the late Wayne Johnson, who died last year; Daisley Gordon of Cafe Campagne; Makini Howell of Plum Bistro (which closed last month); Sabrina Tinsley of La Spiga;  and a young upstart caterer named of Kristi Brown, who would go on to open the acclaimed Communion and was recognized as one of Seattle magazine’s “Most Influential” people in 2021. 

“Nobody was doing that kind of an event,” recalls Moodie, who at the time owned Lush Life in Belltown. “The idea of celebrating Black chefs, finding out who owns what business, that was unheard of.”  

Since 2020 “The Soul of Seattle” has been reprising Moodie’s concept, including this year’s version that drew a crowd of nearly 500 guests and raised around $200,000 Saturday night. The Soul of Seattle has raised $860,000 for local non-profits since its inception. This year’s beneficiary is M.U.S.T., the mentorship program for Black high school students.  

Not to be outdone, the CD Forum is bringing back Food as Art at 7 p.m. March 22  Seattle Opera Center to celebrate the organization’s 25th anniversary. 

Moodie, who was selected one of Seattle magazine’s “Most Influential” people in 2022, 

will feature a special Black History Month menu Tuesdays through Thursdays in February. The three-course menu for $45 includes hushpuppies to start, guests’ choice of jerk chicken or jerk tofu for the entree and bread pudding for dessert. 

Support Year-Round

This year’s Soul of Seattle was the first without Johnson, who helped organize and participate in the first Soul of Seattle. He was recognized during the VIP dinner.  

Johnson was the head chef at Andaluca at the Mayflower Park Hotel in downtown Seattle for 12 years. He was also the head chef at the iconic Ray’s Boathouse for four years. Long a volunteer chef and instructor at FareStart, he held several other roles at the Seattle nonprofit before retiring in 2023.  

Laura Clise, founder and CEO of digital consumer database Intentionalist.com and a member of The Soul of Seattle Advisory Committee, encourages consumers and diners to support minority-owned business year-round, not just one night or on designated awareness months.  

“Foundationally, what we are talking about is community,” says Clise, one of Seattle magazine’s “Most Influential” in 2020. “I think that when we spend our money like it matters because people matter and community matters, then yes it can be fun to incorporate a favorite place or discover new diverse small business that might be amplified during history and heritage month and then throughout the year.”

Intentionalist promotes Black-owned businesses year-round with its Buy Black Card, which offers a 20% discount underwritten by the Boeing Employees Credit Union.  

It is also running a #SpendLikeItMatters campaign during Black History Month.