Our Team
Meet the people who will
run your event
Catering, bar, florals and planning are all in-house at 3229 Fairview Ave E on Lake Union, so your event is never handed to a stranger halfway through.
Small on purpose
A small team, and
you’ll know every name.
Two of them have spent more than twenty years each in restaurants and service. One earned certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers and spent over a decade running private events at Aqua by El Gaucho. One owns a Tex-Mex restaurant in Seattle. One is still the baker in the house.
Between them, they cover catering and bar, floral and décor and planning. Here’s who does what on your event.
Founder
Florals • Tablescapes • Pastry
Chief Occasions Officer
Kat Cirar
It started with Martha Stewart in the early ’90s and a love of tablescapes, floral design, and cooking. That hobby grew into The Extra Ingredient, Kat’s own catering and entertaining company.
She spent more than 25 years in the restaurant industry, learning to cook fresh food from chefs and pastry masters, then perfecting service standards and teaching others to deliver them. Today she designs the tablescapes and florals, adds detail to every corner of the venue, and is still the baker in the house, where she’s known as “Keebler.”
She lives in Seattle with her husband Ian and two cats, Aristophanes and Earendil. Yes, she’s a Lord of the Rings fan.
Food & Beverage Officer
Elizabeth Betancourt
Elizabeth has worked in the service industry for more than 20 years and has held many roles in it. She’s an Atlanta native and brings her Southern charm to every project, whether it’s a casual party or a formal celebration.
She and her husband Jose also own Laredo’s Grill Tex-Mex Seattle, so she knows what a busy kitchen can do on a Saturday night.
20+ years
In the service industry
10+ years
Private events at Aqua
Event Director
Kelly Williams
Kelly spent her formative years in Atlanta, in the heart of southern hospitality, learning from true masters what deliciousness served with graciousness can do for a guest. She moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2001 and spent well over a decade as Captain of Hospitality at Aqua by El Gaucho, where she created, staffed and ran private events of every size. She trained and managed the service team there and helped design the wine program after earning certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Her guests over the years have included international musicians, celebrities, entrepreneurs and presidents. She treats each one as a person first, turning strangers into friends the way she would at home. Today, as Event Director, she brings her wine and culinary knowledge to your table, keeps a close eye on the details, and works to realize an event’s full potential.
Kelly lives in Burien with her husband, their two children, and a pup named (Johnny) Cash.
How it works
One team, one thread
Most venues hand you to a sales manager, then a coordinator, then whoever’s on shift. Here the names you meet on your tour are the names you’ll see on the night.
01
The first call
The team will get back to you within two business days. Date, guest count, and whether the room works for what you’re picturing.
02
Menu and design
Elizabeth and the kitchen on food and bar, Kat on florals and décor. The room, the catering, and the flowers come from one team, on one plan.
03
The night
Our team runs the floor and the food from first arrival to last goodbye. Your ten-hour block ends by 11 pm, and you spend it as a guest at your own event.
TOURS BY APPOINTMENT
Come meet them
Tell us the date and the guest count and we’ll come back to you within two business days. Tours are by appointment, so we can set aside proper time to walk you through the room.
