Our Team
Meet the people who will
run your event
Kitchen, 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.
Kat Cirar
Chief Occasions Officer
Elizabeth Betancourt
Food & Beverage Officer
Kelly Williams
Event Director
Alexa Toycen
Sous Chef
Founder
Florals • Tablescapes • Pastry
Chief Occasions Officer
Kat Cirar
Kat’s lifelong love affair with beautiful tablescapes, floral design, and the culinary arts gave way to [bnb]. It started with Martha Stewart in the early 90s and grew from a hobby and passion to building her own catering & entertaining company, The Extra Ingredient.
Many moons ago, under the tutelage of amazing chefs and pastry masters, Kat honed her kitchen skills and learned how to produce beautiful fresh food made with love. She spent over 25 years in the restaurant industry perfecting service standards and teaching others the art of excellent service.
Offering beautiful table-scapes and gorgeous floral design she adds detail to every corner of the venue. Still often the Baker in the house, loving called “Keebler”, she still spends time in the kitchen.
Bring your inspiration to Kat and she’ll find a way to bring it to life!
Kat lives in Seattle with her amazing husband Ian and her two precious kitty cats, Aristophanes and Earendil. (Yes, she’s a Lord of the Rings fan!)
Elizabeth Betancourt
Food & Beverage Officer
Elizabeth has worn many hats in the 20+ years she’s worked in the service industry.
An Atlanta native, she brings her Southern charm to all her projects; whether it be a casual affair or a formal celebration.
Now, she uses her expertise to curate events beyond your wildest imagination.
Elizabeth also owns the restaurant Laredos Tex-Mex Seattle with her husband Jose.
Kelly Williams
Event Director
Kelly spent her formative years in the heart of southern hospitality, Atlanta, Georgia. Blossoming under true masters of hospitality, she learned the lasting impact that deliciousness served with graciousness can make. She has been giving the best of herself to her guests ever since.
Kelly made the PNW her home in 2001, and we have all been better for it! She served as The Captain of Hospitality at Aqua by El Gaucho for well over a decade where she was entrusted to create, staff, and manage private events of all scopes and sizes. During her tenure at Aqua, she trained and managed service staff and helped design their wine program after receiving certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. Throughout Kelly’s career, she has served a veritable who’s who list of international musicians, celebrities, entrepreneurs, and even presidents. True to her values, she treasures each guest for their humanity, turning strangers into friends, as she would in her home.
Today, The Extra Ingredient is privileged and proud to roster Kelly as our Event Director, where she continues to leave her indelible mark on hosts and guests alike. Her innate ability to earnestly and meaningfully connect with people is remarkable. Beyond her passion and expertise in hospitality, she brings her extensive wine and culinary knowledge to your table as well. With a keen eye for detail, she works tirelessly to realize an event’s full potential. We are delighted to work with her daily, and we know you will, too.
Kelly lives in Burien with her amazing husband, two phenomenal children, and her pup, (Johnny) Cash.
