Hello from Anna and Russ! We’re thrilled to join Piéton Market Tours as Culinary Directors, bringing our shared love of food, travel, and France to the table - literally.

Our work has always lived at the intersection of craft, hospitality, and community. Russell is the founder of Rain Shadow Meats, a whole-animal butcher shop rooted in close relationships with Pacific Northwest farmers and a deep respect for traditional technique. Before opening Rain Shadow, Russell was the chef of The Boat Street Cafe, Renee Erickson’s original jewel-box French restaurant, where his approach to cooking, sourcing, and seasonality took lasting shape. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Bon Appétit, and on Top Chef. At Rain Shadow Meats, Russell is also known for an in-house charcuterie and salumi program producing thoughtfully cured meats grounded in traditional technique and a deep respect for craft.

Anna’s background spans hospitality, beverage, and flavor design. She is the founder of Seattle Seltzer Co., known for food-forward sodas and batched cocktails designed to pair seamlessly with meals and culinary events. She has contributed to Seattle’s cocktail culture through bar management, beverage direction, and consultation, with cocktails appearing on menus at many of the city’s most celebrated bars and restaurants. Her work has been published in Imbibe, Bon Appétit, Cherry Bombe, and Amaro by Brad Thomas Parsons. She also taught at a celebrated culinary school for over a decade, sharing foundational technique and flavor balance with the next generation of beverage professionals and enthusiasts.

We met while both working for Renee Erickson and have since spent years collaborating on creative culinary projects - from restaurant programming and commercial design to food and beverage, events, and travel. Now, with our son Pierson in tow, we continue to build a life around food, partnership, and curiosity. Joining Piéton Market Tours feels like a natural extension of that journey, alongside our dear friends Adrienne and Jason - people who truly walk the walk.

As Culinary Directors, we’re excited to help shape experiences that feel grounded, generous, and real: market mornings, shared meals, and the kind of details you remember long after the trip ends.