Seattle, Dining, Washington

Don’t Miss a Pike Place Market Food Tour in Seattle, WA

I had an amazing opportunity to attend the first ever,  Women’s Entrepreneur Conference at Amazon Headquarters in Seattle, Washington. It was a very quick trip and I traveled without Dusty. I can’t wait until we’re able to revisit together. I traveled with 2 other women and we wanted to see what we could of Seattle given our circumstances of no car and about 6 hours to kill. One of the things we decided to do was take a foodie tour at Pike Place Market.  This was one of the coolest things I’ve done in a long time. It was a great way to see

Pike Place Seattle Washington

The market was total sensory overload- there was so much to taste, smell, hear, see and buy!

I really can’t imagine it being much more busy than it was when we were here, but I am sure it is even busier on a weekend.

Nearly every vendor was handing out a sample of some kind, which I hadn’t expected.

Pike Place in Seattle, WA is a zoo at 3pm

The best looking produce I have seen in a long time. And so much of it.

Farm to Table in Action at Pike Place in Seattle Washington

These Morel Mushrooms were HUGE. I swear these were as big as my forearm.

Morel Mushrooms the size of my forearm at Pike Place in Seattle, Washington

The shrimp…. as big as the palm of my hand.

Shrimp at Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA

It’s worth noting that the pictures I took were all on the fly so most are not great. The next time I go, and there will be a next time, I will have the help of Dusty and hopefully our good camera.
Our first stop included some mini doughnuts. They were OK but I regret taking the extra donut just because I was firmly planted next to our tour guide. We ate so much and the donuts were filling. I should have known better but who says no to extra mini doughnuts? Certainly not me.
Daily Dozen Dougnhuts Foodie Tour Seattle

The Ellenos Greek Yogurt was off the charts!  The local fruit, Marionberry in the first picture and Passionfruit in the second picture was just icing on the cake, errrr yogurt. Just incredibly soft and full of taste. Dare I say, better than ice cream? I have forever been spoiled by having real greek yogurt.

Greek Yogurt with Marionberry at Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA

Ellenos Greek Yogurt with Passionfrut at Pike Place in Seattle, WA

Up Next was Oriental Market. This place has Filipino foods.  We tasted Lumpia (right) and Longanissa.  Both were very good. Lumpia is like an egg roll and filled with vegetables. Longanissa is a Filipino sausage. Also very good. Here is a great article about Oriental Mart written by Bon Appetit.
Lumpia and Longanisa at Oriental Mart Seattle, WA

Next- Pike Place Chowder. There is an awesome story about how this chowder came to be and you can read about it here. Let me say, this chowder was worth standing in line for. We did not have to stand in line for this chowder but stand in line you will, unless you get there during non-peak hours. Each time we walked by the line wove outside and down the alley. Worth it though!
Pike Place Chowder at Pike Place Seattle, WA

Here is a blurry picture of Beechers Handmade Cheese.  This place has purely handcrafted artisan cheese. You can watch cheese being made in the window, or as I like to call it, the stuff that dreams are made of, happening right before your eyes.
Beecher's Handmade Cheese at Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA

The crackers that they served the cheese on are also one of the products that Beecher’s make. They are the perfect cracker for cheese sampling because they are nice and thick- they don’t crumble when you take a bit.  They can be purchased on Amazon here.
Foodie Tour Pike Place Market in Seattle

This gorgeous macaroni & cheese is worth every calorie. I think our guide mentioned that it has 5 of their homemade cheeses.
Beecher's Macaroni & Cheese at Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA

Our last stop was at Pear Deli & Shoppe. If memory serves me right, this little sandwich consisted is called the”Lusty Loin”. It looks like a simple sandwich, yet it is anything but. The sandwich consisted of arugula, goat cheese, and a red onion marmalade, and brined pork loin all dusted with fennel pollen. Isn’t everything better with goat cheese?

Sandwich from Pear Deli & Shoppe at Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA

This foodie tour was such a fantastic experience. We wouldn’t have sampled a fraction of the food that we did if it weren’t for this tour. The history lessons that our tour guide gave along the way were fun, too.

We had a few hours to kill the morning that we flew back so we made a quick trip back to Pike Place specifically for some Starbucks!

Pro Tip for Pike Place Market: visit during non-peak hours.

A great way to beat the crowds is to go on a weekday around 8 am and it’s fun to watch the vendors get set up for a busy day of selling.
When we walked by Starbucks during the tour this line for coffee was out the door and at least 30 people deep. It was much better at 8am.
This particular morning we waited in line for about 5-10 minutes. This particular location sells a special reserve coffee, only available here and I brought one home as a souvenir.
Here is the unassuming exterior. If our tour guide hadn’t pointed this location to us on the tour it would have been easy to overlook.
Exterior of orignal Starbucks in Seattle, WA

Original Starbucks Seattle, WA

Here is the plaque commemorating the first store.

plaque at original starbucks in Seattle, WA

I can’t wait to go back and visit Seattle and explore some more with Dusty.

Related: Experience Olympia National Park

Tips for the Savor Seattle Pike Place Foodie Tour

  • Allow yourself plenty of time to find the starting point. Google Maps were not easy to follow for this because we met in a building with alley access. Directions should have said ” go to the alley and look for the Gum Wall
  • Wear comfy shoes- the tour covers several blocks and you’ll be walking for 2 hours.
  • Bring an umbrella- tours take place rain or shine and it is Seattle, after all.
  • You’ll be given an earpiece to hear the tour guide so don’t worry about missing what he says. 
  • You end on the opposite end where you start. This gives you plenty of opportunity to meander back through the market when the tour is complete.
  • Save your shopping for the end.
  • The tour does accommodate diet restrictions, you just need to indicate your restrictions when you purchase your ticket.
  • Arrive hungry!! The samples are very filling.
  • Book your ticket here

seattle-foodi-tour

 

10 Comments

  1. Greta @ Pickles Travel

    September 21, 2016 at 2:42 pm

    This post made me so hungry! I have been to Pikes Market but somehow didn’t even grace the surface of all that there is! Obviously another Seattle trip is in order- thanks for the motivation 🙂

    1. Duster

      September 22, 2016 at 7:09 pm

      It was so good! I get hungry thinking about it. I found it by googling “things to do in Seattle in 1 day” and this popped up in Trip Advisor.

  2. Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons

    September 21, 2016 at 10:02 am

    I LOVE Pikes! Did you get to see them throwing the fish? And no, no one turns down mini donuts!

    1. Duster

      September 21, 2016 at 11:02 am

      It was so fun! YES, I saw them throwing fish. That was so cool. I also saw them chasing a woman with an octopus. She screamed her head off. LOL.

  3. mindfulmicaela

    September 21, 2016 at 9:58 am

    I was there this summer but had no idea there was a foodie tour! I’ll have to do that next time I go! And I always crack up at the long line to get into that Starbucks – when there are so many other coffee shops nearby. Glad you made it inside!

    1. Duster

      September 21, 2016 at 11:05 am

      Foodie Tour- yes!! It’s my new favorite thing. As a matter of fact, we’re going to Chicago next month and I just signed up for a Foodie Tour in Madison, WI (pit stop along the way) and then in Chicago. I am so excited!
      The Starbucks- I KNOW!! We had to go just to say we did it but I much prefer a local coffee anyway!

  4. Savanna

    September 21, 2016 at 9:58 am

    I have always wanted to go to that market! Thanks for sharing! Your post made me quite hungry!

    1. Duster

      September 21, 2016 at 11:05 am

      Savanna- it’s worth a trip to Seattle just for the market experience!

  5. Bre Paulson

    September 21, 2016 at 9:48 am

    That mac and cheese looks soooo good!

    1. Duster

      September 21, 2016 at 11:06 am

      The mac & cheese was divine!!

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