Pikes Market was established back in 1907 and has been in the control of the vendors from the very beginning, which allows for one to have access to some of the most quality handcrafted goods. Everyday the market changes a little bit as new vendors come in daily and claim different spots, so no one market is the same per day! Another key factor, is that every stand here has to be it's own supplier and producer in order even be considered, so there is absolutely no doubt in the craftsmanship. The person you meet is the person who created/caught/grew it.
On my first day as soon as I check in, I immediately rushed over to have a reunion lunch with friend that lived near by over at the popular Pike Place Chowder shop (Pro-tip: if you have a Yelp app, you can check-in & get a hold of their Chowder Sampler at a discount!). Afterwards we aimlessly wandered around to what seemed to be an endless amount of corridors and pathways, my eyes where bulging at the site of all the amazing stuff at hand. It was all too much to take in at once. Luckily I was signed up for the Market Tour the following morning.
It was here where a hostel-mate & I where able to become well acquainted with the market, and some of it's vendors as we where guided through the in's and out's of the whole place, along side getting to know a thing or two of its history, insider tips, etc. One big plus was that I was able to access a variety of amazing samples and discounts given just for being part of tour. But what I got the most enjoyment from was listening to the each vendor proudly talk about there products and the hard work they put in just to be there. Trust me, I came back quite a few times afterwards to support!
Not to long after followed part 2 of the tour (Seattle 101), where we strolled through downtown & the waterfront, checking out all the neatest locations and happy hour hot spots (this city has some of the best btw). More sampling, more deals, I couldn't have been any happier. One of the places I have the fondest memories of was of Ivar's Fish Bar, where some of the most in-your-face seagulls stare you down till you tossed a french fry at them. All I had to do was extend my arm over the water and watch the mayhem develop.
Now with a wealth of knowledge in our heads, my friend and I decide to redo the whole tour on our own for lunch! First stop was to try a highly recommend pairing between Beecher's Handmade Cheese Mac & Cheese then walk over La Buona Tavola down the street and get a generous dousing of White Truffle Oil (pictured above). Now, I'll stop here for a moment to say that this is easily the single best thing I have ever eaten in my life by far. It's not just the oil, but Beecher's have managed to create something so special that when combined, it opens the heavenly gates on your mouth. Only a few bites where had, but I can live having so little, it was perfect.
Before I decided I'd take a permanent residence, my buddy reminded about the fact that there where still brewery passes to be used (acquired on the tour), $1 oysters to be eaten, & baked meat pies to be sampled! What was I thinking, committing to the first place that stole my heart. We must march, there's still sunlight! Everything afterwards was just a hedonistic quest towards oblivion, where we continuously had to tell ourselves "we'll just walk this off".
Even the days after this eating excursion, I continued to stop by this place twice daily because there is always something new to discover or run into, there's five floors to this place believe it or not. I basically lived off this market as I worked my way through my time in Seattle. And despite being a tourist trap, this is a real deal foodies paradise. Take full advantage and slow down beyond the crowds frantic shuffling to appreciate the beauty that is Pike's Market. If you feel the need to act like a tourist go watch the fish mongers toss a salmon, but please don't wait in line for the "original" Starbucks with all the other suckers (you'll find better coffee five steps in any direction, besides it's not even the original one...).
To those coming to Seattle, I highly recommend taking the tours featured above, these people have strong ties with the vendors and genuinely take pride in the city they live in. Trust me, you'll learn and eat so much after you spend a day with this organization. And just for the sake of giving you guys a freebie.Go to Von's 1000 Spirits and check yourself in on any major social networking site (Facebook), show the bartender and you'll get a free cocktail, enjoy!
85 Pike St,
Seattle, WA 98101
