The Soul of Seattle: Pike Place Market

Edible Skinny was lucky enough to be in Seattle a few weeks ago (for the burlesque conference BurlyCon as one of Kat’s other profession is creator of the burlesque YouTube channel Workin’ the Tease!) and was able to check out the iconic Pike Place Market.  

  

Pike Place Market, founded in 1907, is one of the country’s oldest farmers markets.  Encompassing nine acres in the heart of downtown Seattle, the Market’s historic arcade, winding alleys, stairways and lower levels offer a multisensory experience of sights, sounds, tastes, aromas and textures. 

Fostered within the Market are year round produce stalls featuring the abundant variety of fruits and vegetables sourced from within the state and around the globe.  More than 80 local Washington farmers sell at the Market, offering seasonal abundance from their orchards and fields such as Rainer cherries, Walla Walla sweet onions, and Honeycrisp apples!

Pike Place Market houses dozens of specialty food stores that carry everyday and exotic spices, ingredients and products for nearly any kind of edible adventure.  One fun stand within this realm is Pappardelle's, a Colorado-proud gourmet food company specializing in handcrafted, flavor-infused pastas, sauces & pesto.  Described as the “Michaelangelos of Pasta,” Pappardelle’s craftsmen have been shaping colorful, flavorful pasta dough into edible art since 1984.  Their stands boasted such exotic flavor choices as Garlic Chive Pappardelle, Porcini Mushroom Linguine, and Dark Chocolate Linguine.  

And Hello Dungeness crabs!!! (Kelly was quite jealous on this one!)  Pikes Place Market’s seafood stalls provide an abundance of fresh seafood from Pacific Northwest and Alaskan waters.  The company Pike Place Fish Market is renowned for their crew of fish mongers who underhand fish to each other much to the entertain customers both in person and online (as they have a live web cam for anyone who wants to watch virtually).   Or if someone you know needs a grand gesture to remember the magic of the Emerald City you can now send them Pike Place Fish Market eFishCard!

Pike Place Market is also home to the Original (love it or hate it) Starbucks.  Starbucks actually opened one block north on Virginia Street in 1971, but moved to Pikes Place Market in 1975 when that building was demolished.  In the beginning they only sold beans, but began selling espresso drinks in 1987 when Howard Schultz took over the company.  Today, the store has become a tourist attraction with its racy original logo (topless mermaids) and has the ridiculously long lines to prove it.  

So whatever your reason to visit, next time you’re in the Emerald City make sure to check out the “Soul of Seattle” at Pike Place Market.