taste buds: how to eat your way through Pike Place market.

There’s nothing I love more than a day in the city, exploring all the best urban spots wherever we are– San Fran, NYC, or our home city of Seattle is one of my favorite past times.

Which is why I’ve loved following the new Ford sponsored youtube show: Taste Buds.  It is seriously THEE cutest new traveling youtube show dedicated to finding all those Urban gems everybody wants to know about.  Krissy and Jessica are the perfect combination of quirky and cute and they are masters of hunting down those city gems  in each new place they visit.  I am obsessed.   So, when they asked me to team up and share some of my favorite Seattle spots, and I was like “duh” yes(!) because a. any excuse to talk about my favorite city, and b. eating for work.  Don’t mind if I do.

 I think Seattle is pretty much the best place ever, as you well know.  Even though I grew up in California and then lived all over the West during and in the years following college, Seattle is my truest home.  I thought for a couple weeks about which of all my favorite spots I wanted to highlight, and preparing this post was so much fun, I’m thinking of making this a regular thing, especially since I get asked about all the best things to do in Seattle constantly.  To start, I figured I’d highlight my all-time favorite: Pike Place.

 The space needle aside, Pike Place Market is the quintessential Seattle spot.  I love to visit when it’s raining, because it’s just feels so right, so PNW, but sunny summer days are pretty hard to beat.  (Even if the crowds are insane.)  What I love most about it is that even though it’s such a cliché tourist spot, it’s not all that touristy; you know, it’s got a little grit to it as a functioning market–sounds, smells and all.  Since food and fun, pretty much always go hand in hand with me, I thought I’d share my favorite way to do Pikes. Consider this your guide to eating your way through one of The Emerald City’s gems…

Stop #1: The Crumpet Shop.

This is my favorite spot in Pikes, which is why it’s #1 on the list.  Traditional English griddle cakes; if a pancake and an english muffin had a baby, it would be a crumpet.  These are the best I’ve ever had, and well worth the wait. (there’s usually a line.) The shop’s been family owned for over three decades and makes all their crumpets with organic flour.  Also, it’s just so delightfully quirky in there, it’s super friendly, pretty fast and there’s a great big window where you can watch them make the crumpets.  I don’t know why but that never gets old.  They do both sweet and savory crumpets, and I know people are all about the sweets, but seriously, you need to order one of each kind, or you are missing out.  My favorites are the Pesto, Ricotta, and Tomato (savory), and the Butter and Preserves (strawberry or raspberry- Sweet).   Also you should know, they often run out of crumpets fairly early in the day– afternoonish, so don’t procrastinate this stop.

The shop is the size of a teaspoon, with very little table space and it’s always packed.  If you can’t find a seat, head outside they’ve got a few tables and chairs.  If that fails, walk through the market to the “Post Alley,” (best little nook in the market).  A charming little brick alley in the middle of the market, there’s extra public seating and it’s just a nice place to people watch and catch your breath.

Stop #2: Prioshky, Piroshky.

After your crumpet, take a quick walk north across the street to the Russian bakery, Piroshky, Piroshky.  I’m not going to lie, the inside of this bakery is not charming, it’s just a simple dinky shop, but the Piroshkies are amazing, and worth the wait in the almost constant line (which moves surprisingly fast).  This is one of Craig’s favorites, especially since he lived in Russia for two years and there’s not a lot of places to get great Russian food.  They serve both sweet and savory pastries, but my favorites are the savory ones.  Try the potato and the salmon pâté piroshkies.  You will thank me later…

While you’re there, you might as well check out the Original Starbucks, which is just next door.  Original topless mermaid sign and all, there is always an insane line, and this Starbucks is old school, they only serve coffee and espresso.  I’m not a coffee drinker, so I take my piroshky to-go and like to walk through the market nibbling on the pastry and gawking at all the gorgeous flowers.

Speaking of flowers.  Buy yourself a bouquet while you’re here, please.  I’ve never seen flowers like this anywhere in my life, and they are so, so inexpensive.  $10-15 for the most fantastic (and huge) bouquets and they are all beautifully fresh.

Stop #3: Beecher’s Cheese.

By this point I’m usually pretty stuffed, but I always save room, and time for a stop at Beecher’s for some “squeaky cheese.”  My kids love this stuff, and so does my husband.  They have a lunch menu as well, and you can sit at the counter and eat the world’s best mac’n’cheese or grab a sandwich and a bowl of soup while watching them make cheese by hand.  The aesthetic in Beecher’s is just so, so good–I’m considering moving in–it’s worth the visit on it’s own, but the cheese really is as amazing as it sounds.

Stop #4: The Fruit stands.

If you’re looking for something light towards the end of the day.  Try your hand at something from a fruit stand.  Pike has the best fruit stands I have literally ever seen.  So much great produce you won’t know what to do with it.  There are lots of opportunities for samples.  But, do yourself a favor, get a bag full of rainier cherries or some hybrid grapes then go watch the boys throw the fish.

Weekend Top: Anthro. Jeans: Express. Bag: Target. Shoes: Birkenstocks. (inexpensive option here.) Hat: JCrew.

Check out the Taste Buds this week as they explore Nashville!

**this post was brought to you by Taste Buds and Ford.  Thank you for supporting the brands that help support this blog.