At a glance, Pike Place Market may seem like the typical tourist market, filled with magnets, postcards, and kitschy souvenirs. And yes, there are those. But there’s also so much more. If you’re visiting Seattle, Washington and happen to stop by Pike Place Market….make sure to treat yourself to a few food gems. Below is a list of our ten favorite ‘must-haves’:
#1: Lemon cheesecake yogurt at Elleno’s greek yogurt: I know. Greek yogurt? How can this be a ‘must-have’? Trust me on this one, it’s the creamiest and tastiest yogurt I’ve ever had (there’s a reason it has 5 stars, and thousands of reviews!) My husband loves the Marionberry Pie flavor and I love Lemon Cheesecake. We usually share a ‘walkaround’ cup and mix the flavors (half Marionberry, half Lemon Cheesecake)
#2: A crumpet from The Crumpet Shop: How can something as simple as flour, yeast, and water be so delicious? The shop offers a variety of both savory and sweet crumpets. There’s not a ton of seating area so take one (or two) on the go for a perfect snack! Our favorites include: hazelnut with ricotta and the lemon curd with ricotta.
#3: Cheese curd samples (free!) from Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Shop: A local’s favorite cheese shop. Try their famous cheese curds (you can watch them make a fresh batch through the window) and their mac-and-cheese.
#4: A beef and cheese piroshky from Piroshky Piroshky: Tourist central for a reason. Their claim-to-fame is the apple cinnamon roll, but we actually think it’s too dry and sweet. Our favorites are the marzipan roll and of course, the beef and cheese piroshky! Sometimes on a cold day, we’ll grab a beef and cheese piroshky to share…there’s something wonderful about standing in the cold with a steaming bun at your fingertips warming you up
#5: Fried chicken livers at Chicken Valley: Yes, I know, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But these little suckers are cheap, tasty, and considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. I grab a ‘sampler’ every time I go!
#6: A praline hazelnut eclair from Choukette Eclair’art: A recently opened shop on the lower levels of Pike Place Market. They have the most beautifully decorated eclairs and a variety of unique flavors (for example, passion fruit cream, praline). They are a bit on the pricey side ($5) but totally worth the splurge.
#7: Macarons at Le Panier Bakery: A classic French bakery. You will be able to smell the butter from a mile away. Croissants are great and so are the colorful macarons.
#8: Seafood bisque at Pike Place Chowder: This local chowder institution always has a crazy line out-the-door, but it’s worth the wait. The award-winning chowders are steaming, creamy, and absolutely magnificent. There are several flavors to choose from, but our favorites are the seafood bisque and the seared scallop chowder.
#9: Truffle salt from La Buona Tavola: A shop for all things truffle. This is a great place to grab souvenirs and sample a variety of dips, vinegars, oils, and spices. We buy the ‘truffle salt’, it’s the perfect topping to our popcorn on movie nights.
#10: Pear gelato at Bottega Italiana: We’ve tried many flavors of gelato at Bottega….most are decent, but the pear flavor is absolutely divine.
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