The SLY Foodie: May 2011

Latest Adventures

Zoka Coffee Roasters and Tea

Comments (0) | Saturday, May 28, 2011

My first decent pound of coffee beans from Seattle (notice I said decent coffee, ahem, Starbucks and company) was from Zoka. So naturally, Zoka was on the Seattle itinerary. There are several coffeehouses in the Seattle area with inviting atmospheres. We visited the Greenlake location, which is relatively close to Woodland Park Zoo.

Zoka offers freshly roasted coffee beans of either special blends or single origin. Each package notes the roast date, so you know it's fresh.

I ordered a latte, my coffee beverage of choice while in Seattle for two reasons: a) what's not to like about a latte? and b) the latte art. Zoka's latte, unfortunately, was a little on the bitter side, which was most likely due to the water being too hot. Other than that, it was good enough to rank third best latte I've ever had (The best being Espresso Vivace, second being Intelligentsia).

Zoka Coffee Roasters and Tea, various locations
http://www.zokacoffee.com/

Ivar's Acres of Clams

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A former Seattleite recommended Ivar’s Fish Bar as a must visit on Seattle’s waterfront. So after doing a little research, we decided not to go to the Fish Bar, but to Ivar’s Acres of Clams, conveniently located next door. Overlooking Pier 54, Ivar’s boasts of original, world famous fish and chips, and clam chowder recipes.

We ordered the Calamari, fresh squid rings, lightly dipped in its batter and flash fried, then served with a chipotle-lime aioli. Certainly not the worst calamari I've ever had, but not the best, either. It seemed a little overfried.

My favorite Ivar's dish, the Fresh Sauteed Penn Cove Mussels, served with a coconut curry sauce and fresh cilantro. Our server was kind enough to let us order half Manila clams and half mussels. Some of the tastiest bivalves I've ever had were swimming in that tasty curry sauce. The seafood tasted like the ocean, so you know it's fresh. The only thing missing? Bread, to soak up all the leftover sauce.

We also got Ivar's World Famous Clam Chowder, which, in my opinion, is one of the better chowdas on the West Coast. It was super creamy and rich, with just a hint of bacon. Bacon really does make everything better.

You can't go to Ivar's without trying the World Famous Fried Fish and Chips. To me, it was good, as the fish was definitely fresh. But I felt the batter to be too light; maybe I'm used to the heavier beer batters on my fried fish. Fries were ok, nothing spectacular about them.

Ivar's has many versions of itself located throughout the Seattle area (i.e., Fish Bar, Salmon House, Acres of Clams, etc.) - you really don't have an excuse not to visit one.

Ivar's Acres of Clams, 1001Alaskan Way, Pier 54, Seattle
http://www.ivars.com/

Savor Seattle Food Tour

Comments (0) | Thursday, May 26, 2011

One of the highlights of our Seattle trip was the Savor Seattle Food Tour of Pike Place Market. The company has deemed itself the official Pike Place Market food tour, and in my opinion, rightfully so. For a nominal fee of $39 per person, anyone can experience the sights, sounds and tastes of the Market.

This two hour walking tour highlights nine or ten merchants located in the Market, and on each stop, the tourist is given a delectable sample to nosh on. Our tour guide, Santino, was friendly and very knowledgeable, especially when it came to the history, as well as the ins and outs of the Market. It also helps that he has a sense of humor. We took the morning tour, and here are the stops:

1) Daily Dozen Donut Company - Whether you're a fan of donuts or not, these are guaranteed to brighten your day. Who doesn't like deep fried dough covered in sugar (in our case, cinnamon sugar)? It was hot, crispy, doughy, sweet and simply delish.

2) MarketSpice - This store has been a part of the Market since 1911, so there is a rich history associated with it. They specialize in bulk teas and spices, as evidenced by the jars lining all the shelves. We sampled a small cup of their Cinnamon-Orange tea, which consists black tea, with hints of cinnamon, orange and clove. It's a strong flavor. I'm not particularly a fan of spicy tea, but if this is your cup of tea (pun intended), then enjoy.

3) World Famous Pike Place Fish Market - You know the place in Seattle where they throw you a fish? Well, this is it. The seafood is so fresh, it's ridiculous. A little on the pricey side, but I think you're essentially paying for quality that is well worth the extra bucks. The fishmongers are super nice, and helpful. We sampled the Alderwood Smoked Salmon, Alderwood Smoked Salmon with Garlic and Pepper, and Alderwood Smoked Salmon Belly Strips. Each was great in its own right, but I preferred the first smoked salmon sample.

4) Frank's Quality Produce - I'm sorry to say that I really wasn't paying much attention at this part, as I got distracted by the gianormous assortment of beautiful tulips and lilacs all over the market. I was able to take a couple of pictures, however, and sampled an apple wedge. The apple was crisp and sweet, with a slight tartness to it (would be good for a pie or a cobbler).

5) Beecher's Handmade Cheese - One of Seattle's best artisan cheeses, if not, the best. It is one of the few cheese shops that practice traditional open vat cheesemaking. The result is a flavorful cheese of superior quality. We had the pleasure of sampling the Beecher's Flagship cheese, made from cow's milk. It had a robust and nutty flavor, that paired well with the homemade cracker. We also got to try some of Beecher's Mac n' Cheese, made famous by Martha Stewart and Oprah. Definitely worth a visit.

6) Chukar Cherries - A family business specializing in combining chocolate with dried cherries, it is one of the Market's main attractions. Customers can sample sweet cherries covered in decadent chocolate. We got to try some of their Cherry Peach Salsa, which was fruity, although I wish it had a little more heat than the guide promised. We also got to sample a variety of their chocolates. I really liked the Bing Cherries covered in Milk Chocolate. It was tart and sweet all at the same time...yummy.

7) Pike Place Chowder - Their recipe for clam chowder has won so many awards that it was inducted into the Clam Chowder Hall of Fame. Honest! The chowder was creamy, with the distinct flavors of clams, celery, dill, and a hint of lemon. In fact, it was so good that I forgot to take a picture until the very end. We also got to sample the Seafood Bisque, tasty, but not as good as the chowder.

8) Piroshky Piroshky - Hailed as the best Russian bakery in this hemisphere, Piroshky Piroshky offers hand held pies with a variety of fillings. On our tour, we tried the Beef and Cheese Piroshky, which became one of my favorites. The savory ground beef with cheese inside of freshly baked pastry was excellent. I wasn't a great fan of the sweeter fare, however. The Apple Cinnamon Roll was ok; I guess I wasn't impressed with the filling, it had too much cinnamon.

9) Etta's - The pièce de résistance of the tour, Etta's is owned by renowned Seattle celebrity chef Tom Douglas. This particular restaurant specializes in "seasonal, market driven seafood" that attracts locals and tourists alike. The Dungeness Crab Cake is to die for - so much fresh crab that you can't even really consider it a cake. It was a perfect, crispy bite served with a zesty chipotle aioli (if I remember correctly).

The Savor Seattle Food Tour is a must for anyone visiting Seattle for the first time. It really allows you to be a part of the Pike Place Market, without the lines. Just follow the pink umbrella.

Savor Seattle Food Tours, 1916 Pike Place, Suite 12-480, Seattle, WA
http://www.savorseattletours.com/

Pike Place Market, Seattle

Comments (0) | Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Founded in 1907, Pike Place Market is arguably "The Soul of Seattle," a place where people go to buy direct from farmers, artisans and craftspeople. The Market is abuzz with activity - tourists snapping photos, farmers stocking loads of beautiful produce, fishmongers proudly showcasing the freshest seafood - a foodie's paradise. It is definitely a must-see destination, whether you purchase the amazing, beautiful, colorful and fresh food, or sample the tantalizing treats offered by storeowners.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll just let the following images speak for themselves.