Touring Seattle, One Bite At A Time
When in New Orleans, try the gumbo. Visiting Philly? Cheesesteak, of course. Seattle? Try the Fish! What better way to explore a city than by sampling its culinary masterpieces?
Seattle Bites Food Tour does just that. For three hours, tourists, both vacationers and locals, experience the rich history and culture of Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market while sampling the crème de la crème.
Jan Marie Johnson and her husband, Mark Brietfuss wanted to create a tour that caters to the participant and creates an unforgettable experience. Since 2008, the couple has worked together to build what is “There’s more to the market than just food, fish and flowers,” Jan Marie Johnson said. “It’s not only the culinary heartbeat, but it’s really the soul of what makes Seattle a great city.”
I had the privilege of experiencing the tour first hand with my family this summer as we spent time in Seattle on our way to a family reunion. Meeting just inside the Seattle Art Museum we were greeted by the energetic Anna Oeste, our host for the day. We each received a bag with the materials we would need. Among the napkins, map, and plastic ware was a Listen Technologies receiver and ear speaker.
Anna easily walked us through how to use the equipment while weaving in snippets of what we would be experiencing. As we began walking towards the Pike Place, it quickly became apparent that not only were the receivers a nice touch, but they were a necessity. You see, the market was bustling with activity, but since Anna was using the transmitter, we didn’t miss a single word. And even when we lost sight of Anna in the busy crowd we could follow the directions she relayed.
Braden, my eight year old son, became fast friends with Anna and was by her side for most of the tour! Anna’s easy demeanor and enthusiasm made for a delightful experience. We quickly soaked up the history of the market and sampled Seattle’s finest. Here’s just a taste (pun intended) of what we tried …
- Lummi Island smoked salmon flatbread with crème fraîche and fine herbs – a culinary masterpiece!
- Fresh gourmet sausages hand-crafted by a German master butcher. Sehr Gut!
- Paris-inspired fruit and Nutella crepes by an Indonesian beauty.
- “America’s Best Clam Chowder” – just ask New England’s Chowder Hall of Fame!
- Authentic Mexican tacos or tamales made fresh from a US culinary graduate born and inspired in Mexico City!
- Decadent Alaskan king salmon, fresh and house-smoked for 12 hours by “The Cod Father”.
- Mom-inspired chicken Tikka Masala from a classically French-trained South Indian chef.
- Fresh and exotic produce of the season from our boys on “The Corner”.
- Seattle’s coffee at its best – expertly sourced, blended and roasted. Simply Seattle, simply delicious!
- Special home-made desserts using some of the world’s most unique cooking oils!
Surprisingly enough, one of my personal favorites was from Saffron Spice, a unique Indian food stand. My husband was delighted to see how much I enjoyed the Chicken Tikka Masala. You see, normally I stay away from most could-possibly-be-spicy foods while he loves trying new tastes.
Bree, discovered that she loves clam chowder (she’s a picky eater like her mother!)
Braden loved the last stop, the Olive Oil Balsamic Vinegar Tasting Room, where he learned how to mix specialty oils and vinegar creating tasty combinations.
As their website states this “tour of The Market is more than simply a sampling of big and delicious bites. Seattle Bites Food Tour will share with you the complex and fascinating tales of how and why The Market got started, the heroes that created and saved it and the beloved merchants who have made The Market their home.” Thanks Mark and Anna for a great day and a up-close look at our technology at work!
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