24 Hours in Seattle – Part 1

If you had 24 hours in Seattle, what would you do? I had a very clear idea and emailed my cohorts an almost hourly itinerary. Of course, I’m flexible and left room for things like “sleep– worded as “crash” and “wander” (also known as “what do you guys want to do?”). Turns out the wander part meant going to the nearly tourist-free Seattle Center. The sunny but chilly February day didn’t have its usual hoards of children screaming around the fountain or lines of folks trying to go to the Space Needle. It was even difficult to tell if the Experience Music Project or the adjoining Science Fiction Museum were even open.

Once we got to Seattle, we headed immediately to Salumi. I knew my writer friends from Southern California would love it. I knew I was going to get the meatball but was sad they were already out of my favorite porchetta. Luckily, we went back just before heading to the airport.

We busied ourselves with eating until we just couldn’t take another bite. I knew we were going to get tidbits at Pike Place later so I made myself stop picking at the meatballs. Our eyes were certainly bigger than our stomachs because I was really silly and ordered soup. We also had the mole mozzarella and lamb sausage sandwiches. What we should have done was ordered 2 meatballs subs to share between four people but hey, what do we know? We’re just happy to get inside the warm and happy Salumi where everyone is cheerful about meat.

Salumi Artisan Cured Meats

309 3rd Ave S., Seattle, WA 98104 – (206) 621-8772

 

I’m not particularly enraptured by coffee so the original location of Starbucks at Pike Place didn’t grab me. It is of course interesting to see it, especially when there isn’t a busload of tourists rapidly snapping pictures of the storefront. Inside, you’ll find knick knacks that pertain only to this location. It’s like the Hard Rock t-shirts from the 80s. Must collect them all?

The four of split one beef and onion piroshky from Piroshky Piroshky but if you weren’t stuffed to the gills on Salumi, I’m sure one is good per person. I like any of the ones with onion. So savory!

Piroshky Piroshky

1908 Pike Pl., Seattle, WA 98101 — (206) 441-6068

 

A couple of years ago, I fell in love with the chowder from Pike Place Chowder. It turns out late in the day is not a good time to go. Three of the chowders were lukewarm. Luckily our favorite was the piping hot clam chowder with bacon. Next time, I’m getting on this one.

Pike Place Chowder

1530 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101 — (206) 267-2537

Then we wandered over to the stall throwing fish. Pike Place Fish Company is famous for throwing their fish around. Except no one was really buying so we may have uh, slipped them something to do it. One of these days, I’m actually going to buy a bunch of stuff to cook but this wasn’t the day.

I took some videos. Here’s one. And here’s the stall across the way goofing around. I didn’t catch them throwing chips around but you get the idea.

BTW, here’s a pin up page of their fish mongers.

Pike Place Fish Company

86 Pike Pl., Seattle, WA 98101 — (206) 682-7181

 

As mentioned, I don’t cook when I’m in Seattle but if I did, I probably would have a field day at DeLaurenti. The only reason why I went in was to stare lustfully at their bitters and other drink making paraphernalia.

DeLaurenti Specialty Foods

1435 1st Ave., Seattle, WA 98101 — (206) 622-0141

We continued on to Pike Brewing Company and then headed to dinner after that at How to Cook a Wolf.

A couple of years ago, I also loved the enormous chicken fried steak at 5 Point. After our massive bar crawl where we hit Zig Zag, Rob Roy, Knee High Stocking Company, Sun Liquor and Canon, we stopped in for some greasy spoon love.

The chicken fried steak wasn’t as good as I remembered. Oh, the gravy was still good as well as the eggs. But the steak itself was a bit gross. I mostly ate the hash browns. I had two bites and decided it was time for that portion of the itinerary labeled “crash.”

The 5 Point Cafe

415 Cedar St., Seattle, WA 98121 — (206) 448-9993

 

… To be continued.