Throwing fish @ Pike Place Market - Seattle, WA
Posted by Ben | Under Restaurants - Fun Times, The Best -- Gourmet Gifts Tuesday Sep 9, 2008
As someone who appreciates the family farm, I love visiting farmers markets. Being a business traveler, I rarely take time to sightsee; however, I did make time to visit local farmers markets… and the finest in the world is Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington.
Some history… “Pike Place Market is internationally recognized as America’s premier farmers’ market and is home to nearly 200 year-round commercial businesses; 190 craftspeople and 120 farmers who rent table space by the day; 240 street performers and musicians; and 300 apartment units, most of which house low-income elderly people. “The Market,” as the locals affectionately say, attracts 10 million visitors a year, making it one of Washington’s most frequently visited destinations.” Read more, click here.
Perhaps the biggest drawing cards to this market are the folks who ‘throw fish’! Yes, you may have seen these guys on the Travel Channel… they throw fish as a means of quickly doing their jobs, and drawing an audience to their incredible fresh seafood business. Scores of tourists can be found surrounding this section of the market taking pictures, asking questions, sampling salmon, and… catching fish!
Folks old and young gather, and in the process they buy lots of fresh seafood. The lobster tails are measured by the pound, not the ounce. The prawns require multiple bites, and salmon is sold in every way possible (smoked, raw, cooked, salted, steamed, canned, etc.).
Although this market is predominantly known for seafood to the tourist, it is a huge offering of everything – fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, baked goods, jams, jellies, herbs, etc. Because it is the Pacific Northwest, the majority of the items are organic, locally grown on family farms and natural in every way. I found that anything made with oats, honey, and fruits had an incredible burst of flavor because the ingredients were fresh, preservative free and 100% natural. Very little refined sugar and flour in anything sold at this market.
Going to Seattle and not visiting this market is equivalent to visiting Florida and not seeing Mickey & Minnie at Disney World.
The market is so touristy now, but still, a great find. The creamery dairy at the far end was my favorite stop: I had a warm scone — very big in this part of the country — with creme fraiche and thought to myself, So this is what the angels eat…
Also got maple butter on another scone on another day, and fell in love with that stuff. There’s no butter in it; it’s just whipped like honey to a creamy consistency. Oh, my!