Seattle Food Fest 2009, Part 1

Ah Seattle, a beautiful city with an unmatched balance of urban and natural beauty. Filled with plenty of sights and a laid back, friendly demeanor, I was thrilled to spend 5 days here to embark on a food filled journey. Well-known for the fresh seafood and abundance of local produce, I did plenty of research before making the cross-country flight out west. Looking for a mix of inexpensive and can't miss eats, I perused Chowhound, blogs, Seattle Weekly, Seattle Metropolitan and more and came out with a solid, if overly ambitious list.

Day 1 was dedicated to downtown Seattle, with a heavy day of eating and walking. First stop, Salumi, the famed home of Mario Batali's dad Armandino (now owned by his daughter) and site of round the block lunch lines every day. Take the advice I received I arrived around 10:30am and lo and behold the line began to assemble behind me until it was 15 people deep at 11am, opening time. I enjoyed a mixed salumi plate here, with a nice hunk of bread and mixed marinated olives. From simple oregano seasoned salumi to mole, these were all pretty amazing. I even brought home a lb of the salumi, which should last quite some time.

Next stop, the famed, tourist attraction that is Pike Place Market. And while it is a tourist filled market, it is a very legitimate spot, with plenty of high-quality vendors, foods and drinks. Wandering through the market I found it easy to make friends, especially when there were free samples involved. Alderwood smoked salmon, fresh picked cherries, sweet peaches, rich honey, stinky cheese and more, all available around every corner. I was especially fond of the cheeses at Beecher's, particularly the smoked flagship and the cheese curds, although the "famous" macaroni and cheese was way too oily for my taste.

Another popular food destination was Piroshky Piroshky, where handmade pastries filled with sweet or savory fillings please tourists and locals alike. I opted for the standard cheese, potato and onion, which was hot out of the oven, but a little underseasoned. A stop in subterranean bar, Alibi Lounge, for $3 happy hour pints of local beer is a must. Losing sense of time, chatting with the locals and putting back a few of Seattle's finest microbrews made for an enjoyable afternoon after being on my feet and eating much of the day.

With a short break between eating, we managed to make it to Quinn's Pub, for a full fledged dinner. Quinn's has quickly become a well known restaurnat in the area, with it's gastropub approach, comfortable pricing and ever-changing menu. Almost Spotted Pig light, I immediately felt comfortable here. The menu, composed of salads, sandwiches, snacks, small plates, large plates, sides, cheese and an extensive menu of wine and beer is a great read. After sometime we ordered up the spicy fried peanuts; endive, glazed peaches and pork belly salad; mussels with spanish chorizo and butter; marrow bones with citrus jam; wild boar sloppy joe; country style rabbit pate and a housemade whoopie pie. The mussels were a clear standout, perhaps the best mussels I have ever had, plump, tender and rich with flavor. The whimsical wild boar sloppy joe would please any meat lover, with a welcome spice and great texture. While the peach and pork belly salad offered refreshment with a healthy dose of crispy, fatty pork belly. I was slightly dissappointed with the bone marrow, which could have used a minute or two under the broiler and was doused in an overly sweet, sticky citrus jam. And the rabbit pate wasn't loved by all at the table. Ending on the rich, fluffy, well made whoopie pie helped bring the whole meal together and provided some sweentess after a meal of fatty, rich foods. Overall a fun meal of, for the most part, delicious stick-to-your-ribs food and a remarkably through beer menu which we barely made a dent in.

Part 2 to follow, with burgers, fiery Thai, taco trucks, and my first geoduck experience. For now, please enjoy the photos below.