My trip to Seattle included a gluten-free tour of Pike Place Market led by our guide, Stephanie, and trainee, David(who posed for the photo) from Savor Seattle Food Tours.
I signed us up for the tour thinking I would just eat what I could and photograph and smell the rest. When I filled out the form to register, one of the questions was about dietary restrictions, so I put gluten free. I got a call before the tour reassuring me that Savor Seattle guides and tour stops were aware of what gluten free meant and that most stops on the tour would have samples for me to taste. That was a surprise. Finding items on the tour like the pasta was also unexpected.
We met at Starbucks and sampled their signature hot chocolate before heading into the Market.
Our stop at Daily Dozen Doughnuts was the only place I didn’t get a sample. I don’t think my fellow tourists minded getting my share. Then it was on to MarketSpice for tea flavored with cinnamon and orange and right across the way to Pike Place Fish. I’m sure everyone has seen the fish throwing that goes on here. They also had three samples of smoked salmon. No wonder folks have them pack up some to take home on the plane. You can’t get this in the Midwest. For those of you who only know halibut in its plastic-wrapped grocery store form, here it is fresh from Alaska .
Frank’s Quality Produce was next to try new apple and grape varieties, gluten free of course. The colors and textures of fresh fruits and vegetables lured me away from the tour for photographs. I was going to give fashion advice and tell you not to wear a pink raincoat in Seattle where the locals were mostly in somber black or the occasional tan or dark green. Turns out it is an advantage to be the only one in pink when you lose the tour and your date can spot you in the crowd and bring you back to the rest of the well-behaved tour members.
Pike Place Chowder was the one gluten-free goof that was easily remedied. Our guides didn’t realize that the creamy chowders were probably thickened with flour. I popped inside to inquire and was told they did, indeed, use flour, but they had three other kinds of chowder that were gluten free. I sampled a shrimp and crab chowder and the Manhattan chowder and then returned for a bowl of their Vegan Chowder that was a curried, coconut milk chowder with vegetables including mushrooms. A very satisfying lunch. Next, Chukar Cherries had four cherry-inspired confections and I somehow managed to get the biggest pieces. I returned later to purchase my favorites.
Frank’s Quality Produce was next to try new apple and grape varieties, gluten free of course. The colors and textures of fresh fruits and vegetables lured me away from the tour for photographs. I was going to give fashion advice and tell you not to wear a pink raincoat in Seattle where the locals were mostly in somber black or the occasional tan or dark green. Turns out it is an advantage to be the only one in pink when you lose the tour and your date can spot you in the crowd and bring you back to the rest of the well-behaved tour members.
Pike Place Chowder was the one gluten-free goof that was easily remedied. Our guides didn’t realize that the creamy chowders were probably thickened with flour. I popped inside to inquire and was told they did, indeed, use flour, but they had three other kinds of chowder that were gluten free. I sampled a shrimp and crab chowder and the Manhattan chowder and then returned for a bowl of their Vegan Chowder that was a curried, coconut milk chowder with vegetables including mushrooms. A very satisfying lunch. Next, Chukar Cherries had four cherry-inspired confections and I somehow managed to get the biggest pieces. I returned later to purchase my favorites.
The next two stops were the most difficult for me. Beecher’s Handmade Cheese kindly sent my Flagship Reserve cheese without the crostini. They get the cross-contamination. Although it was on the same platter as the rest of the crostini samples. Celiacs wouldn’t be able to eat it for fear of even one crostini crumb. Watching the group sample my favorite, mac and cheese, was hard and I confess that I did succumb to one penne. A big no-no for a diagnosed celiac who pays for any gluten consumption. So be warned of the temptations and be strong when your date offers just one little bite. I felt like a very bad gluten-free ambassador and promise to remain strong the next time I am tempted, so the folks around me know and understand the seriousness of the gluten-free diet. Something all of us need to remember when in the public eye. I’m sure most of my readers know that and are not weak like I am and would have eaten their vegetarian chili sample and not given into temptation.
Edited: That was the last gluten I’ve had in over a year and just before I found out that not only did both kids have celiac disease–but they got it from me. No more temptation. July 4, 2010.
Piroshky-Piroshsky was even more difficult, but guilt kept me eating my borscht sample and simply sniffing as the platter of smoked salmon pate piroshkys went by. And again at Etta’s Seafood, I ate my pineapple sorbet while the rest savored their crab cakes. I did sample the tomatillo , mustard seed, and horseradish sauce for the crab cakes. Yum. Some may wonder why anyone would put themselves through the torture and temptation. I love getting ideas for my gluten-free home cooking and I always come away from tours and tastings with new inspiration and find it worth the torture. Also, the gluten-free foods I sampled were delicious and satifying.
I recommend the tour to get the inside stories and the history of the market, as well as the opportunity for gluten-free samples that you don’t have to research and track down on your own. The guides were delightful and full of information. After the tour, we were given a discount card good for all of our tour stops. I was glad we went on the early tour, as the market began to fill up and the crowds were gathering for lunch as we made our way around after the tour.
A great blog to use as a resource for your trip to Seattle is The Gluten-Free Mom.
To get a sample of one of Savor Seattle’s tours view the video below.
Wendy, Pikes Place is on my must visit list. I hope to get there someday soon. Those beets made me want to reach into the picture and grab them.