Conscious Choice Seattle: Prowling for Picnic Goodies in the Pike Place Market

July 2007 | Local Food

Prowling for Picnic Goodies in the Pike Place Market

After 100 years, the Market still packs the perfect picnic

Amy Pennington

Summer in Seattle is a season to relish. After riding through Myrtle Edwards Park the other night, wrapped in sunset pinks with Mt. Rainer in plain and fantastic view, I vowed to not let this season pass me by. Why spend my free time tucked in a cozy restaurant, when I could be outside taking in the city? As I spun past people gathered in the warm night air. I put together the perfect picnic menu in my head. The next weekend, with sun shining and picnic basket in tow, I walked to the Pike Place Market.

Pike Place Market was ‘born’ nearly 100 years ago, on August 17th 1907 as a way for farmers to sell directly to their customers. This tradition continues today and through the summer on Wednesdays and Fridays when farmers take over prime real estate and set up their tables in the cobblestone street. The streets may be crowded and parking may be sparse, but the Market is still the ultimate grocery store. It’s easy to take it for granted, but a few hours spent milling about in shops or checking out what’s farm fresh is enough to get anyone excited about the perfect picnic lunch. Hitting the row of vegetable stalls first, I grabbed a pint of blackberries ($5) and a bouquet of arugula ($3). For picnic planning, it’s wise to get food that doesn’t take any preparing, so I headed to Delaurenti’s.

As a New York transplant, DeLaurenti’s is the shop I spent the most time in when I first arrived in Seattle. It reminded me of home and offers up some of the best Italian foods in the city. Walking over to the deli case, I sought picnic inspiration. There are rows of sausage, big fat legs of cured hams and cheeses galore. One of the best things about this shop is the taste testing. You can sample any piece of meat or cheese before buying and you’re encouraged to do so. I had no less than three nibbles of prosciutto before deciding on the prosciutto di parma ($24.99 lb). Next I ordered a quarter pound of Mortadella ($10.49/lb) — a delicious bologna-styled meat with cubes of pork fat and pistachios. Mortadella tastes like childhood to me, as I grew up eating bologna on white bread. Slightly sweet and mildly nutty, it’s a nice contrast to the prosciutto. The cheese case at DeLaurenti’s is overwhelming, and they like it that way. It is the busiest spot in the store, and I had to vie for positioning. Pushing past the little old lady next to me, I instantly ordered a big soft ball of Mozzarella di Bufala from Wisconsin ($7.99 1/4 lb). With my sandwich fixins’ in tow, I was off to a delicious start.

As you leave the front doors of Delaurenti’s and head in to the market, there are food vendors set up to the left and right. As a native, they are easy to miss in the crowd of tourists and visitors, but slowing down here is a good idea. From Pike Place Nuts, I picked up a small bag of salted cashews ($10/lb) and across the way, at Daily Dozen Donuts, I grabbed a bag of piping hot donuts covered in powdered sugar ($2.84/dozen). They smelled so good that I couldn’t resist eating one (ok, three) and knew these wouldn’t make it to the picnic!

Down the street, sits one of the best little bakeries in town—Le Panier. It’s very ‘French’ in here and smells of butter, baking and coffee. The tables are packed with people and the line is always long, but I don’t mind waiting it out for a traditional baguette ($1.75). This crispy loaf is an ideal sandwich bread because it is not so hard that it will cut the roof of your mouth, but it still has a good bite to it.

Later that day, in my neighborhood park on Queen Anne, I put together the perfect little sandwich — a tear of the baguette, a milky pull from the mozzarella and a slice of prosciutto. Sharing berries with a friend, I couldn’t help planning the next picnic meal in my mind. One of the biggest challenges with shopping at the Pike Place Market is self-control. I wanted to buy everything! The piroshky’s from Piroshky-Piroshky beckoned. I strolled past Mee Sum Pastry and craved steamed hum bao. And as I passed by Beechers Cheese I thought I heard the fresh fried cheese curds calling my name. My final piece of advice for picnic shopping in the Market? Beware the size of basket you bring.

This summer, help the Market celebrate its 100-year-old birthday at the Market Street Festival, Sunset Supper, Pigs on Parade, and a culminating party (August 17th) on the cobblestones.

Amy Pennington brings new meaning to the phrase “your eyes are bigger than your stomach.” She is always buying too much food, from too many places. Happily, she’s typically inclined to share.

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