There’s an excellent reason why they call Seattle the Emerald City. It’s green; it’s very, very green. And, not just your basic green, but all shades of green. Seattle also boasts of amazing restaurants, spectacular bars, and a great cup of joe. In early December 2019 (doesn’t that seem like four decades ago instead of just 6 ½ months), Wine By Appointment got the opportunity to visit Seattle to sip and swill the marvelous wines and cuisine.
Craving seafood, we made sure to make a stop at the famed Elliot’s Oyster House on the waterfront. (Elliot’s Oyster House 1201 Alaskan Way, Pier 56 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 623-4340 www.elliottoysterhouse.com). Operating and delighting locals for over 40 years, it’s a must-do for anyone who loves oysters, fish, or just great food in general. With a genuinely awe-inspiring oyster bar/seafood counter, we had a memorable evening sampling Seattle’s fruit of the sea. Their clam chowder was delectable, and the lobster mac & cheese will have you begging for seconds.
No visit to Seattle is complete without a stroll through Pike Place Market (85 Pike Street Seattle, WA 98101 www.pikeplacemarket.org). In the early 1900s, outraged by wholesalers gouging the public (and underpaying the farmers) for produce led local officials to form a public market place where farmers could sell directly to consumers and hence Pike Place Market came into being. Today, it’s one of the oldest continuously operated public market in the United States. It’s also a warren of interesting shops and restaurants. Pay a visit to Marketspice (85A Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101) for unique, can’t-find-anywhere else teas and gifts.
And you must visit Café Campagne (1600 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 728-2233 www.cafecampagne.com), at least for a snack. We had the best lunch at this charming, cozy brasserie! I can’t think of a better way to spend a blustery afternoon munching a tartine, and mouth-watering cassolet served with the perfect wine, a Beaujolais! (Beaujolais is Gamay wine – a light, red wine – think of it as Pinot Noir’s brother).
I can’t end this travelogue without mentioning our sumptuous hotel, the Kimpton Monaco Seattle (1101 Fourth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 (888) 238-4218), where we stayed for most of our visit. Located close to restaurants and shops, it just made our visit to Seattle that much more delightful. Kimpton hotels are always a visual delight with their carefully crafted funky interiors, and this hotel did not disappoint.
Till next time and stay tuned for “Wine By Appointment Wets Our Whistle In Woodinville,” our blog about our adventures in Seattle’s premium wine tasting destination!