This is Seattle-area artist Lois Silver's painting entitled "Market" for the Pike Place Market Foundation. She has a wonderful eye for color. In fact I have my eye on another one of her paintings, entitled "Red Purse". It's at the Lisa Harris Gallery in the Market for about $1800. "sigh".
But the Market painting is a perfect way to tell you about my trip to the Pike Place Market on Saturday.
Anne and I decided to play Seattle Tourist. We spent a few hours, in the rain, at the market on Saturday. It's been years since I've done that.
There are a few changes. First of all, on the East side of the market, there are several shops I'd never visited before. One lets you taste 12 year old balsamic vinegar. Wow. I want some. Of course, it's $45 a bottle. So, maybe for my birthday. It was so incredible, I could drink it by the glass.
Another shop sold more fancy spreads and olive oils.
Of course, The Confectionary makes individual cheesecakes
Kind of funny to walk by the first Starbucks store too. When I worked at KMPS from 1983-1988, it was the ONLY Starbucks. I just remember the coffee-making process was noisy. I never bought coffee there. Didn't drink it at the time. But once I bought some loose tea. Now there's a long line to get inside. To many, it's coffee Mecca.
Another real highlight was a trip to one of my favorite galleries, the Lisa Harris Gallery. I frequently visit her website, and Lois Silver is one of the painters she represents. I get emotional when I connect with wonderful art. Call me silly, but it's true.
Anyway, we stopped at my favorite fish monger, in the middle of the market, near the craft booths. I like it because they're not in it for the show business, like the fish-tossers are at Pike Place Fish. Bought a couple of halibut cheeks.
I had them for dinner tonight. Pan-seared them in olive oil and butter with garlic. It was so easy to make. First you dust the cheeks with flour, salt and pepper. Then put them in the hot oil-butter-garlic mix in the hot pan. Flip them a couple of times until the flesh of the fish feels a bit less than firm. Then I put in a dash of white wine, a little more butter, and finished it with 2 sliced Roma tomatoes. I served it over some brown rice. YUM!!!
Anne and I perused the craft stalls and when we stopped at a fruit stand to taste their peaches and nectarines, I exclaimed "Oh My God!". THAT was how good they were. The fruit man directed me to the pile of nectarines named, I kid you not, "Oh My God Nectarines". I bought 3 of them. Paid 6 dollars for them. Finished them today.
We also went into the gem shop, and wandered through the Post Alley Market. We stopped for dinner at the Pike Place Brewery. Anne had the crabmeat chowder. I had the appetizer dish of steamed clams. They were TEENY. The insides were the size of my little finger nail. But good.
It's fun to play tourist in your hometown.
Next Saturday, The Tacoma Museum of Glass. Never been there. Have you? Did you like it?
