I am so glad my ventures took me outside of the city today because I discovered what is so wonderful about Seattle: the neighborhoods! I spent the day in Fremont and Ballard, perusing markets and eating good food.
My tour guides were Ellen and Gina. Gina is a KERF reader who offered to show me around since downtown was pretty dead on a Sunday morning. So glad I went out because the Ballard Market was very fun!!
They did a great job showing me all the best local finds
Gorgeous veggies and a few tastes of local jams and caramels!
We even had the chance to go into the Ballard Great Harvest, which just happened to be open on a Sunday! I didn’t get to see the owners, but I did taste the 9 Grain – delish!
Ellen took Gina and me to see the salmon ladder at Ballard Locks.
I don’t know all the science behind it, but these HUGE salmon were jumping up the ladder steps. If you look right in the middle, there is one emerging up right in this shot!
They were quite remarkable! So glad I got a glimpse of Seattle’s fish biology!
We headed from Ballard to Fremont to meet up with the Malones for lunch. I passed by Portage Bay that you all had been telling me about. Can’t believe I just stumbled upon both Portage and The Pink Door! Sadly we did not go there for lunch.
Instead we went to Emily + Casey’s favorite restaurant: Revel
And I got to have fun with this little guy!!
I drank a roasted barley iced tea with lunch – which tasted like pre-fermented homebrew!
And I had a dungeness crab omelet with arugula and asparagus for lunch. It was packed with flavor!
I intentionally saved room for dessert because there was talk of chocolate and more chocolate. We went into Theo’s –
Where I tasted an amazing array of delicious chocolates
And then we walked through the crafty Fremont market. So many cool things inside.
INCLUDING….
VICTORY GARDEN posters!!! My jaw literally dropped to the ground when I stumbled upon the booth. I had no idea Joe would be there! I felt like I was looking at my house because I have these all over!! Joe recognized me immediately and we were both a little taken back by the coincidence because we had just been emailing about doing an 8×10 poster sale on OpenSky in the coming weeks – a set of four smaller ones that will look fabulous grouped together (we’re going to put them in the nursery, I think!)
Note the posters in my house!
Lacey (a local blog reader) joined us and whisked me away to a place I just had to see: Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery. She is in culinary school and is interning there once a week.
Before I even tasted the chocolate, I was enamored by the gorgeous décor. All of my favorite materials: chalkboard, metal, lots of wood, glass, vintage boxes!!!
I am a huge s’mores fan, so we decided to try the flavor in two versions to share: a cookie and a cake.
This cookie was hot out of the oven, gooey in the middle and DELICOIUS. One of the best cookies I’ve ever had.
But the cake…
We watched him flame the marshmallow right then and there before assembling the dessert –
Melted layers of molten chocolate cake, toasted marshmallow, dark caramel and cinnamon graham cracker. Possibly one of the best desserts I’ve ever had too!
Thanks to Lacey for the treat and the tour!
I’m back at the hotel, feeling a little bit like I’m a stowaway here. Most everyone else from the weekend is gone! I have had an incredible weekend, and one meal left to enjoy ahead! (If I can work my appetite back up…)
Desserts worth a trip to Seattle for sure!
What a fun filled day you had! That S’mores cake looks amazing…lucky you! Sounds like it will be a hard dessert to top!
wow, that omelet and your desserts look fantastic! and that little cullen is just too cute for words. i think i “oooh and ahhh” over him every time i see photos of him on emily’s blog. 🙂
Yumm!! I’m visiting Seattle later this summer and I can’t wait to try one of those s’more cakes!
I am drooling! Everything looks soooo good! I love cross overs on blogs. I love Emily’s blog too and having you both in one post is too fun!
That cake looks out of control!! Wow. I’m gonna have to head out to Seattle like ASAP!
That cookie looks sooooo good. I love smores. I keep wanting to try subbing in a Reese’s cup instead of a piece of Hershey’s chocolate in a traditional smore, but just haven’t gotten around to it sadly. I’m sure it’s gonna be delicious seeing as I love peanut butter and chocolate.
Oh my! I had never thought of using Reese cups in a s’more! Sounds heavenly! Definitely will be trying that! How soon can I get myself a camp fire?!
What a lovely tour and Cullen is darling and so cool to run into Joe.
OMG. That dessert!!!!! And so jealous you met Cullen!
I was exploring Ballard market exactly one week ago Sunday! So much fun.
What a beautiful day! ….You and baby had some amazing eats and experiences today!
what a wonderful day! seattle is most certainly on my “to visit” list after following your weekend adventures!
oh wow, I need to get back to try those desserts!!!
You really look so pretty pregnant. You are truly glowing!!
🙂 Thanks!
Man, what an awesome day!! I love all the photos- and the food (especially the omelet) all looks incredible!
We really wanted to see the Ballard Locks while we were there last summer, but didn’t have time. Very cool that you got to experience that today! Your posts make me want to go back to Seattle so bad!
Holy frick, that s’more cake! I think I like things like that even better than actual s’mores.
OH my goodness, Kath!!! This makes want to visit Seattle!! Everything looks incredible. I love love love the victory garden posters – I can see why you’ve chosen to decorate your house with them. I think any of the propaganda posters from that era are so cool.
When I get to Seattle next week I am forcing my boyfriend to take me straight to that dessert heaven! YUM! I love that you saw so many local spots, you are such a true locavore!
I love exploring new cities! Looks like such a fun day. I’ve never been to Seattle, but I’m definitely hoping to make it there soon after seeing your adventures (and eats) from today– that cake looks incredible!
You had some amazing tour guides – hit all the good spots!! Nice pictures! I need to go and try that dessert looks amazing.
Tried to go to Matt’s In The Market tonight at your rec, but it was closed 🙁
That omelet sounds fabulous! Love dungeness crab. But that cookie… OMG! Wow.
So sad you did not eat at Portage because it is delicious! Next time you are in Seattle it is a must. Those desserts look so good and now I am craving chocolate. Yum!
Wow, what an awesome day! Those posters are awesome. I hope y’all do an Opensky sale on them.
Coming soon!!
I feel like Seattle has SO MUCH FOOD! I need to visit!
Seattle is one of my favorite cities, it’s great you got to experience how great it is! Those desserts look amazingly delicious!
This post makes me want to move to Seattle!! 🙂 I’ve always wanted to go visit there and check it out. It seems like such a great city for foodies…
OK that s’mores cake looks AMAZING. I need to learn how to make it! Your Seattle adventures have been entertaining!
looks like you had a really nice visit. and with a cameo from emily! those s’mores desserts look insane. I saw a chocolate-covered s’more in a store on the boardwalk, but I went for gelato instead. 🙂 super dark chocolate + peanut butter and fluff. oh yes.
Wow Seattle really does seem like a foodie’s heaven! That cookie looks to die for, I can’t believe I never thought to add marshmallows in cookies!
Wow that cake looks amazing! Also thanks for the link to the Victory Garden posters – I think I want to order some for my apartment!
seeing the city with locals is always the best way to do it! Now I NEED to go to Seattle, it looks amazing!
I will save this post for my next trip to Seattle. It is only 3 or so hours away, but we rarely get there. Now I look forward to it! Fun to see you with Emily again. That little Cullen looks adorable!
Ah, I love that part of Seattle! And of course Cullen is going to try eating the table. That totally cracked me up! I’m so glad you got to try THEO’s.. it’s seriously some of the best chocolate in the world! Next trip to Seattle you need to schedule a tour (try weeks in advance) and also YOU MUST go to Portage. Seriously. I’m not even from Seattle and I’ve already eaten there twice!
It looks like you have had an adventurous time in Seattle 🙂
I love those posters!!! I might have to purchase one sometime.
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Oh my goodness your chocolate molten cake looks to die for! And the cookie! I’m so jealous you got to spend time with Mr. Cullen, I love reading Emily’s posts about him! Your dungeness crab omelet looks like it was great, too! I’ve never had dungeness crab, does it taste the same as blue crabs?
Pretty close in taste, I think
Hi Kath! So sorry we missed you yesterday – we were at the Farmers Market too! Bummer! Thanks for coming to Ballard and stopping by the bakery though. I hope we get to visit your bakery some day too. Glad you had such wonderful tour guides while here in Seattle!
Hey Jackie! So fun to see your store!
Looks like a fun day!
Oh wow, now I am regretting not going to Hot Cakes!!!
YOu must go!!
OMG Kath – I lived in Seattle and although I don’t live there anymore – it is SO FUN to see all the amazing foodie treats! I’m so glad you’re blogging your way through Seattle – I think that city has the best food in the country! Hope you’re enjoying the Fairmont Olympic – that is my favorite Seattle hotel, I think their restaurant is spectacular! Enjoy your trip !!!!!
salmon live in salt water, but they lay their eggs in fresh water. they were jumping up the ladder steps so they could go spawn!
PS – I think you would have loved Portage Bay, and if you ever return with Matt – go to Canlis – it is stunning and very romantic!
Hi Kath! I’m taking a trip to Seattle this weekend. What is the one thing/place that you would recommend? Restaurants, attractions… anything!
Are you staying downtown and will you have a car? A trip to Pike Place Market for sure, and I would recommend going to Fremont or Ballard – I really enjoyed the excursions
I want to go to Seattle even more now than I did before. If i live near the molten chocolate cake place I would be twice the size I am – that looked incredible. Worth the air fare just for that!
You have got to be kidding me with those smores desserts. Smores are probably my favorite “dessert” (I’m nowhere near being married, but I KNOW I will have a smores bar at my wedding)…I must have those!!!
Oh my goodness. A shop dedicated solely to molten cakes. PLEASE. I can befriend Seattle, if chocolate is involved. 🙂 It’s a bit far from Georgetown, but perhaps I can slip away while home for a week in California!