Date nights are awesome. But day dates were made for parents, because they don’t leave you yawning through dinner after a long week of work and parenting. Whip up some sun-shiny romance with your honey this summer during an Eat Seattle Market Tour and Cooking Class at Pike Place Market. It’s an adults-only foodie find that’s totally worth the cost of a babysitter.
photo: Allison Sutcliffe
Shop
Every cook knows that before you head to the kitchen you’ve got to first head to the store to grab ingredients. So it only makes sense that Eat Seattle’s cooking extravaganza starts the same way. Part behind-the-scenes tour, part practical shopping trip, this chef-led walkabout around the beloved Pike Place Market shines a whole new light on this hometown fave.
photo: Allison Sutcliffe
Chef Emily leads the crew from vendor to vendor, mic’d so you can easily hear her captivating market tales and simple explanations about how real chefs choose the freshest ingredients at Pike Street. Spoiler alert: she says fish throwing is a no-no (Who knew?). It’s a chance to get the backstory on some of the oldest vendors around, and to get to know growers that sell to some of the best chefs in town (good thing you’re with one of them!). Psst! Our favorite tour spot was the secret (to us anyway) market garden where Eat Seattle has their own box plot full of fresh herbs just waiting to be cut and cooked into Pacific Northwest haute cuisine. By the time the tour ends you and your sweetie will feel like pros on your next trip to the Market.
photo: Allison Sutcliffe
Cook
Once you’ve gathered the best the season has to offer, it’s back to the Atrium Kitchen for handcrafted cocktails and a spicy charcuterie board to whet your appetite before jumping into meal prep. Just like the meat, fish and produce you picked up, these extra touches feature local, organic products you’ll be happy to know about. Then it’s aprons on, let the cooking begin!
photo: Allison Sutcliffe
Where you cook and with whom is left up to the group. But whatever station you and your partner in crime choose, be it soup, main or dessert, expect plenty of hands-on time. Chef Emily and her staff lead the way, and teach classic French techniques (we’re talking whipping cream by hand!) that make the food taste that much better when you finally sit down to enjoy it. And like all great cooking experiences, this one involves sipping Northwest wines and sharing stories with the group over the clink-clank of kitchen sounds and mouthwatering aromas that fill the air. Yum!
photo: Allison Sutcliffe
Eat
The fruits of your labor don’t go untasted on this date. After the cooking is done and the table is set, it’s time to sit and enjoy this fresh, seasonal dinner with your classmates and hosts. From start to finish it only takes about 3.5 hours to shop for, cook up and devour these impressive dishes. Bon appetit!
photo: Allison Sutcliffe
Beyond
If you don’t have a whole afternoon, or you want to experience more, Eat Seattle has a few other options for a date day, a mom’s (or dad’s) afternoon out or tours to impress your out-of-town-guests. The 2-hour market tour ($49/person) is a great option for foodies and their friends or family. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at Pike Place Market with a local chef, complete with a chef-prepared tasting menu. Or book a cooking party with a few of your besties to celebrate a special occasion.
photo: Allison Sutcliffe
Eat Seattle Classes and Tours at Pike Place Market Atrium Kitchen
1433 First Ave.
Seattle, Wa 98101
206-631-9413
Online: eatseattletours.com
Purchase tickets: eatseattletours.com/tours/cooking-classes
Cost: $129/person
When: Sat. & Sun.; 2:30 p.m.-6 p.m.
Do you plan to book a date with Eat Seattle? Tell us about your experience in the Comments below.
— Allison Sutcliffe
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