The condo came equipped with a grand piano, which we put to good use. The dining table was just right for four.
The kitchen opened up to the den, making it feel very open and allowing us to relax while we had something in the oven.
So, it was time to go shopping again. Surrounded by colorful ristras and amazing produce, it was hard to know where to start, but we were up to the challenge!
Being from a landlocked state, I was mesmerized by the site of the seafood. So much variety. Look at the size of those jumbo rock lobster tails! $34.99 per POUND — not per tail. Those monsters would feed four, I’m thinkin’.
We would just stand and stare, trying madly to make decisions about what to cook.
This Asian Market is bigger than any I’ve ever been in. It features both food and gifts. You have to pay to park — unless you spend at least $7.00. I got some good-natured ribbing about the fact that I would have no trouble exceeding that threshold.
We picked up a few things at the Asian market, then headed back to Pike Place for the real shopping. Can you believe the price of these bouquets? It is unreal!
The peonies amazed me because it was the first week of July and they were plentiful. Ours had been gone since the end of May in Oklahoma.
We had never heard of garlic spears before, so we had to ask. “What are these? What do you do with them?” Garlic spears are a delicacy. They are available only certain times during the year and they’re best roasted or grilled with a little olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper. Now you know! The people working at the stands are so knowledgeable and always willing to share recipes and information.
Fava beans. Who on earth can hear those words without thinking of Hannibal Lecter and that awful line about “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a good chianti”? We passed on the fava beans and went for artichokes and asparagus instead.
I now have a collection of canvas bags purchased at the Market. They’re well made, colorful, and bring back great memories. I’m not sure I get the clock face thingie on this design, however.
This was the view from our patio. See the ferris wheel? It’s the Seattle Great Wheel. It has the coolest color-changing lights and it just opened in July, 2012. The cabs are air-conditioned and heated, seat 7 people in each, and allow for a spectacular view of the city.
This little dude greeted us one evening, sitting on top of something on the patio. He and his brethren begged for food scraps and entertained us.
Finally — we had a plan! We would go International with our meal plans — preparing dishes from various countries, a different one each day, to experiment with. This was going to be so much FUN!
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