This morning, I had just enough time to stop by Pike Place Market, browse around the stalls, DeLaurenti, the newsstand and perhaps have some breakfast nearby. What sort of breakfast would depend on whether or not I could find street parking, as I was in my car, on my way to see a client in West Seattle. I had about an hour to eat and read my paper.
It was about 9:30 and I got very lucky to find a spot just in front of Bottega Italiana, the lovely Italian Gelateria and Café on 1st Avenue. I walked up the street, checked the morning's papers and latest issues of the French, Spanish and Italian food magazines, picked up a few things and with a wetted appetite, walked the next few steps to The Crumpet Shop, who bake, on site, the freshest and tastiest traditional English crumpets this side of Buckingham Palace.
The Crumpet Shop (owned by Seattle native Gary Lasater and Nancy McFaul, who opened the business to the public back in 1976) is located right next to another favorite spot, Kosher Delight, owned by the lovely and ever so friendly Michel (to whom I waved from my table while I observed him putting bottle of my favorite, Kedem Grape Juice, away in the cooler).
As I was really hungry and with a full and quite long day ahead of me still, I went for their Breakfast Special: a crumpet, with my choice of fresh jam (Today felt like a Boysenberry kind of day) and a bowl of my beloved steel cut cooked oats, served with a choice of milk (I prefer steamed whole milk with mine) and sweetener: honey or brown sugar (Brown sugar for me, please!) As I had already had my morning coffee at home a bottle of Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Juice was all I needed to complete the meal.
As always, the oats were absolutely delicious. Chewy and crunchy, popping in your mouth. A welcomed morning workout for your jaw. The steamed milk and brown sugar the perfect match to their texture and flavor. The crumpet, hot, buttered and topped with the most wonderfully fresh Boysenberry jam, the little berry gems poking though, greeting you with every bite.
You may also order crumpets (or buy them fresh made, packaged to go) with savory toppings such as smoked salmon, egg, pesto, cheese. Their jam selection is lovely and their coffees (latte, cappuccino, espresso, Americano, drip, Mocha) are great.
They also offer, of course, scrumptious scones. Their teas (Irish or English Breakfast, Rooibos, Yerba Maté, Herbal Tisanes or Earl Greay among others) come with unlimited refills ($1.40). Inn the back of the store they also sell tea, jam and all sorts of teapots and accessories.
Check please! $5.63 with tax included (by the by, they accept Amex, Visa, Master Card and good ole cash). A steal! And, on a Wednesday, eating this wonderful breakfast, with a lovely breeze coming through the door, fabulous 30's music in the background (nothing like a few Piaf tunes to start the day off right) and with the Dining & Wine section of The New York Times, I was happy as a clam.
The Crumpet Shop
1503 1st Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101
206-682-1598
