susandennis | Back from the front

Wow. That was different and fun. Since I walk so early in the morning, when I do go through Pike Place Market and down First Avenue it is generally on a weekend and before there is any action. Today I was there about 10ish and it was cold and raining and lots of shops were not open yet, closed on Sunday and/or closed for Winter and it was still a wonderful beehive of activity.

There was some kind of barbecue contest thing cooking up. Rows of tents with the contestants getting ready. The new cheese place was fun. They make cheese right there but there was no making today. And their selection is kind of limited.

But, I had cheese on the brain now. So I went to the second cheese place. A valley girl asked me if I needed help and I said that I wanted to try something new, something different. "I've never met a cheese I didn't like and I'm not afraid of fat... Would you make a recommendation?" She pointed to a very expensive brie and said 'that one is good - you want it?' When I allowed as how it didn't seem very exciting she said 'well, it's what I recommend' and then went back to talking to her girlfriend about a guy.

On to the next cheese store which has never let me down and didn't this time. I repeated my request and the lady asked if I wanted cow, sheep or goat cheese and I said yes. She asked if I wanted hard creamy or soft and I said yes. So then she pulled out one she said was from Spain and very good and hard to get and without even asking me, cut me off a sliver to taste.... Yummy. Sale. It's called Montenebro. $5.62 for a quarter pound. I have good crackers. Lunch will be good.

estis, I very nearly found Lionel's custard tarts! They had lemon and almond (shown here in this very fuzzy picture - I got excited and giggled the camera more than usual). I didn't get any because I had already bought my treat du jour and they didn't have custard. But, maybe next time...

kjaz, I talked to the fish thrower of the day. I snapped a picture of his octopus and he wanted to see the camera. He said that he would have to charge me $1 for the octopus's picture unless I took one of him. He was really fun.

Here's him...