Truffle salt, truffle oils, truffle EVERYTHING you can find is in this store. The owners go to Italy every so often to learn more about the cuisine and ingredients, so they know what they are talking about!! In addition, they are not snotty about their stuff! Ask questions and they are so helpful and willing to explain without being overbearing! There is an island full of stuff to taste, so don't be shy!!! We bought a ton of stuff after we tasted the stuff on the island. read more

Truffle Queen - Specialty Food Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This is a specialty shop. As the name implies, their specialty is truffles. Not the chocolate kind, the fungus kind. The really expensive fungus kind. They had actual truffles, but also lots of truffle oils. I think they are infused olive oils. They also had truffle salt (bits of truffle mixed with salt), and such as that. While they bill themselves as "cafe", I didn't really see much in the way of food being served. Except for a few samples to highlight their products. A cool thing they do is to give you a sample of clam chowder, have you take just a sip of it, and then they dropper a few drops of oil into the sample and tell you to finish it. The difference is startling. Just a tiny bit, and you can taste it. We bought some oil. Not cheap, but then you don't need much to enhance the flavor of your food. read more

My 100th review and I'm making sure it's on a place that I absolutely LOVE!! My sister and I were introduced to this little gem on our Savor Seattle Gourmet Tour...didn't know much about truffles except that they're pretty pricey and taste pretty good too! We were totally schooled in the 15/20 minute stop on the tour, and my sister and I were deemed truffle believers after that visit! They first give you a little chowder sample that they ask you to just take a sip and not drink it all. So you take your little sip and after they add a little drop of white truffle oil and ask you to taste it again...OH. EM. GEE!! The chowder tastes soooo much better! We were also given other little samples which included truffle salt...that was soo delicious just on it's own! We stopped at a little restaurant after La Buona Tavola and after sampling their food specialty, all I could think of was "There's not enough taste, this needs a little truffle oil!" We returned a few days later for omiyage and dropped some serious dough! It's all worth it though, at this shop - you really do get what you pay for. The woman who runs this shop is so nice and sweet, she truly believes in all of the products sold there and also has a flat rate shipping fee if what you buy is too much to carry home! Get this...she'll also ship goods from other shops in Pike Place Market! I wish I jumped in on that deal...I was 11 lbs over on my checked bag limit and had to pay $50!! read more

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This is cool little place if you are obsessed with truffles (the fungi not the chocolate) you can get every product made with truffles and taste. Ask ally everything. The staff makes you fell welcome and they are really helpful and know their stuff. I bought a bunch of stuff and they offer to ship it home. It's not cheap but it's all delicious!! They have the best gluten free pasta here! I think the name of it is la vivante. They had fresh truffles for sale also. They have a great shipping deal as well! read more

Truffle Queen - This is the gluten free pasta that they sell - it's WONDERFUL!! - Specialty Food Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great, relaxed wine and food vendor. We did a flight of wine here. They're so helpful when we told them what taste profiles we liked....especially with bubbles. We didn't go looking for this place. But it was warm and inviting along the bustling street and one of the best stops we made in Seattle! read more

I wish this place was closer to home! It's everything you want in a gourmet specialty food shop and more. They carry only the best when it comes to anything and everything truffle - from oils, creams, and even salt! - balsamic vinegar, gourmet condiments, pastas and sauces. I was delightfully surprised to even find my favorite squid ink pasta available here! Go see Rei - she'll tell you everything you ever needed to know about truffles! read more

Loved the wine tasting here!!! My friends don't drink, but I still dragged them here. Small wine bar with only 4 seats. During my visit, it just so happened they had a sweet wine tasting. My friend was visiting from Germany and he was trying to speak German to the lady behind the counter, which made our visit even more fun. The pours were pretty generous. In fact, the lady poured me 2 extras glasses. NICE... We even got to sample some of the truffles, spreads and chocolates with the wines. They were delectable. I sat by these nice gentleman also visiting from other parts of the world and we had great conversation. Even though I didn't purchase anything from this store ($$$), it was a great experience. Friendly staff and great wine tasting! read more

I was introduced to this shop on Jake's Free Seattle Walking Tour and knew immediately that I would go back on my own to buy some truffle treats. When I got back to the store, the staff was super helpful and brought me around to introduce me to their favorite items. While I was shopping, my boyfriend and father did the wine tasting ($9 for 3 wines). This was a win-win for everyone, because I got plenty of time to browse while they enjoyed their wine and the Beecher's mac'n cheese that they brought in (and had truffle oil added to). I ended up buying a few items, but my favorite was the truffle salt. According to the store owner, this truffle salt is 10% truffle, whereas most store versions are between 3 and 4%. I could definitely taste that the salt was more potent - and I loved it! The store has interesting truffle items (truffle pesto, truffle balsamic glaze, etc...) that I have not seen before, so if you are a truffle fan, this is a must stop in Pike's Market. read more

My girlfriend and I were introduced to this business through the Seattle Eats tour (amazing tour by the way!). The owner was very friendly and provided knowledgeable insights and info into her products and how to best use them. Don't get me wrong, the prices reflect the experience and quality but well worth it in my opinion. Good luck in your endeavors Ray! read more

These guys are so awesome, we visited a few years ago, now I order from them, their sweet personal written messages on the the receipt every time is such an add touch. Thank you! read more

Okay, who knew we'd find a grand time wine tasting in the middle of Pike Place at a shop selling truffle oils and sauces. We were being tourists in the area and decided to do a wine tasting. 3 pours for $9/person. Fair deal. We had the most amazing host and hostess. We sampled way more than we were supposed to and found several wines I wish I had room in my luggage for. They have an amazing port fortified with brandy. And then when we were slightly tipsy and giggly, she brings out heaven in a bottle. Chocolate dessert wine... soo irresistible! I wish I could remember our hostess's name to give her a shout out. Her boyfriend is a chef and she doesn't like pike place chowder. She was amazingly sweet and helpful. Hopefully she reads this and knows who she is!! What a great selection of wines! They can also ship to you, but no online orders for wine (so sad!) Oh and they also have a great variety of truffle based items, which are available for sampling. One day when I learn how to cook with truffle oil, I'll need to get some of their products into my pantry. Great little shop with a great staff to support! read more

Truffle Queen - Delicious chocolate wine!! - Specialty Food Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I absolutely love Truffle Queen I typically make a trip to Seattle each December and going to Pike Market and Truffle Queen is always on my list of must do's. This year since I am not traveling I ordered several of my favorites like black truffle slices and truffle sauce and the order arrived quickly with all my favorites and a very sweet note from the owners. I only wish I could see them in person to tell them how much I enjoy visiting them. read more

This place is a must. If you love truffles...good oils, dressing and gourmet items don't miss this one gem at the pikes. Come in and try all the delicious spreads...even caviar with truffles. I came here and came back with a friend and bought some more. I live the truffles salt from here ....so much aroma and tastes amazing. Can't wait to cook with them when I come home. The staff here is also lovely. Just when u think one thing is so good they let you try 3 more and you can't decide which one you like better. read more

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I cannot say enough good things about this lovely small business located in Pike Place Market. I always order their truffle oil both black and white and their truffle salt is amazing! It has twice as much Truffle in it as other truffle salts being sold. I give it a big thumbs up. Also any orders over $99, the shipping is free! read more

Awesome truffle products We esp enjoyed the truffle oil - which I add to soups, etc and the amazing truffle salt- just the right intensity!! Truffle heaven !! read more

Parisa waited on us today while my girlfriend and I visited Truffle Queen. She was EXCELLENT. She was incredibly helpful and so sweet. We sampled the truffle salt, the 18 yr old balsamic glaze, pistachio cream, and the Sun-dried tomato pesto ALL of which we absolutely loved and will be ordering. I love this place and will definitely make a trip back for their $5 wine happy hours!! read more

My mom tried the truffle almond brittle that a coworker brought into work one day. She instantly fell in love with the brittle and sent a subtle text including a picture of the brittle saying it would be a great Mother's Day gift. Obviously I placed an order well in advance for Mother's Day, but with shipping these days, it's no big deal if it didn't arrive on time. A few days after placing the order I received an email from truffle queen stating that they are issuing me a partial refund. No explanation on why this was happening, I can only assume something with the product is not available. Like the email said a partial refund, I was refunded everything minus a shipping fee of $3. Why am I being charged anything let alone shipping if they have not and to my understanding they are not planning on shipping out my order?! It cost me $3 to place an order just to have it not fulfilled. Needless to say I sent truffle queen an email and it has been a few days and I still have not heard anything. I do not recommend ordering anything online. Seems they are to big for their britches and can't even send out a courtesy email to inform customers of what happened to their order or respond to a customers email about getting my $3 fee back since I have not received anything. read more

Edward and David are amazing! They were very helpful in pointing us to the best products that satisfied our needs. The Truffle Queen salt and truffle paste were devine. Ask if they have pistachio paste. What a treat straight from Italy. read more

We were walking by when a guy at the entrance to the cafe announced wine tastings... that sounded great, we turned around and went in. We had to wait a little bit. A guy coordinating the tastings offered us a glass of wine while we waited. Meantime we perused the shop and asked some questions about truffle salt. I asked about its use on scallops and steak. I was shown a parmesan truffle spread that would go well with steak. We ended up getting a small bag of truffle salt for our sea scallops that night. The wine tasting was very insightful to Washington state wines! They had a great selection of Italian and Washington wines. We will definitely return- very knowledgeable and helpful staff! read more

Truffle Queen - Specialty Food Near Me - Seattle, Washington

After being recommend from a friend, this was one of my top priorities while downtown Seattle. It is also known as La Buona Tavola Truffle Store. And boy was it worth it, I love truffles but the atmosphere and staff made it even better. After a quick browse of the product, I snagged the last seat at the four person bar. The bartender was happy to help pick out a flight of white both local and imported. Various staff members were able to answer all my questions and provided me with many yummy samples. From spread to soup my truffle palate was in heaven. When it didn't seem like it could get any better, they mention how they ship (by number of items not weight) so I didn't have to pack any of my purchases. Not only did they ship what I bought from their store, but also my Starbucks purchases. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable about products, wine, how to pair them and great cooking ideas. Can't wait to get home and try my products (white truffle oil, truffle salt- highest concentration in the US, and black truffle cream)! read more

Anything and everything truffle in this small store. A friend sent me to get his supply of truffle salt. I was helped with it immediately. Larger sizes get a discount on weekdays! They have loads of truffle flavored stuff to taste. A great shop to shop in! read more

I was initially lured in by a sample (when am I not lured by samples?). The potato leek soup with a drop of truffle oil served by the handsome dude was a such a huge enhancement, I had to check it out! I was immediately drawn to everything truffle. They have so many truffle products: infused olive oil, truffle salts, white truffle cream, black truffle cream, white truffle honey, black truffle honey, truffle caviar. Just about any truffle lover's dream come true. There are balsamic vinegars, other infused olive oils, wine, pasta, and tons of other guaranteed deliciousness. You must sample everything you can in the store. Seriously (no, I'm not being a pig!) It's a given I enjoyed everything truffle, but also really favored the mustard samples as well. I LOVE (understatement) mustard and can eat it with almost anything (try me). After trying every highly concentrated truffle sample (10% vs. 5%) on the front table (no double dipping, please!) make your way to the side table by the door. The samples here are sweeter and more dessert-ish: salted bourbon caramel (yum), gluten free lemon curd (SOsososo good), apple butter, pistachio butter. Let's stop right there. PISTACHIO freaking butter. So, I haven't always been a fan of pistachio flavored products (unless it's the pistachio nut itself) but let me tell you, this stuff is BOMB! My brother and I were envisioning what we'd eat it on (toast), in between (layered crevices of fresh croissants), dipped in (fresh pears, other fruits), incorporated into (Swiss buttercream frosting) and what with (fresh cheese) while debating and concluding on what texture would compliment it best. Seriously, there's nothing like it (I dedicated an entire paragraph to this sweet thang!!). It's creamy, buttery, deliciously spreadable and worth the entire $16.95 you pay for it. Back to truffle reality.... It's easy to say this place is probably one of my favorite spots in the Market. The wines are hand-picked from Italy (ask someone to show you a picture of their backyard!) Their cooking classes are now on my bucket list, wine tasting is 3 for $5, wine pairings with anything truffle and chocolate, squid ink pasta can be purchased to go (they also ship if you want to share the love), and they have pistachio butter. This place will improve all the scrambled eggs in your life. read more

This is a tiny place across the street from Pikes market. We ducked in to try their truffle items and ended up having a wine tasting. The workers are super friendly! The truffle items were delicious and plentiful. We purchased a couple bottles of dessert wine for my mom and a few jars of Black Truffle sauce and red pepper tapanade and a few wine decanters. What a fun way to spend and hour! read more

Small store at Pike Market with an assortment of truffle goods, plus wine! My favorite and recommendation would be their White Truffle Oil, White Truffle Cream, and Truffle Salt, get it! The store offers plenty of samples, so enjoy some treats before your purchase. Insider Tip: Buy a cup of Beecher's Mac and Cheese next door and bring it over to Truffle cafe to do some Truffle tasting for FREE! I would recommend doing the wine tasting ($9-Trio of 3), while eating your Truffle topped Mac n Cheese. The best of both world!!! Their workers are all very knowledgeable. I love the owner; her enthusiastic energy towards truffle and food in general is amazing. A lot of the little tours come through here, so make sure to grab your 10% coupon when offered. Besides, Truffle and Wine, they also offer sweet natural spreads. My recommendation: Pistachio cream ($16). On another note,You might not see the actual truffle on display, but they do sell truffle on their own. I would recommend ordering ahead of time because most of the truffle is sold before they arrive at the Truffle Cafe. If you're a foodie and love the elegance of life, come in and grab some Truffle goods. You won't regret it! Tip: White Truffle Cream: Since Truffle Cream expires within a week or so after being opened, store the cream in a freezer (air tight container) to extend the freshness. You can cut up the pieces and have them packed separately as well, but make sure it's air tight in the freezer for convenience. Hours: 11-6pm read more

Truffle store!? Yes please... Little shop. Free samples. Nice employees. Diff types of truffled goods They are pricey but that's truffle for you. Truffles are a luxury. I didn't get anything but omg, I so would if they had truffle caviar. Rob P introduced me to that and I got addicted... But they didn't have any :( read more

As a V-day gift to you, here's a "life hack" lesson to help you enjoy your Pike Place experience. Go to Beechers and order their world-famous mac and cheese and dungenees crab grilled cheese. Then take it to La Buona Tavola and enjoy their wine tasting. Not only will you have a more civilized way to enjoy your bounty from Beecher's, they will also elevate it by adding all sorts of truffle goodies because life is better with truffles. Our grilled cheese was embellished by white truffle olive oil and truffle pesto. No, it did not mask the goodness of the sandwich but made it that much more indulgent. For these, we paired it with a couple of Washington whites with one in particular that had a 5-grape varietal blend. Then each bite of our mac and cheese were paired with more types of truffle goodness and was accompanied with some Washington pinot noir and syrah. We developed enough of a curiosity about Washington whites that I will for sure ask my good friends Gary and Mac to take a Washington winery trip with us. Impeccable service with folks that truly understand how to make guests feel good --- and that's not just the wine talking! We did not end up buying any bottles of wine with us but I did walk out of the store with 3 types of truffle goodness, some bourbon caramel and muscat and lemon curd. I shall serve these to my daughters in hopes that no man who will attempt to bring them to Olive Garden one day for a date can ever impress them! read more

I am in love! With all the glowing reviews, do they really need another? Sure, why not? I walked past this place on my way to the market and they offered me a $5 wine flight and some delcious leek and truffle soup to sample. They suggested that when I am done shopping to come and check them out. Well I took them up on that offer and I am so glad I did. It was more like a wine class and lesson on the regions in Italy. They tell you a little about the area the wine was produced in and what distinguishes the flavors what flavors that we should be tasting. They pair each wine with food after tasting without food. Which there is definately a huge difference in the bouquets of the wine when paired with food. The also talked to us ( there were 3 of us) about every aspect from decanting to storage and aging. We could ask them anything, they are real experts with a sense of humor, which made it so fun! We ended up there for nearly 2 hours and well I personally snatched up $185 of truffle related items, wine, and my favorite item a corell glass decanter!They carefully bubble wrapped my items for the flight home. So I actually went back on a second trip after because well the TRUFFLE SALT was amazing! I bought 4 more and gave some to friends as gifts! I highly recommend picking that up if no other item! It is $19 a jar and worth every penny! It is my absolutely the BEST on eggs, veggies, chicken, anything. My favorite is on egg whites, it makes a purely decadent flavor on a normally bland item! My second favorite, but pricey item was the black truffle tapenade, so good, but quite the splurge at $32 or 36 a small jar. Love this store! read more

The truffle oil they sell is not real truffle oil! I bought a bottle of their house brand white truffle oil (Truffle Queen)and the ingredients are: extra virgin olive oil, white truffle, and white truffle FLAVOR. If this is authentic truffle oil, then why do they have to add TRUFFLE FLAVOR? I'm sure there is a small amount of actual truffles in it so they can market it as containing real l truffles but it seems that it isn't enough that they don't have to add a synthetic truffle flavor. This truffle flavor is the chemical 2-4 dithiapentane. I read that it is made by combining the chemical compound thiol and formaldehyde in a laboratory. There is also a way to chemically extract a truffle flavor naturally but either way, it is not true truffle flavor. My issue is that one is paying $11.95 for a 1.6 ounce bottle of chemical flavoring. Yet they market themselves as having real truffle products. I wish they would be HONEST about this and tell customers which products are truffle flavored and which have the chemicals that mimic truffle flavor. I'm not sure if I can post a link in my review but just google it... if the words "extract," "aroma," "flavor," "natural flavor" or even "essence" are listed as an ingredient then it is not real truffle but a chemical compound. The NYT wrote a great article about this in 2007. I am giving them two stars because the service I received was nice although it was obvious they were so nice only so I'd buy more of their products. There is helpful and then there is helpful with too much of a sales pitch. Same goes for the sampling. They promote themselves as allowing you to sample nearly everything...but the psychology behind sampling is that if you sample you will feel guilty and buy something. Bottom line: the truffle oils (and likely salt and cream) are not special. They contain the same chemical compounds you will find in products at grocery stores. So buy at the grocery store and save yourself a few bucks and get more truffle oil. Don't pay these jacked up tourist prices. read more

KELLY JEAN. KELLY JEAN. KELLY JEAN. This review is for you, girl. Boyfriend and I wandered into the Truffle Cafe our first day in Seattle while we were exploring Pike's Place. I LOVE truffle everything and anything so what caught my attention was the smell while we were passing by. What caught my boyfriend's attention was their board that said, "wine tasting". Ended up stopping by to get off our feet for awhile and try some wine. Little did we know, Kelly Jean would be working and she'd become a Seattle friend! The first day we were here, Thursday, we ended up staying for at least an hour. Kelly Jean knew so much about wine and she catered to my exact preferences! She was such a cool spirit to meet in Seattle. We really hit it off and just started talking about Washington, California, family, friends, and life in general. Kelly Jean was so awesome and everything we tried at the Truffle Cafe was amazing, we ended up coming back the day after when our friends from Vancouver came into town. I'm not even sure how long we ended up staying that time, but we all did the flight wine tasting and then ended it with a bottle of the delicious Lambrusco. I know we were getting so loud and the place isn't that big, but Kelly Jean and her boss were being really good sports about it all. We were celebrating a promotion for one of our friends after all. We stopped by Sunday morning when we were getting ready to head back to San Diego to say goodbye to Kelly Jean, but she wasn't there. :( Come in and say hi to Kelly Jean! The wines she recommends won't let you down and all the truffle samples are like being able to actually taste a piece of heaven. She'll make your visit so much fun and you'll leave feeling like you've made a new life long friend. Thanks again, Kelly Jean! read more

Wine tasting that gets personal, in a good way. I sat at the communal table with a friend, where David the owner walked us through a sample of Sangiovese reds with a finish of Moscato D'Asti. For $5, you get to sample some wonderful Italian vino along with pairings of delicious sauces, chocolate, and peppers. David also gives you the background story of the families that own the wineries, so you get to see photos of the actual grapes you are drinking, the faces of the wine makers, and the gorgeous scenery of small vineyards that span Italy - from Tuscany to Sicily. All of the wines in this shop are proud small, vineyard and family-owned productions. I highly recommend supporting a business that takes pride in the origins, the people, and the quality of its products. Make this place an essential stop at the Pike's Market! read more

This was one of the stops on the Savor Seattle Gourmet Food Tour. The owner gave us a sample of soup without truffle oil. We then had the soup topped with a white truffle oil. It intensified the flavor of the soup. Amazing. We then sampled the black truffle oil on it's own. The white truffle oil is light, airy and garlicky. The dark truffle oil is earthy and has a mushroom taste. Truffles are grown underground whereas mushrooms grow above ground. The are both in the fungi family. This shop has quality truffle oils, wines and other oils that can intensify your cooking. Items can be ordered and shipped. Check out the website. Everything is of high quality with maximum flavor. read more

Would you believe I'm actually getting choked up as I write this? I can't help it. Reviewing La Buona Tavola causes me to reminisce about two significant visits I had there (both involved the Seattle Bites Food Tour, prosecco, and loved ones). The first time was for a dear friend's birthday, and the second time was with family. Which was perfect, since the good folks at La Buona Tavola treat you like family! Not only do they indulge you with a tasting bar featuring all things truffles (enough said?), they invite you to sample the wines they hand-picked from family-owned vineyards in Italy. If you have the time, sit at the counter and ask about those vintners. Before you know it, you'll be seduced in to planning a trip to visit them! You think I'm kidding? La Buona Tavola is worth including in your next trip to Pike Place Market, and if you're a local, consider signing up for one of their cooking classes. Don't let the size of the place fool you, the hearts (and flavors) are big here. read more

Had a last minute wine tasting here, our server Edward was AMAZING, he was very knowledgeable on the wines and different truffle based products. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for great service! read more

My favorite wine store in Seattle - perhaps the US - HANDS DOWN. La Buona Tavola = The Good Table This adorable little store is in Seattle's famed Pike Place Market and specializes in small production Italian hard-to-find wines. The owners are always on hand to sit you down for a tasting that will knock your socks off (and by knock your socks off, I mean get out your credit card to start buying). David took care of us yesterday & walked us through a wide variety of fantastic Italian reds; Ripasso, Barbera d'Alba, Sangiovese, Super Tuscans, Nero d'Avola. He took his time, explaining how the shop came to know about each wines, the story behind them & when the wine maker would be visiting the store to lead tastings (which they do, regularly). He even offered us bites from their gourmet delights - imagine coating your tongue with white truffle cream from Piedmont and then taking a long sip of Barbera d'Alba (also from Piedmont). The flavors wrap their arms around each other like 2 long lost Italian cousins.... its simply brilliant. But don't rush over there to pick up some of that white truffle cream - I got the last jar. They have 10 bottles left of Edi Simcic dessert wine from Slovenia - only 30 cases were made. Lets just say they only have 9 bottles now. Interesting, delicious food, wines and flavors. Definitely make a point to stop by and say hello to David & Rei while you travel in Seattle. read more

In a seaside street packed with people waiting 30 minutes to get their coffee from the original Starbucks, to exasperated drivers looking to (why?!) park in front of the Market, it was a breather to walk into a pretty lighted store and just.sit. That is, until I asked about their wine tasting. This cute little shop did flights of 3 for $5.50 each. We got to choose between red or white. Red, of course! Mind, all their wines are Italian - and hard to find in your run-of-the-mill store. But our friendly clerk, Angela, started us off with a complimentary 'splash' of Prosecco. More like a half glass of one really fantastic white wine. Off to the reds, a really great Merlot, Chianti and Cabernet. Our last wine was heavy and good to whet the appetite/tongue, so Angela gave us a couple of crackers and truffle pate. Mmm! That's not all. She also ended our tasting with a complimentary dessert wine. It was like nectar. Note, at least two major tours go through the store every day. It's popular and one lady had her butt up against my chair. Nonetheless, they're not in for long. It's still a perfect place to rest your feet and enjoy some vino before returning to the throngs outside. read more

Before yesterday, I was a truffle cream virgin. I am no longer. Truffle cream + chocolate= MOUTHGASM. In addition to this, I got to taste three different Italian wines and was led in a tasting by Graham, who was very knowledgeable. When I first walked in, I was greeted right away, and began looking all over at all the gems here, then had the tasting. They pour nice size pours, so you do get to actually enjoy the wine. I will definitely be back, and next time, I am buying some of that cream. read more

I went to truffle heaven...truffle oil, truffle cream, and truffle honey. The samples were awesome. The service was awesome. When I asked the kind lady who gave me tastes if she was the owner, she said she was just a worker bee. Damn! I wish more worker bees were that enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their products... For the uninitiated, try some blue cheese with a drop of truffle honey. OMG, you say? See? Yes, I know. Amazing... read more

After coming to this place, I cannot imagine any better flavor exploding in my mouth. You know what I mean? Upon entrance, we were served with potato & leek soup - it was very creamy, but bland... BUT WAIT TILL YOU'VE TRIED IT WITH TRUFFLE OIL!!! We were generously given drops of truffle oil in our soup after tasting it without the oil, and wow, the soup instantly became extremely flavored, with that earthy truffle aroma and it complemented well with the creamy potato-leek soup! We also tried the pesto. According to the lovely owner, it had extra pine nuts & cheese, making it extra nutty & extra cheesy (and who doesn't love cheesiness). Since it is unpasteurized, it was light and refreshing, not too heavy (as oppose to some of the greasy pesto that I've tried at certain Italian restaurants...) My absolute favorite, and also that one item that amused me the most, was the truffle salt. Normally, when you get truffle salt, it's about 5% concentration (and I didn't know this before today - I am merely paraphrasing so don't look at me like I am so smart and awesome) but the truffle salt that they carry here is 10% concentration. I got a tinsie bit sprinkled on the back of my hand, possibly 5 little speckles of salt, and was asked to lick it. I've never licked salt except when doing tequila shots... so it was a little odd that no alcohol was accompanying my licking... EXCEPT OH MY GOSH - THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN TEQUILA! Merely five speckles of truffle salt touched my tongue and that instant, INSTANT explosion of earthy truffle aroma filled my entire mouth - I can't possibly purchase this! How would I stop the urge of putting truffle salt on absolutely everything that enters my mouth from here on out? I also tried their white truffle cream and black truffle cream, as well as various balsamic vinegar and pesto - it's a lovely, delightful shop! I could spend hours and hours here! This is so amazing, I am so scared to make any purchases here because I know I won't be able to stop!!! How can I possibly pack it back to California without checking my bags? Oh wait, they ship. Anywhere. This is dangerous. read more

Truffle Queen - Specialty Food Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is MUST visit for any truffle lover that lives anywhere remotely close to Seattle. I have never been anywhere that carries more items based from truffles - oil, cream, salts, pastas, and honey than the Truffle Cafe. If you regularly walk down the sidewalk that is across from the regular market you will probably run into one of their employees who will offer you two samples of their potato leek soup, one w/o truffle oil and one one with it, and boy, the taste difference is amazing! La Buona Tavola also has weekly wine tastings from the Small Vineyards wine distributor, who specialize in micro-wineries in Italy that are typically too small to export by themselves to the U.S. Most of the wine are top notch and not too expensive. They usually also offer one monthly wine pairing dinner with Small Vineyards where sometimes the actual owner of the vineyard from Italy will accompany the Small Vineyards rep. They also offer a selection of lunches that you can grab during the workweek like a small meatball sub and various soups. I wish there were more places in Seattle that operated with the same amount of passion as the people from La Buona Tavola do. It is simply amazing. read more

Truffles... White Truffles.... white truffle cream. If you didnt know, like I didnt know.. you can eat white truffle cream with everything. I mean EVERYTHING. I was pleasantly informed that you can eat it with bread, with aged balsamic vinegar, with chocolate.. hell, by itself. Its quite amazing really. More importantly is that if you buy the large costco size container of the stuff, you can pack it in a freeze proof zipperlock baggy thingy and freeze that bad boy for up to a year without worry of spoilage. Spoilage=BAD =( read more