Travel back in time through the literature sense to The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe where Prince Edmund went to the wicked Witch to get some delicious turkish delights... (What you don't know what I am talking about? Crack open The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe book by CS Lewis and you will see).
Although we can't visit another world via magical wardrobe to get some turkish delights (it would be cool if we could), Turkish Delight at the Pike Place Market sells some that was probably as good as what Prince Edmund of Narnia tried.
Turkish Delight is located next door to Taxi Dogs.
During my recent trip to Seattle, every time I passed by this eatery, it was never open :( however, my husband suggested that we make a stop on our last day of our vacation and luckily they were open (they are open typically 11 am- 5 pm but in the summer time, they may open until 7 pm).
When I came in, there were 2 people ahead of me and only 1 employee behind the counter and 1 in the kitchen. The girl in front of me took forever deciding what to order and was incredibly picky with the chicken kebob salad she ordered because she told the employee helping her that she is on a low carb diet (Low carb diets are not healthy for you people! Sure you may lose weight, but it's not the healthy way...okay off my soap box... plus I am off the clock). But while the employee was helping her, she did acknowledge me and said she will be with me next.
When it was finally my turn to order, she apologized for the wait and asked how she could help me. Being that this place is CASH ONLY, I only had $3.47 in my coin purse (I really prefer to pay with credit card, so I never had a lot of cash on me). I told her that I would like the turkish delights that were in the display case (which are normally $8.50 per pound or $0.50- $0.65 per piece). I had told her that every time I had passed this place, it was always closed and she told me the hours that this place is open (operated by her parents). She said they had tried to open earlier in the past, but generally people don't seem to walk down this way at the Pike. She apologized for that. I also asked her how much of the turkish delights can I get with the remainder of the money in my coin purse? She said she can just weigh each piece to the amount I have.
So she started to pack a plastic container of an assorted flavor, which is what I requested. Then she weighed it and it came out to $5.25, prior to tax (about 0.6 lb). She said that she would just give it to me for the amount I had left in my coin purse. Even though I had said I could run out to the car where my husband and our little girl dog were waiting for me (parked on the curb, right outside of this place), she said it was okay. She wished me a safe flight as I had told her about my husband deciding to come here on a whim before heading to the airport.
I thanked her and then ran back to the car. My husband and I devoured my purchase. The assorted flavors that I got was lychee, almond, berry and pistachio. I loved each piece and it was fun to figure out what flavor was what when we took a bite into it. I was also pleasantly surprised to find chopped almonds in the almond and chopped pistachios in the pistachio.
But please note that because the turkish delights are packed with a heavy amount of corn starch (makes it easier for the store to cut and pick out, that prevents these jelly desserts from sticking together), it can be a little messy to eat (as both my husband and I had white powder on our pants and a little on our face).
Turkish Delight truly made my late morning before heading to the airport to go back home to California. My only regret is that I did not get to try these treats before but will make sure to come during their opening hours again the next time I am in town. read more