Frantic Foodie: Confessions of a Wannabe Chef


Interview with Alan from Sosio’s. Important Vegetable Information!


The Pike’s Place Market is a candy store for foodies. What could be more appetizing than sweet
jujubesque berries, enormous marshmallow-like mushrooms and tomatoes that taste sweeter than the most enormous jaw breakers?

Sosio’s Fruit and Produce is the stand in the market where you can actually touch all the produce.
Alan is always giving out some fruit to try. I woke up really early to interview Alan and find out all the crucial information about what’s in season and which gems could be found in the market.

How long have you been working in the market business?

32 years

Which vegetables are in season now?

Wahington Asparagus(local), Walla Walla Sweet onions , salad onions and garlic spears.
Salad onions a.k.a spring onions have green shoots and a white bulb. They can be used from top to bottom. You can split them and grill them lengthwise.

Which vegetables do you think are underappreciated?

Brussel Sprouts, morel mushrooms, wild ramps* and fiddlehead ferns.

Wild ramps are leeks from the south that you can saute, tops and bottoms.

Which vegetables do you wish people would know about?

Sea beans; a local edible seaweed found along the coast. Try blanching them, drying them and then
sprinkling them over a seafood dish.

What is your favorite vegetable dinner?

Grilled thick asparagus. I love the thickness on the grill. It holds up better and is juicier. I drizzle them with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

What’s the best way to care for tomatoes?
No fridge. No cold.

What’s the best way to care for mushrooms?
Refrigerated, no plastic. If covered in plastic, make holes to let them breath.

Do you wash mushrooms?
No but it depends on the mushrooms. Morels need to be soaked in lightly salted water to get the
critters out.

What’s your favorite vegetable to snack on?

English peas, green beas and sugar snaps.

What is the one thing that annoys you that people do when looking for vegetables and fruits?

People who don’t encourage their kids to eat fruit. The other day a lady was here with her kids.
The kids kept bugging the mom to buy them berries. The mom told the kids to get fruit logs, a fruit candy instead. Parents should be encouraging their kids to eat fresh fruit.

Note: The people who work here actually enjoy when people ask questions so feel free to ask for his expertise next time
you are in the market.

Fruit and Produce
1527 Pike Place
(206) 622 1370


Fiddlehead Ferns


Morel Mushrooms

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Keren Brown