Angela Shen has always had a passion for food. From working in her parents’ restaurant as a kid to managing the roll out of new, high-profile food brands at her previous job in Chicago, she has always loved the food community. She discovered Pike Place Market upon relocating to Seattle and was instantly smitten. Angela knew what she wanted to do: share her passion for food with others. Thus, Savor Seattle was born.
Savor Seattle is a company that runs daily food and cultural tours through Pike Place Market. These highly interactive tours introduce patrons to the vast array of culinary offerings we are famous for here in Seattle, and to the people who produce them. Come rain or shine, tours run seven days a week at 10am and last about two hours. Savor Seattle makes use of wireless headsets so that participants can hear Angela clearly over the hustle and bustle of the market; it’s the only food tour in the country using this technology. She leads the group deftly and enthusiastically through the market, tasting everything from delicious smoked salmon and local artisan cheese, to Tom Douglas’s famous Triple Coconut Cream Pie. For those over 21, the tour ends with a tasting from a Washington wine-tasting room. After the tour, attendees receive a discount card that can be used at any of the places visited on the tour, to purchase souvenirs and treats to bring home.
Eat. Drink. Be Inspired. The Savor Seattle motto perfectly describes the experience provided on each tour. Angela is inspired by food, and wants her customers to be inspired as well. She achieves this by establishing connections between what we eat, where it comes from, and who made it. It’s easy to pick up an apple at a grocery store, but it’s more special (and usually more delicious) when you buy it from the person who took pride in growing and tending to it. This kind of connection stimulates a love of food, a love that Angela has joyfully developed into a flourishing business.
With the rise of culinary tourism in general, the future is bright for Savor Seattle. Launching in early July, the tours have proven to be very popular for both individuals and groups. Eventually, Angela hopes to expand to other neighborhoods. Pioneer Square and the International District are coming soon, as is a tour of Belltown and downtown. Angela also has plans to run themed tours, such as a tour of Italian food in Seattle, which she thinks is long overdue in a city with such culinary diversity.
For more information about the Savor Seattle Food Tours, visit the website at: www.savorseattletours.com.
