Apr 2010

The Crumpet Shop – Seattle

THE CRUMPET SHOP

If there was one British practice that we should have retained before ousting them from our shores centuries ago, it surely is afternoon tea. I can’t think of a better way to spend the hazy hours between lunch and dinner than indulging in warm tea with clotted cream-slathered scones. As much as I adore the practice, I’ve only been to tea exactly two times in my life. On both occasions I was in a fancy hotel in Saigon [See: Caravelle and Park Hyatt] and on both occasions I missed out on crumpets. Sure, there were dainty finger sandwiches and adorable petit fours, but sadly, not a single crumpet graced my three-tiered towers.

THE CRUMPET SHOP

I finally had the pleasure of tasting a coveted crumpet while in Seattle. Opened in 1976 by Gary Lasater and Nancy McFaul, The Crumpet Shop has become a city institution. While crumpets aren’t traditionally eaten for breakfast, The Astronomer, Rosalind, and I thought they’d be perfectly pleasant in the morning. We snagged a table near the kitchen, granting us the opportunity to spy on the unknowing chap performing his crumpet making duties.

THE CRUMPET SHOP

Crumpets are the result of a simple yeast batter meeting a hot griddle and circular molds. The spilled-over batter is scraped off to create a neat disc. The surface is spongy and porous, which allows butter and jam to seep into every little hole. The texture is similar to an English muffin, but a bit doughier and more substantial.

On our first visit to The Crumpet Shop, we shared two crumpets with butter and fresh preserves ($1.95). Each one was toasted to order and buttered up nicely. The marmalade was full of zesty bits and bitter enough to remind us that we were eating a whole orange with a bit of sugar rather than the opposite.

THE CRUMPET SHOP

The gooseberry jam offered two firsts in one bite—my first crumpet and my first gooseberry! Taste-wise, the jam was better balanced than the marmalade.

THE CRUMPET SHOP

The Astronomer and I returned to The Crumpet Shop a few days later for an afternoon snack. This time around, we sampled a savory one. The warm crumpet came topped with a thick spread of ricotta cheese, house-made pesto, and shredded ham ($4). The highlight was the subtle and creamy ricotta. I don’t think I’ve ever been so taken by ricotta cheese.

I loved my crumpet experience so much that I purchased crumpet molds from Amazon as soon as I arrived home. I cannot wait to have afternoon tea in my apartment with fresh crumpets and jam served on the brand-new China from the wedding registry. Good times ahead.

The Crumpet Shop
1503 1st Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-682-1598

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13 thoughts on “The Crumpet Shop – Seattle

  1. My wife introduced me to crumpets. But I don’t eat them with tea I kind of like them as breakfast item. All your Seattle posts makes me want take the family there for an eating vacation!

  2. Zomg. The closest I’ve gotten to a crumpet were the ones packaged in plastic at Trader Joe’sβ€”these on the other hand are beautiful!

    It was a delight meeting you at LudoBites as I refer to your blog religiously πŸ˜€ In fact, I’m saving up for a trip to NY so I can partake in Blue Hill…

  3. What ho from England! We definitely do eat crumpets for breakfast – in fact I wouldn’t eat them anywhere other than breakfast. Not sure about the jam though… for me they are 100% savoury and bets with real butter or a bit of cheese on. Mmmmmm πŸ™‚

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