Bite of Seattle

What is interesting about the festival

Of the dozens of festivals and events held in downtown Seattle each year, Bite of Seattle is one of the top ones. Here you will find dishes and drinks from dozens of local restaurants and producers. You'll enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations, and entertainment for the whole family. This is a gift for a gourmet, which we will briefly discuss below.

Bite of Seattle is Seattle's largest food and beverage expo, featuring nearly 200 vendors, craft beer and cider tasting, live entertainment, and chef-watching live demonstrations.

It all started when Alan Silverman created and hosted the first Bite of Seattle in July 1982 in Green Lake Park. The result exceeded all expectations, but was not profitable at first, causing the festival to move to the busier Seattle Center.

Now almost 400 thousand people come to the festival in three days, 60 restaurants are represented here and various entertainment programs are held. Bite of Seattle continues to exist successfully to this day.

Read the article below and find out more about the event.

With our guide, you'll combine your visit to the event with the opportunity to explore some of Seattle's top attractions, such as the Space Needle and the Seattle Center itself.

Entrance to the festival is free, but you have to pay for food and drinks. The good news is that they are available at a lower price, without the markup of stores.

You will enjoy delicious treats of all kinds: appetizers, desserts, fruit drinks, beer and wine. You will be able to taste various products of different nations: from Thai, German and Greek to Filipino, French and Russian cuisine.

Many of the kiosks offer small portions so that you don't overeat and have the pleasure of trying all the dishes you want. Adults can enjoy alcoholic cocktails and drinks in one of the designated areas.

Story

In 1982, a handful of restaurant owners in Seattle felt the full force of the Reagan era's economic decline. There were few customers, it was necessary to somehow push people to dine out.

Alan Silverman, the owner of Barnaby's, attended a giant public festival called Taste of Chicago, and two years earlier, the 72nd Street Fair in Manhattan. They offered different options for snacks, but what he did not like was the location on the street. A park for such a purpose would be more appropriate.

Silverman spent a long time persuading officials to hold an outdoor culinary event. He ended up convincing the mayor that a healthy restaurant industry makes the city more resilient.

And so Bite of Seattle was born. About 50 food stalls are located on a small patch of land near the Evans pool on Green Lake.

A portion of ribs could be purchased for $1.25, a piece of alder-smoked salmon for $2.95, and half a lobster for $3.50. In the first year, 75 thousand people came, although they expected three times less. But Silverman still incurred losses in the region of $18,000 on furniture, electricity, water, and garbage collection, but that didn't bother him.

Four years later, the city instructed Bite to move to Seattle Center, which resulted in an increase in new visitors. What else attracted the guests was the sale of beer, which was not available before. It helped that the festival was renamed "The Brewer's Bite" in 1987. Collecting 10% of the proceeds from wine sales and 20% from other liquor sales, the Seattle Center immediately made $89,000.

The festival continues to live successfully and bring profit to the creators. It attracts over 375,000 people over three days. It hosts over 60 restaurants, as well as live entertainment, cooking shows featuring local chefs and a movie night.

Tips

Take a break from your meal while enjoying live music and entertainment at one of Seattle Center's six stages. Rock and roll, swing, jazz and reggae are just some of the music genres that will be on offer from noon until closing every day.

Check out other activities such as contests, stand-up nights, a family entertainment area, and try free food samples.

Keep an eye out for free giveaways of aids to improve digestion. You may need some by the end of the day!

Have both your card and cash ready. Each provider is unique in that some accept different payment methods. In which case, ATMs will always be waiting for you nearby. Our guide will clarify which payment method the seller accepts before buying dishes.