Best Washingtonian Foods
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Dungeness crab cake is a specialty from Washington that features the succulent meat of the Dungeness crab, a crustacean inhabiting the waters of the Pacific Ocean on the West Coast of North America. This dish is typically made by combining Dungeness crabmeat with mayonnaise, red bell peppers, celery, onions, herbs, panko breadcrumbs, seasonings, and eggs, and then shaping the resulting mixture into round cakes.
The crab cakes are rolled in additional panko breadcrumbs and fried or baked until crispy. The meat of the Dungeness crab is renowned for its sweet flavor and its delicate texture. The dish is typically served as an appetizer, a snack, or a main meal for lunch or dinner.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Crab Cake
Seattle dog is a variety of a hot dog consisting of a toasted bun and a sausage that is topped with cream cheese, barbecue sauce, cabbage, and a large amount of grilled onions. There are numerous varieties of the hot dog throughout Seattle, and almost anything goes with the toppings, so some cooks add pico de gallo, bacon, pickles, or mustard to the already large hot dog.
It is believed that Seattle-style hot dog was created in 1988 by Hadley Longe, a bagel man who originally placed a sausage on a bagel with cream cheese and sold it to the locals on their night out near Pioneer Square.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Hot Dog
A Dutch baby pancake is a large, fluffy pancake baked in the oven, usually in a cast-iron skillet. It's made from a simple batter of eggs, flour, milk, and sugar. When baked, it puffs up dramatically around the edges, creating a light, airy texture with crispy edges and a custard-like center.
It is typically served with powdered sugar, fresh fruit, syrup, or lemon juice. However, Dutch baby pancake can also made as a savory dish. The Dutch baby pancake has American origins and was popularized in the early 1900s by a restaurant called Manca's Café in Seattle.
Cougar Gold is an American cheese hailing from the Washington State University Creamery in Pullman. Sold exclusively in 30-ounce cans since 1948, this semi-soft cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk. When out of the can, visually, it's a white cheddar with rounded edges and without a rind.
The texture is smooth and firm, but it becomes crumbly and crystalline with age. The flavors are creamy, nutty, and sharp, with a milky smooth and mellow finish. The cheese is stored for at least one year before it can be sold. Cougar Gold was originally produced with a bacteria called WSU19, which limits carbon dioxide production so that the cheese can be safely stored into a can.
Originating from Seattle, Beecher's Flagship is a semi-hard cheese made with cow's milk. It is left to age for a minimum of 15 months until it develops a creamy and crumbly texture and a robust nutty flavor. Apart from this signature cheese, there is also a special version called Flagship Reserve, which is made with the last milk curds.
Due to the preparation process, it is richer in flavor and texture, and the cheese wheels are wrapped in cheesecloth before being left to age for at least a year. Interestingly, there is also a subvariety of Flagship Reserve, called Yule Käse, which is left to age for 13 months in blackberry honey and red wine, giving it a nutty, caramel-like flavor with notes of berries and honey.
Pair with
Off Kilter is an American cheese hailing from Port Townsend, Washington, where it's produced by Mt. Townsend Creamery. This tomme-style cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk. Underneath its rind that's been washed in Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale, the texture is supple, semi-soft, and open, dotted with small eyes throughout the paste.
The aromas are milky, barnyardy, and earthy, while the flavors are pungent, meaty, nutty, earthy, and sweet, with a slight tang on the finish. For the best experience, pair it with the beer it's washed in. THIS CHEESE IS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION BECAUSE THE CREAMERY IS SHUT DOWN.
Island Brebis is an American tomme-style cheese hailing from Whidbey Island, where it's produced by Glendale Shepherd. The cheese is made from raw sheep's milk and it's aged from 3 to 6 months before consumption. Underneath its washed rind, the texture is semi-hard, firm, grainy, smooth, creamy, and dense.
The aromas are herbaceous, while the flavors are sweet, complex, and nutty. It's recommended to pair Island Brebis with a glass of hard cider or Indian Pale Ale.
Pair with
Sonnet is an American cheese hailing from Tieton, Washington, where it's produced by Tieton Farm & Creamery. The cheese is made from a mixture of pasteurized goat's and sheep's milk. It's usually left to age from 1 to 2 weeks before consumption.
Underneath its bloomy rind, the texture is smooth, soft, and spreadable. The aromas are rich, while the flavors are smooth, lemony, tangy, buttery, and complex. It's recommended to serve Sonnet cheese with fresh crusty bread on the side.
Pair with
Rheba is an American cheese hailing from Tieton, Washington, where it's produced by Tieton Farm & Creamery. The cheese is made from a mixture of pasteurized goat's and sheep's milk and it's aged in caves. Underneath its washed rind, the texture is semi-soft and supple.
The aromas are intense due to the cave-aging, while the flavors are rich, grassy, creamy, tangy, and full. It's recommended to pair this Reblochon-style cheese with a glass of cider.
Phoebe is an American feta-style cheese hailing from Tieton, Washington, where it's produced by Tieton Farm & Creamery. The cheese is made from a combination of raw goat's and sheep's milk. Phoebe has a soft texture and it's sold while still in brine.
The aromas are fresh, while the flavors are salty and milky. It's recommended to use it just like feta cheese – as it is or in different salads and appetizers. The name of the cheese is a reference to a Greek Titan named Phoebe, the goddess of prophecy and oracular intellect.
Best Washingtonian Food Producers
Beecher's Handmade Cheese, established in 2003, is renowned for its artisanal cheesemaking in the heart of Seattle's Pike Place Market. The company was founded by Kurt Beecher Dammeier and quickly became known for its commitment to quality and natural ingredients, producing cheese free from artificial preservatives and flavor enhancers.
Beecher's is particularly famous for its Flagship cheese, a semi-hard cow's milk cheese noted for its robust, nutty flavor that is carefully aged for 15 months to develop its complex character. Beecher's operates transparently with a glass-walled facility that allows visitors to watch the cheesemaking process, emphasizing educational outreach and community engagement.
AWARDS

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2024, 2022

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2021

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
BEST Beecher's Handmade Cheese Cheeses
Bainbridge Organic Distillers is Washington State's first distillery fully dedicated to organic production, using locally sourced ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. Located on Bainbridge Island, the distillery is known for its craft approach to making whiskey, vodka, and gin, managing every step of production—from grain to bottle—in-house.
Their products frequently win awards for quality and authenticity, as they emphasize environmental sustainability and natural ingredients.
AWARDS

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2020

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
BEST Bainbridge Organic Distillers Spirits
Theo Chocolate, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, was established in 2006 and is notable for being the first organic, fair trade certified chocolate maker in North America. The company sources its cocoa beans directly from farmers in Congo and Peru, emphasizing sustainable and ethical practices in its production processes.
Theo Chocolate offers a variety of chocolate products, including bars, snacks, and confections, which are crafted at their factory in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, where they also offer factory tours to the public.
AWARDS

International Chocolate Awards - Gold
2016

Academy of Chocolate - Gold
2013, 2011, 2008

International Chocolate Awards - Silver
2014, 2012
BEST Theo Chocolate Confectioneries
Westland Distillery is a renowned craft distillery based in Seattle, Washington, USA, specializing in American single malt whiskey. Established in 2010, it has earned a global reputation for its innovative approach to whiskey-making while honoring traditional methods.
The distillery emphasizes the use of locally sourced ingredients, including barley grown in the Pacific Northwest, and features distinct regional flavors that set its products apart. Westland's portfolio includes a variety of expressions, such as their flagship American Single Malt, as well as limited-edition and experimental releases.
AWARDS

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023

The Americian Whiskey Masters - Gold
2022

USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Chairman's Trophy
2021, 2020
BEST Westland Distillery Spirits
Ekone Premium Tinned Seafood is a brand specializing in high-quality canned seafood, owned and operated by the Taylor family, known for Taylor Shellfish Farms. This family farm focuses on shellfish cultivation with an emphasis on sustainability and environmental preservation.
Their product range includes renowned smoked oysters, famous for their freshness and perfect taste. These oysters are harvested at their peak and then smoked in traditional methods, resulting in a rich and complex flavor. In addition to oysters, Ekone offers other products such as smoked mussels, tuna, salmon, and octopus, all carefully packed in environmentally friendly cans.
BEST Ekone Seafood Seafood
Woodinville Whiskey Co., founded in 2010 by lifelong friends Orlin Sorensen and Brett Carlile, is a craft distillery located in Woodinville, Washington. Their mission is to produce exceptional American whiskey by combining traditional methods with the unique terroir of the Pacific Northwest.
The distillery sources all its grains—corn, rye, and malted barley—from the Omlin Family Farm in Quincy, Washington, ensuring high-quality, locally grown ingredients. These grains are mashed and distilled at their Woodinville facility, then transported across the Cascade Mountains for aging in their barrel houses.
AWARDS

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024
BEST Woodinville Whiskey Spirits
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2024
BEST Churchill's Wines
Little Island Creamery is an artisan cheese producer based in Washington state. The creamery is known for using traditional methods and locally sourced milk to craft its cheeses. The focus is on maintaining high-quality products with an emphasis on sustainability and supporting local agriculture.
The creamery offers a variety of cheeses, each made in small batches to ensure attention to detail.
AWARDS

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2022
BEST Little Island Creamery Cheeses
Mystery Bay Farm is a small-scale goat dairy and farmstead located in Nordland, Washington. It operates on five acres on Marrowstone Island and specializes in producing farmstead cheeses and yogurt using only the milk from their line of Nubian goats.
All products are certified organic, emphasizing sustainability and locally sourced ingredients.
AWARDS

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2010
BEST Mystery Bay Farm Cheeses
Best Washingtonian Food Products
Flagsheep is a premium cheese product made by Beecher's Handmade Cheese, an artisan cheesemaker. This cheese is known for its distinctive combination of cow and sheep's milk, which imparts a unique flavor profile. Flagsheep has a semi-hard texture and offers a rich, nutty taste with a hint of sweetness, making it a versatile addition to various dishes or a standout component on a cheese board.
The aging process of Flagsheep allows its flavors to develop complexity over time, enhancing its aromatic and tasting notes.
AWARDS

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2023, 2022, 2012
Beecher's Handmade Cheese produces a product called Four Year Flagship. This cheese is known for its rich, robust flavor, which develops over a four-year aging process. The extended aging gives the cheese a dense and crumbly texture, with complex notes of caramel and a lingering finish.
Four Year Flagship is often enjoyed on its own, as part of a cheeseboard, or incorporated into recipes to add depth and character.
AWARDS

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2024, 2015, 2010, 2009
AWARDS

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
AWARDS

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
AWARDS

International Chocolate Awards - Gold
2016
The 70% Uganda With Nibs made by Spinnaker Chocolate is a dark chocolate bar crafted from high-quality Ugandan cocoa beans. This product distinguishes itself by its inclusion of cocoa nibs, which add a delightful crunch and enhance the intense chocolate flavor.
The bar features a rich, deep taste profile with notes often described as fruity, nutty, and slightly earthy, indicative of the unique terroir of Ugandan cocoa. The company emphasizes ethical sourcing and small-batch production to ensure premium quality and flavor consistency.
AWARDS

Academy of Chocolate - Gold
2022
The product Eggnog & Rum Truffle is crafted by Forte Chocolates. This decadent truffle features a harmonious blend of rich eggnog and a hint of rum, enveloped in premium chocolate. It is designed to evoke the warm, festive flavors associated with holiday celebrations.
The truffle aims to provide a delightful balance of creamy texture and robust taste, making it a luxurious treat.
AWARDS

International Chocolate Awards - Gold
2020
AWARDS

Academy of Chocolate - Gold
2019
Released in 2019, Edition 4 features a blend of whiskeys aged in Garry oak casks, alongside traditional American oak and other select casks, creating a complex and layered flavor profile. It delivers rich notes of dark fruit, roasted coffee, spices, and wood, balanced by a smoky, earthy undertone unique to Garry oak.
Limited in production, Garryana 2019 Edition 4 embodies Westland's commitment to innovation and craftsmanship, making it a prized addition for whiskey enthusiasts and collectors alike.
AWARDS

USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Chairman's Trophy
2020

USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Top 100
2020
Pumpkin Spice Truffle made by Forte Chocolates is a seasonal confection that captures the essence of autumn flavors. It's crafted with a rich blend of aromatic spices typically associated with pumpkin pie, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, enfolded in premium quality chocolate.
The truffle offers a creamy and luxurious texture, making it a decadent treat for the fall season.
AWARDS

International Chocolate Awards - Gold
2018
















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