When friends roll into town, I'm often entertaining chefs, cookbook authors and other notable food lovin' folk. (No pressure!)  Of course they arrive with a well-researched list of restaurants on the "must try" list.  Going beyond restaurants, for the food lover, Seattle is packed with a slew of destination-worthy spots that put us on the culinary map.

So come along with me... From beer to bakeries, specialty purveyors, spices, chocolate and house-roasted single origin coffees, we'll take a look a my favorite spots around the city -- and note: many offer opportunities for cupings, tastings, and samples. 

Here's a sampling of my favorite food-centric haunts:

- Pike Place Market (of course!)
Ah, the Pike Place Market.  No trip to Seattle would be complete without  a stop at "the Market." While I'm here, I never fail to stop at the Souk for curry powder and spicy snacks, then I head over to Mee Sum Pastry for a steamy pork-filled hum bow (aka Yum Bow).  After poking around the shops, I love ducking into Maximilien's (to the left of the Flying Fish, down the short hallway) for a quiet drink and jaw dropping view of the Sound. Little known fact: Tours of the market are available and for just $10.  In the summer, don't miss the cooking classes conducted by some of the city's finest chefs.  (www.pikeplacemarket.org)

- Theo Chocolate
Take a tour of the factory and enjoy samples galore for just $6. Theo's is the first organic and fair trade chocolatier in the United States.  Keep an eye out on their websites for great classes (truffle making or the information-packed Chocolate University classes.) (www.theochocolate.com)

- Seattle Caviar
Not only do they offer an impressive selection of caviar, but you can find truffles, foie gras and a host of other delicacies.  Little known fact:  Seattle Caviar offers tastings that include 5 types of caviar and Champaign for just $20.  No reservations required...just ask.  Before you go, if you want to brush up on your caviar trivia, I've got a primer over here. (www.caviar.com)

- Jensen's Smokehouse
The Northwest and salmon go hand in hand, and Jensen's smokes up the finest wild salmon money can buy.  A neighborhood institution, I go straight for the salmon and always manage to come home with a rasher of their twice-smoked thick cut bacon and luscious black cod. Little known fact: Should you get the chance to do some fishing in the Pacific Northwest, Jensen's will smoke your catch and ship it to you.  (www.jensenssmokehouse.com)

- Zig Zag
This watering hole on the Western Avenue hill climb is on the national radar for their excellent cocktails.  If you're lucky, you'll catch Murray, a mixologist whose cocktails are the stuff of legends. (www.zigzagseattle.com)

- Farmer's Markets
Not to be missed.  Travel & Leisure magazine ranked Seattle's farmer's markets the best in the nation.  King County alone boasts 35 farmer's markets and due to our mild winters, more than a few are open year round.  (Tip: fall and winter are a great time to go...and get the scoop on newly launched vendors.) Check locations and schedules here: (www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org)

- Bottleworks
For the beer lover, Bottleworks is nothing short of mecca.  Boasting over 400 different varieties, this is definitely a stop for discovering the new and unusual in beer.  Right on 45th in Wallingford, I drove by this place for years before finally stopping.  Let's just say....I'm making up for lost time now! (www.bottleworks.com)

- Stumptown Coffee
Arguably the one of the best coffee roasters in the country.  A leader in what has been dubbed the "third wave" of coffee, Stumptown's owner, Duane Sorenson is changing the landscape of the coffee business.  From a premium selection of single origin and estate grown coffee, to beans that are roasted on site (He refuses to ship coffee, believing it compromises the quality.  So he has roasting facilities both in Portland and Seattle.)  Little known fact: Stumptown offers free coffee cuppings, held daily at 3:00.  (www.stumptowncoffee.com)

- Chocolopolis
A chocolate wonderland crowns Queen Anne.  Owner Lauren Adler sources some of the finest chocolates in the world.  Stop by for a bar or a truffle and don't miss their spicy hot coco served with house made marshmallows. Little known fact:  Thursday evenings are "happy hour" at Chocolopolis.  Sample of five of their premium (and often budget-busting) bars for just $5. (www.chocolopolis.com)

- Bakery Nouveau
Just the thought of Bakery Nouveau makes me swoon! The owner, William Lehman, was the captain of the world champion baking team in 2005 (Champion du Monde de la Boulangerie).  The event makes a regular roation on the Food Network, but when you land in Seattle, my advice is to head directly over to Bakery Nouveau.  (This may be a daily stop while you're in town!)  Tucked into the hamlet of West Seattle, here, vistas and jaw-dropping views abound.  Those in-the-know take pastries to go...and enjoy them waterside, watching the ferries slip along the sound.  Hint: When you visit Bakery Nouveau, be sure to try the twice-baked almond croissants and the silky praline dream.  Ooh la la!  (www.bakerynouveau.com)

- Chinatown aka The International District
This neighborhood is very walkable and it's lots of fun to poke around the various shops. Chinese medicine shops provide lots of curiosities....and I like to pop by the fortune cookie factory.  Chinatown is steeped in history and the newly relocated & remodeled  Wing Luke Asian Museum provides an insightful introduction.  And of course, great dining abounds. Friends gather frequently for traveling lunches.  Modeled after the tapas tradition, we stop in a restaurant, enjoy a few dishes, and then move on to another restaurant. It's a great way to sample a variety of dishes and discover more than a few new restaurants. Current favorite restaurants include: Green Leaf, Kau Kau, and Phnom Penh. (www.cibdia.org.)

- World Spice Merchants
On Western Avenue, behind Pike Place Market is a gem , hidden in plain sight.  Dodging the rain one day, I popped in an unassuming doorway and was transported to the land of spice. World Spice Merchants offers direct-trade spices and teas.  A direct-trade relationships with many of the growers means that not only are their spices cheaper that the supermarket drivel, but when it comes to spices, it doesn't get any fresher than this!  You'll notice a remarkable difference in your favorite recipes. (www.worldspice.com)

- Big John's Pacific Food Importers
A gourmet dream.  Big John's is chocked full of hard to find ingredients (saba, anyone?).  This unassuming spot is a bit difficult to locate the first time, but you will be most rewarded to land on their doorstep.  The cheese case alone is worth a stop.  Look for bulk chocolate, real puff pastry, aged red wine & balsamic vinegars, and did I mention the cheese?  (www.amasci.com/pfi)