While we’ve seen some of the Broadway Farmers Markets food and drink projects graduate to brick and mortar ventures, the woman behind the latest delicious offering to join the weekly market at Broadway and Pine says she’s perfectly happy — for now — just making great, tiny Dutch pancakes by the dozen.
“I love to cook but the classic restaurant model feels very restrictive,” Miri Plowman tells CHS. “I’m actually a cook that likes humans.”
Miri’s Poffertjes is slated to make its debut at the market this weekend. The market, as usual, runs 11 AM to 3 PM. A blustery November Sunday or not, there will be many, many humans there.
Plowman is ready to give them a hearty pancake meal — and a show.
“The Dutch have it down,” she says. “It’s mesmerizing. I love the pan. I’m not trying to ham it up. But it is really fun to watch. And I was drawn to that.”
Plowman and crew make the small poffertjes pancakes with a special, cast iron grill made just for the task. Plowman paid $2,000 for hers. Heating the batch and spinning the cakes with little sticks takes on a kind of rhythm with the smell of baking and a little smoke spreading the word that it’s nearly time to eat. Miri’s serves its poffertjes in orders of around 13 to 15 pancakes. You can choose accompaniments like classic butter and powdered sugar for $6, poached quince for $9, bacon and egg for $12, or wild mushrooms also for $12.
Plowman said she discovered the street food on visits to Holland with her two Dutch half sisters. She decided about a year ago to try to be part of the Capitol Hill farmers market but the opportunity to join the mix at Broadway and Pine didn’t open up until now. On her first Sunday, she expects to draw plenty of onlookers but she probably won’t bother trying to help anybody pronounce poffertjes. Plowman is looking forward to introducing her poffertjes to Capitol Hill.
“A lot of education is involved,” she said, “because nobody knows what the hell they are.”
You can learn more at mirisseattle.com.
This article has been updated to reflect a new name for the business.
Hey All, a quick rebrand over here at Miri’s! We are now Miri’s Seattle, and our website is http://www.mirisseattle.com. We are still at the Capitol Hill Farmers Market every Sunday 11am-3pm!