I could not scrounge up nearly as many photos as I thought I would have taken for Seawolf. Located in the Fremont neighborhood, It is truly my single favorite bakery in all of Seattle. I’m sure I’m completely biased, but I come back here over and over again. I love how simple their menu is and the fact that you can watch the bakers work in the open kitchen. They might be rolling out croissants or shaping bread. It’s just fascinating to watch. Every time I walk into the doors of Seawolf, I’m nearly certain I’m going to buy myself a sweet croissant. My absolute favorites are the springtime Lemon Curd Croissant and autumnal S’more Pumpkin Croissant. At some point, I’ve had issues with some of their filling being too heavy, making the base croissant a little dense and undercooked. But I think that’s since been resolved!
Seawolf is actually more known for their breads. Many Seattle restaurants buy bulk from the bakery and serve it as an appetizer. I prefer going to the source myself! All their breads feel pricey, but for its high quality, I’m not sure I could put a price tag on it. Definitely should be worth more than your local grocery store. Nothing amounts to fresh bread baked well. I particularly like their Ciabatta, probably because you can buy them in small rolls, which makes you feel like you’re spending less than a whole loaf! Spread a little butter on the well-hydrated bread and it’s perfect!
On occasion, I’ll splurge on a Foccacia that’s been embedded with olives. I’m not a huge olive fan myself, but these olives are what make the focaccia extra special. Seawolf also makes excellent sandwich bread, whether rye or a normal loaf.
If you’re brave, or willing to share, try their Cinnamon Roll! It’s one of the most decadent rolls I’ve had and they are massive! Probably 2-2.5 times the size of a normal roll. I think it must be made with a brioche dough cause it’s really light too! You can get a delicious cream cheese frosting on the side, but it’s not necessary, in my opinion. My latest obsession are their Bran Muffins. It feels extra healthy while giving a little needed carb and sugar punch. And don’t forget about the Currant Scone! I think I make great scones, if I dare say so myself. But these scones, I’m not sure if it’s the lemon flavor or the currants or the scones themselves, but they’re magic in the palm of your hand.
If you’re feeling really cheap, get a Lye Roll! They’re kind of like pretzel rolls, but taste so much better! They’re a perfect post climbing snack too. Seattle Bouldering Project Fremont is basically kitty corner from Seawolf, which makes it a danger visit when climbing there.
Pro tip: Seawolf is one of the bakeries that offers free sourdough starters! Most bakers will give you a few grams for free, just ask your local shop. Seawolf has a pdf file as a starting guide to maintaining the levain.
