On Dining: Pike Place Market tours are on the Savor Seattle menu

Yes, it's that time of year again, when tourists arrive to love us to death, to savor our special flava.

Just last week, I had several requests for guidebook-type advice like this one from a New Yorker: "I'm visiting Seattle and environs in July and am looking for food tips. We are big on exploring local haunts and favorites, from dives to haute."

I'm a huge fan of the growing gastro-tourism movement, the trend toward visitors getting to know a city through its kitchens, cafes, coffeehouses and exotic grocery stores. One of my favorite trips to San Francisco included a walking tour of Chinatown during which author Shirley Fong-Torres guided a small group into back alleys to check out a fortune cookie factory, a Chinese herb shop and a private tea ceremony. I had wandered through that part of San Francisco many times, but never before had that insider's perspective.

The offerings are a little slim for similar culinary expeditions in Seattle, though all roads seem to lead to the city's most delicious icon.

A new tour company called Savor Seattle will begin leading groups through the Pike Place Market on July 1, stopping to sniff and sip at a spice and tea store, get the skinny on seafood, produce, artisan cheese, honey and wine -- a two-hour movable feast that goes for $39 and will run from 10 a.m. until noon daily.

Angela Shen said she launched Savor as a way to share her love of food. "I grew up in the restaurant business. I worked for Quaker Oats in my Chicago corporate days. I've always had a passion for food."

Pike Place Market seemed like the best place to start, especially as the Seattle treasure celebrates its 100th anniversary, but Shen said she eventually hopes to expand to the International District and Pioneer Square, and neighborhoods such as Ballard and Fremont.

For details on the Market tour, log on to savorseattletours.com. Tickets can be purchased online through brownpapertickets.com or by calling 800-838-3006.

Several chefs will be doing edible explorations of the Market this summer. Chef Lisa Nakamura of Qube will lead a tasting tour July 1 and again in August. Chef Franz Junga from Il Fornaio will head a tour July 28. Ticket information at pikeplacemarket.org.

If you're more of a DIY type, there are free chef demos at noon on Sundays throughout the summer, on Pike Place between Stewart and Virginia. (The streets are closed to traffic.)

I stopped by Sunday to watch cooks from Pan Africa Market saute some Chicken Yassa. Coming up: Josh Green from Ponti Seafood Grill this Sunday; Jason Wilson from Crush July 1; Dick Schouweiler from Buca di Beppo July 8; John Neumark from Serafina July 15; Bruce Naftaly of Le Gourmand July 22; and Steve Smrstik from The Pink Door July 29.

As for must-visit restaurants, there are all sorts of restaurants reviews on seattlepi.com, and plenty of tips from savvy eaters on the comments on my blog, Whining and Dining, on the newspaper's Web site. Check it out, and feel free to add your own dish.

Exploring another river

Copper River sockeye and kings caused quite the sensation this season, arriving with great fanfare and prices that were nothing short of shocking (around $30 a pound), with restaurants charging up to $70 for an entree. At first, anyway, though they've come down quite a bit since the initial run.

Now, salmon from near the mouth of the 2,200-mile-long Yukon River have started to arrive, and some say these fish are even better than the fish caught near the legendary Copper River. Anthony's long has touted the salmon from the Yukon River, but more restaurants are getting on board this season.

Among those featuring Yukon kings starting this week -- depending on the run, of course -- are Elliott's Oyster House, Canlis, Waterfront and Campagne.

More Mad Pizza

I'm just crazy about Mad Pizza, which just opened a new location on South Lake Union (1263 Thomas St.).

This venue has lots of big booths, a booming sound system and an impressive lineup of pies divided into two camps: Meat Freaks and Veggie Madness. (You also can make your own combo, picking from traditional or going with offbeat toppings such as pico de gallo, jerk chicken and apple slices.)

There are five bases, including a black bean, garlic ricotta, marinara, garlic olive oil and pesto. Along with whole-milk mozzarella, there's fontina, goat cheese, feta and Gorgonzola.

The crust is the thing, though. It's soft -- almost breadlike -- and tastes rich. (Is it the olive oil?) It's made from scratch, just like the marinara.

Mad Pizza -- which also has locations in Fremont, Madison Park, First Hill and Lake City -- offers free delivery.

Hot off the Presse

Le Pichet's dynamic duo, Joanne Herron and Jim Drohman, are opening the much-anticipated Cafe Presse on Wednesday night. The casual venue's bistro-esque menu might sound comfortingly familiar to fans of their place on First Avenue: roast chicken, steak frites, terrines and spreads, sandwiches and salads. Caffé Vita Coffee and house-made pastries will be offered, along with affordable wines from the French countryside and a full bar.

Cafe Presse, at 1117 12th Ave. on Capitol Hill, will keep long hours: 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.