Guests Share Their Trader Vic's Pastimes from All Over in 'Memories'
Celebration
BELLEVUE, Wash., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Trader Vic's Bellevue has a
promising future, but this dining legend is undeniably treasured by
generations past. When it opened last spring, Trader Vic's Bellevue spent
months fielding calls from Web site visitors and callers anxious to share
their memories, and the restaurant was delighted to collect them. These
fun, true anecdotes became reason for celebration at a private party last
night, in which a Memories party brought together the tale tellers,
displayed photos and memorabilia of the Trader's past.
More than 75 guests attended from over 200 miles. Prizes went to top
rated memories, judged by Trader Vic's Bellevue staff.
Nan Slaughter of Sammamish took First Place, a dinner for two at Trader
Vic's (valued at $200) and a night at the Bellevue Westin valued at $199.
On May 19, 1980, Slaughter and her husband, Bernie, had dinner at Trader
Vic's in St. Louis. At nine months pregnant, labor arrived before the
dinner order. She was rushed to the hospital, and Trader Vic's rushed the
entrees along into doggie bags. Slaughter recalls her husband went straight
into the waiting room where he enjoyed every last morsel of his dinner. He
managed to tear himself away from his food to witness the birth of
daughter, Lyndsey.
Leslie Giblett of Seattle took second, winning a lei greeting and $100
dining gift certificate to Trader Vic's and a gift pack filled with Trader
Vic's products. Giblett recounted her Mother's tale of taking care of
Giblett's Father, who was hospitalized for many months. Frequent visits to
the hospital also made for visits to the Seattle Trader Vic's nearby. They
created a tradition of returning to Trader Vic's after each hospital visit
and set a goal to taste every single drink on the cocktail menu. Over
several months, they did it. When Giblett's Dad's health improved they were
able to take him to Trader Vic's for his first post hospital meal.
Pat Hall of Kirkland took third, winning a lei greeting, $100 gift card
and gift basket. One night, Hall and his wife were out with three other
couples. For sport, they'd people watch and make up stories about
themselves. This night they decided that they would all be Mafia members.
As the Scorpions flowed, the conversation got louder. They started talking
about putting a hit on someone and Hall said, "That's it do it!" The waiter
came to quiet the table down for fear of upsetting the customers and Hall
assured him it was all in jest. Everyone looked relieved and laughed.
Jer Reeves of Seattle won fourth place. Reeves recalled the Pake dinner
for two only costing $11 in Seattle in 1966, and the drinks being a
"gleeful romp" through rum and juices. One holiday shopping night at a
Vancouver Trader Vic's with friends and his wife, he recalled his group
visiting while wearing fake vampire teeth, trying repeatedly to get a
reaction out of the server. When the server returned to the table with
pupus, he placed the food, turned full view and tipped his head forward.
Two eyeballs sprung out of his glasses and bounced about on slinky springs.
The bar erupted with laughter.
Fifth place goes to Kelley McKeig of Troutdale, Ore. In the 1980s,
Trader Vic's in Portland, Ore. was the scene of McKeig's first date. Maybe
it was the setting of Trader Vic's that he was in love with but she ended
up getting a second date with him. Since then it became a place of
celebration. The funniest thing they saw one night was a group of men
putting together a bridge of huge straws to see if they could suck the
drink from the rum bowl standing at the other end of the bar. They
succeeded and the whole bar went nuts.
All 100 entrants were given a $25 Trader Vic's gift card for sharing
their memory.
The island infused menu, exotic cocktails and escapist brand of fun are
found at Trader Vic's in Lincoln Square, adjacent to the Bellevue Westin
Hotel, 700 Bellevue Way, Suite #50, Bellevue. Valet parking available.
Hours are Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. and Friday to Saturday,
11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Phone (425) 455-4483 for reservations or visit
http://www.tradervicsbellevue.com.
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