Will Blog for Food: A Swag Hag Attends a Night at the Oscars

Photo by Robert Wade

​I had no intention of celebrating the Oscars, but when I received an invite from Hotel 1000 (1000 First Ave., 957-1000) to attend their first annual "A Night at the Oscars" party as their guest, I obliged. I mean, I had a dress, a date and absolutely no plans Sunday night. What I didn't have was something for this column. Some problems just solve themselves, but very few solutions come with drink tickets, I always say.

With red carpet waiting, my friend and I rolled in just as the Oscar telecast was starting. We bypassed the "swag bag room" and made a dash to the elevator which would take us to the fourth floor party. Awaiting us can only be described as a food and booze wonderland. Bartenders were shaking up cotton candy cocktails, pouring wine and mixing martinis. There was also lots of champagne.

Goat cheese and lavender panna cottas

​Servers were armed with large platters of chicken wings, finger sandwiches and some sort of delicious looking fried thing on a stick. There was also a DJ, a magician and a dominatrix giving out spankings. Inside one of the rooms was a buffet filled with beet salad, charcuterie, sliders, flatbread, cheese platters, spice crusted chicken, duck prosciutto salad and a ton of other stuff prepared by BOKA chef Angie Roberts. I assumed the price of admission ($65) included a limited amount of food, but to my delight, the hotel staff was constantly replenishing the spread with new items.

We took a seat at one of the tables within perfect viewing of one of several large screen televisions. Each table was decorated with beautiful rose bouquets and flickering candles. We were also seated next to yet another bar -- the third one I saw since exiting the elevator.

The entire, mostly female, crowd was decked out to the nines. I have never seen Seattle dressed so elegantly, even while dining at Canlis and The Herbfarm. I felt underdressed.

Nearly 300 people attended the event and consumed (are you ready for this?): 10 cases of oysters, three cases of caviar, 50 pounds of crab legs, more than 20 cases of champagne and 10 cases of Ciroc vodka. Stella beer and wine were also thrown back like water that night.