Vaudeville or Bust!

For the past two days I've been participating in our partner summit here in Seattle. It's a conference in which we invited our product partners to come and learn about our next version and all its fantastic features. We include extra activities as well, and held the conference on the water front at the Bell Harbor. It sits right on Puget Sound and we were fortunate enough to have TWO 80 degree and higher days in Seattle. Which is perfect considering our "swag" were really nice wind breakers...of course. Had we not ordered them and ordered, oh I don't know, sun block, it would have rained.

Two days of "participating". My participation was more on the lines of helping my office mate run the conference. She's the event planner and is a DAMN good one. She had things covered for this conference I didn't even know existed. I, being the social-talkative type, helped her at the main information/registration desk. It included getting people in the door, handing out FANTASTIC swag (gifts for non Microsoftee types), and chatting up all the men. Our partners are about 90% men. You'd think I'd be content with that...but ... these are techy guys... nough said.

I did actually get some work in too in that I got several opportunities to discuss Customer Experience with our partners (see, being that I'm the "Customer Experience Manager" I thought it might do me and the company some good).

Anyhow, last night we all descended into a bowl of bliss. Monica, office mate/event planner extraordinaire, arranged for all 150 of us to attend Teatro ZinZanni. From their web page, "Teatro ZinZanni is a big night out unlike any other, a three-hour whirlwind of international cirque, comedy and cabaret artists all served up with a five course feast designed by celebrated Northwest chef Tom Douglas."

And feast it was. The show was amusing and entertaining, the food was excellent. Its an expensive evening out to be sure, which is why I'm glad it was on the dime of this small software company in Redmond (aka Microsoft).

We got our faces painted and drank the most fantastic cosmos around. Just to make your mouth water, I thought I'd provide you with the menu of last night.

First Course

Tibetan Vegetable Samosas

with Homemade Cucumber Pickles and Tomato Ginger Chutney

Second Course

Creamy Carrot Soup

With Honey Cardamom Yogurt and Cracked Back Pepper

Third Course

Poached Prawns

Nestled on a bed of Arugula and Asparagus

Drizzled with a Delicate Coconut Vinaigrette and

Sprinkled with Curry-Dusted Cashews

Main Course

Tandoori Chickenon a Bed of Rice Pilaf, drizzled with Coriander

Yogurt and Surrounded by Snap Peas, Yellow Squash and Fennel
~or~
Fresh Halibut

Served with a Fragrant Red Curry Sauce on a

Bed of Rice Pilaf with Snap Peas, Yellow Squash and Fennel

( this is what I had - Oh. My. God was it good. I expected this WildOily flavor, and yet it was glorious and YUMMY! Which is the technical term for Good God Man that's damn good fish!)

Dessert

Chocolate Bananas Foster

Rich Chocolate Almond Cake topped with Sweet Banana

Rum Créme Brulee and Surrounded by Milk Chocolate Mousse

BURP!