Ruby Red Elite Event @ Ray’s Boathouse

Omg… soooo fun. Okay, so let’s just start with the awesome service. Everyone was amazing. We were greeted with sparkling rose (yum!) and got to take some fun pictures in the photo booth. There were appetizers being passed around: crab cakes, beef bites, etc… and there was an oyster bar! I’m not a big raw oyster eater so I grabbed the smallest one but it was sooo good! :)
To top it off, the red velvet cake was delish~ Very moist. Will definitely swing by again, especially after receiving the coupon they passed out.
Good job Katy!

What a GORGEOUS DAY to have a Unilocal EE. Thank you Katy for hosting yet another wonderful event! Thank you to Ray’s for feeding us some of the best seafood in Seattle and thank you Taylor Shellfish for bestowing your delicious oysters for this event. As much as Kumamoto oysters are my favorite shellfish next to clams, the best hors d’oeuvres were the smoked salmon and crab cake due to the excellence in their flavor and texture. Firm enough to hold, but smooth and soft enough as you bite into.
The red velvet cake was unbelievably good; albeit I was a little sad the decoration atop the cake was not edible, but the moist cake and solid icing made for a great dessert and paired so well with the rose champagne AND the white rum cocktail. MADE my afternoon for sure. I can’t wait to come back for more!

I haven’t been to many Unilocal Elite events but this one had the best food by far. Taylor Shellfish’s crew came all the way up from their mothership of Shelton, big thanks for taking the time to come here and serve us their wonderful oysters. I was surprised that they served generous amounts of kumamotos and shigokus as those are the most expensive of the bunch sold in their stores. I felt with all the food and drinks provided, no corners were cut and Ray’s truly served their best without compromise (King salmon instead of cheaper cuts, steak skewers, crab cakes (with real big chunks of crab meat within)). What I enjoyed most was actually the red velvet cake, I hope no one saw my 5 empty plates…
The Ray’s Maine Lobster Paella with Uli’s chorizo is calling my name…

About 1 – 2 times a year, there’s a fancier Unilocal Elite event. This one was kind of like last year’s Palisade event and again, it was fabulous.
It was an amazing day to be overlooking the water. Taylor Shellfish Farm’s oysters were awesome and I loved the smoked King Salmon. I also tried the crab cakes and fried bread puffs, both of which were good. The rose champagne and the tea and vodka cocktail I had were both excellent.
Then came the cake. I’m not normally a big red velvet fan but I was a fan of this. It wasn’t too sweet!
There was also the always fun Unilocal Photo Booth. The red theme was fun and there was lots of cool Unilocalers to be met.
Thanks so much to Ray’s for their hospitality. Thanks to Taylor Shellfish Farms for the oysters and thanks Katy for another awesome event!

What a fun party!
Thanks to Katy and the team at Ray’s for putting on a stellar event and hosting us for their 40^th birthday party celebration.
The setting was comfortable and spacious and the food was excellent. The bartenders were charming and the drinks yummy and with a discernible kick.
I had the crab cakes, cream puffs, and the tenderloin bites. Yum all around. I missed the oysters but the food I indulged in was so delicious!
The red velvet cake made by Ray’s pastry chef was one of the best red velvets I’ve had. It was amazing. I told myself I wasn’t going to eat the whole piece but I did. It was just too good.
We were blessed with amazing weather that afternoon and you honestly can’t find a better view in the city than Ray’s.
Thank you Katy and Ray’s so much for a wonderful afternoon!

Ray’s Boathouse graciously hosted us during their beautiful 40^th birthday celebration. We were generously served Sparkling Rose, a variety of Oysters, Crab Cakes, Tenderloin Bites, Cream Puffs and a few other tasty treats. The staff was friendly and walked around serving the food, making sure we were all well taken care of. We had a delightful view of the water on an amazing Seattle Summer day, it was beyond perfect!
The Pastry Chef made a beautiful Red Velvet Cake with a Ray’s Boathouse sign topper, it was adorable and delicious! A few people wanted to taste the topper, but she warned it was very decadent. I wasn’t brave enough to eat the topper, the cake itself was enough for this girl!
Thank you to Katy for always making us Elites feel super special by arranging these events with so many Seattle businesses, creating new and positive experiences.

Happy 40^th birthday Ray’s — thanks for inviting us to a great party!
Gorgeous lake view — check!
Raw oyster bar hosted by the Taylor Shellfish — check!
Continuous topping off of my glass of bubbly — check!
What more could you ask for on a beautiful Saturday afternoon? Have always been a huge fan of Ray’s — consistently great seafood paired with an unbeatable view — and they support the Microsoft Prime card program to top it off. They’ve done a great job remodeling the restaurant level (not to be confused with the café level) — and putting in a brand spanking new bar that overlooks the lake. And the best *new* news of the afternoon, was their new frozen drink machine on the café level. Daiquiris, Pina Coladas, Margaritas galore — I can personally vouch for the yumminess of the Mango Margarita.
Service was five stars all the way — great job Katy H on yet another awesome Unilocal EE!

This was a wonderful afternoon for an EE and much props to our awesome sauce CM, Katy H! I think this is my 3^rd one in 1 year’s time.
I was about 30 min late (and I was used to seeing the banner…) and apparently I missed most of the tasty hors d’oeuvres floating around. =/​But I did manage to try the rather rich cheese puffs which were aplenty on the counter… oh god. What may have seemed rich to me was being downed by others (you know who you are, LOL). Some didn’t know which cup had clean picks, as well. I wish these weren’t the only item on the counter. And also one of the meat items — very good. You definitely would have enjoyed this if you loved oysters, too — thanks, but no thanks! The red velvet cake was really good, just right and moist… as I picked around the cream cheese, which was just too much to handle. I also forgot to try the cocktails, d’oh!
This was one of my lesser enjoyable events (mainly due to my food preferences, perhaps), unfortunately, but that doesn’t change the facts: The venue was wonderful, the staff was great and Katy scores big, once again! Many smiles & thanks to you all.

It has been WAY to long since I have been to an Elite Event and boy was I happy to be back! Talk about a fantastic party! The sun came out just at the right time adding to the already beautiful ambiance. The staff at Ray’s was amazing! So friendly and attentive.
Champagne as you enter is the best way to start any party, am I right? All of the passed hor d’oeuvres were phenomenal. Crabcakes… YUM! Salmon with chimichurri sauce… heck yes! I somehow sadly missed out on the beef skewers but I hear they were great. Oh and let’s not forget my favorite gem from the sea… freshly shucked oysters! The creatively shaped red velvet cake was a great way to end the afternoon.
I was happy to see old friends and it was great to meet some new elites! Thanks to Katy and Ray’s Boathouse for another outstanding event! Can’t wait for the next!

Another fabulous EE in the books. Mad kudos to Ray’s Boathouse and Katy H. for throwing such an awesome event and Happy 40^th to Ray’s! The view was to die for, the food was awesome, the drinks were tasty, the service was lovely… I think that deserves 5 whopping stars, right?!
The crabcakes were to dieeeee for. I was definitely crabcake’d out after the event. All the other food was also very tasty. I also had my first oyster shooter at this event and it was nice to hear a little background into each of the 3 types they had. I’m no longer an oyster shooter virgin! We camped out at the bar for awhile to just enjoy the view and the bartenders were extremely friendly. Our guests and us had boatloads of fun!

When we entered we were greeted with a glass of rose champagne awesome!
There was a huge awesome looking red velvet cake looking pretty just waiting to be cut into later.
Passed apps of smoked salmon, beef, and crabcakes. All amazing!
At the bar there was several beers and a cocktail to choose from I got the cocktail it was sweet but tasty.
Thanks Ray’s and Katy for having us join Ray’s Boathouse for their 40^th birthday! It was a lot of fun and I’ll be back for some of the amazing food.

Each time I think that Katy H. can’t top the previous Elite event, she does it again! I’m grateful that she (on behalf of Unilocal) has so many great, local partnerships in Seattle. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Ray’s. I often take out-​of-​town guests there or go for a special occasion brunch. The view is captivating — as many views are with blue water, boats, seagulls, and a paddle boarder or two. Getting in this Elite event felt like winning the lottery for me. I had a great time getting to meet a few Elites in person that I know online, meeting new ones, and spending time with those I already know.
Complimentary valet parking is such a nice option. I must admit that I’m often taken aback by how full the lot is and I’m happy that I’m not the one that will have to park my car.
Marc M. and Riley M. were staffing the check-​in. This was the first time I met Riley and she was really nice. I was barely in the door when I was offered a glass of rosé sparkling wine. Pink and bubbly? I’m in! A few steps down, I met up with Franklin H. who was running the photo booth.
Tables were decorated with Unilocal swag: Unilocalsticks, birthday party hats, red birthday beads, etc. We do love our swag and Katy H. knows it!
Oh…the food! Here’s the run down:
* Dungeness crab cakes
* Applewood smoked salmon with chimichurri
* Gougeres with gruyère fondue
* Painted Hills beef skewers with maitake mushrooms
* Taylor Shellfish oyster bar with three varieties — Pacific, Kumamoto, and Shigoku
* Red velvet cake
My absolute favorite was the salmon. Great smoky flavor, tender fish, and topped with chimichurri. A fantastic little bite! My second favorite (and a close second) was the beef skewers. The meat was so tender, it almost melted in my mouth. The flavor of the maitake mushrooms blended well with the meat. I could have eaten an entire dish of those mushrooms!
The staff was working so hard. I was so appreciative of the excellent service with a smile. The servers were very engaging in conversation and tried to keep the food coming. The oyster bar was staffed with two talented individuals who shucked and spoke to everyone (often having to provide the names of the different oysters). Was it truly any surprise that we ate them all? Probably not. :-)
Thank you to Ray’s, Unilocal,and most of all Katy H. the best CM we could ever have!

Such a great Elite event. Rays was extremely accommodating for our group, the space provided was large and offered great views of the Sound, the food was exceptional, the drinks were flowing, the photo booth was fun, the cake was fantastic, and all attendees were very friendly.
The oysters from Taylor Shellfish Farms were so fresh and tasty. I really loved all the bites from Rays including the smoked salmon, the crab cakes were to die for, and the steak skewers with matake mushrooms were so good.
I had a great time and will definitely be back to Rays in the future.

This event was super duper awesome fun times! I seriously can’t get over how lucky I am to be a part of Unilocal Elite and get to attend these sorts of events on a regular basis.
This was my first time at Ray’s Boathouse — what a fantastic venue. The staff were friendly and helpful, the views were stunning, and the space was inviting and comfortable. The food was super delicious (especially those beef skewered appetizers being passed out — hellooooo meat please give me a whole plate full of those). The little crab cakes and gourgeres were both yummy as well. The rose champagne was a fun touch and fit well with the ruby red theme.
Not to mention THE OYSTERS, which deserve their own paragraph because seriously Seattle folks love their oysters and how amazing is it to have a whole OYSTER freaking STATION at an Elite Event?!
It was lovely to be able to catch up with other Unilocaler friends, and take a couple hours out of my Saturday schedule to relax and mingle.
As I attend more of Unilocal’s many Seattle area events, I’m consistently impressed with Katy H. for her ability to coordinate and implement fantastic high-​caliber elite events. Such a perfect day and such a perfect event. Thanks to Ray’s, Unilocal and Katy H. for making this happen!

Look, I’ve been slacking. I can’t help it, you know? Born disappointment. Haven’t even made it to an Elite Event since Q. Until today, anyway. Because summer weather + Ray’s Boathouse (the views, oh my god the views!) + snaxxx + rosé? Um, yeah. HELL yeah. I even washed my car for the occasion.
The Taylor Shellfish oysters (Pacific, Kumamoto, Shigoku). The smoked salmon with chimichurri. The steak skewers with maitake mushrooms. The crab cakes. The gougeres. Drinks aplenty, and Unilocalers in their crimson best. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t get any better than that, especially with a big ol’ red velvet cake to celebrate Ray’s 40^th birthday! The staff was so pleasant and efficient, dispensing delicious bites with smiles, and Katy of course did another stellar job putting together an unforgettable event. Thank you, everyone! Totally worth washing the car and leaving my hermit cave.

Over-​the-​top, OUTSTANDING Elite event from Seattle rockstar CM Katy H! Stellar hospitality from Ray’s, one of Seattle’s finest establishments and a personal fave — rolled out the red carpet with luscious Dungeness crab cakes, applewood smoked salmon w/​chimichurri, to-​die-​for gougeres (bites of heaven) w/​Gruyère fondue, and Painted Hills beef skewers.
Surprise guest Taylor Shellfish oyster bar with Kumamotos. WHAT? I die. Champagne splits, white rum cocktails, gorgeous red velvet cake — Katy completely nailed this EE!
Tremendous turnout from the Unilocal community — loved meeting lots of Elites I’ve been curious to meet, such a fun crowd! Shout-​outs to Marc M, Avitania, Homan, Franklin — cool meeting everyone!

If Unilocal ever stops allowing Elite Events, its will be a very sad day indeed. The unbeatable combination of Unilocal awesomeness supplied by Katy H and generous hospitality provided by local businesses is a huge motivator for our most trusted reviewers and otherwise active Unilocalers to keep doing what they do.
Ray’s Boathouse was an excellent host as every single staff member I talked to was polite, informative, and genuinely nice to talk to which is a rare combination indeed. For them to set aside so much space for us to help them celebrate the restaurant’s 40^th anniversary was a pretty amazing thing for them to do. Katy definitely has an impeccable ability to choose venues that have the ability to impress and she gives each and every event her own little touch of special that keeps us coming back.
I did not have much of a chance to sample the food being offered, but I was very glad to see Taylor Shellfish providing some of their amazing seafood. If you haven’t been to their Capitol Hill location then you need to fix that immediately as it is an experience you won’t soon forget. Aside from their delicious offerings there were a few other items as well as a red velvet birthday cake that was a nice way to cap things off.
Thanks again to Ray’s Boathouse and Katy H for another great event!

I can’t stop raving about what a fun event this was!!! Although I’ve been to Rays Café, I’ve never been to Rays Boathouse. I do know that they recently remodeled it. Gorgeous venue, and spectacular views, especially on this sunny Saturday afternoon.
Loads of yummy appetizers, a professional photographer, a fabulous red velvet cake (and normally I don’t even like cake), an oyster bar and more.
Loved the venue & am so thankful to Katy H for planning such a fun event. Smashing success!

Yup. It’s safe to proclaim this another amazing EE hosted by our very own Katy H. and the generous folks at Ray’s.
I have always enjoyed the views here and having the entire run of the downstairs was swag. Seriously… THE VIEWS ARE AMAZING!
Food was quite good with friendly servers who explained their appetizer trays. I enjoyed the beef tenderloin skewers and the little cheese puffs. Oyster bar attendants were super informative and patient with me as I sampled each of the three oysters available. Servers also kept the dining area clean and checked on me when I wanted some ice.
We haven’t cut into that gorgeous red velvet cake yet but I know that my husband was looking forward to it. The pastry chef even built a little tower with the Ray’s logo!
Thanks again to the staff of Ray’s and Unilocal for taking care of so many Elites today. It was a gorgeous day in Seattle and I’m glad I chose to spend some of it here in Ballard!

Sadly it’s been more than a year since I’d been to an elite event (I blame the baby) a
— and this was a great way to get back into the swing of things.
Starting out with the fact that it was at one of my favorite seafood restaurants. Second it was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and the view of the water couldn’t be better. Add on the free valet parking, and tasty sparkling wine right as we got in the door. Already happy we came.
But it keeps getting better — super tasty crab cakes and steak passed as appetizers. Tremendous shucker oysters from Taylor Shellfish. Puffed pastry and some fruity cocktails from the bar. Catching up with all my fellow Unilocalers I haven’t seen in forever.
And then top it off with red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and some good champagne to finish the afternoon. Can’t complain.
Kudos to Katy H for another great event and reminding me I need to go back to Rays.