The Tiki Room

Tiki’s Grill & Bar is located in Waikiki and the food looks fabulous! Not only does the food look out of this world, of course they also make wonderful tropical drinks!

They offer everything from Hawaiian Ahi Tataki to Kalbi Beef Gyoza. I have a dream of visiting Waikiki and eating at Tiki’s Grill & Bar very soon! The atmosphere looks so lovely and I can already feel my mouth watering.

If you’re interested in hearing about some of their dishes, this video touches on them. It all looks so divine!

Tags: Tiki Bar, Tiki food, Tiki's Grill & Bar Food, Tiki's Grill & Bar in Waikiki, Tiki's in Waikiki

Clearly I love Tiki as I contribute to this blog, but I have to say one thing about the Tiki culture I truly love is the music! It transports me to a kinder, gentler period of time.

Tiki music came about from artists like Les Baxter, Arthur Lyman, and Martin Denny. These talented artists blended the Tiki idea through jazz music dotted with Polynesian, Asian, and Latin instruments. The “tropical” themes that emerged created the Exotica genre. Martin Denny described the musical style as “a combination of the South Pacific and the Orient…what a lot of people imagined the islands to be like…it’s pure fantasy though.” I think that pretty much sums it up perfectly!

This music blended the elements of Afro-Cuban rhythms, unusual and unique instrumentations, wildlife and environmental sounds, and lush romantic themes (and beauties) from Hollywood films. It is somehow sweet and sensual rolled into one wonderful harmony.

The age of Tiki music rode a wave of popularity in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This was due to the fact that Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959! Once Hawaii was inducted as a new state, Tiki hut bars and restaurants popped up around the continental United States like pretty, pink, drink umbrellas. Although the craze may have died a bit, I think the love of Tiki is still popular today, and living on with blogs like this one!

Tags: Arthur Lyman, Les Baxter, Martin Denny, Tiki culture, tiki music

This is a fun little video called “Blue Hawaiian” by Tiki Bar TV. It features Lala, which I am not familiar with but apparently she is quite famous in the Tiki circles. Also, for informational purposes, Tiki Bar TV is a web series distributed in the pioneering field of video podcasting or “vodcast.” It was produced in an apartment Tiki bar on a low budget, by creators Jeff Macpherson and Kevin Gamble. Although, the show has not been said to be technically dead, no episodes have been released since 2009.

Tags: Lala Tiki Bar TV, The Tiki Bar, Tiki, Tiki Bar TV, Tiki Videos

Have you been to Disneyland? It is the most wonderful place in all of Southern California, after all. When I lived in Los Angeles I would love to visit Disneyland on the weekends. One of my favorite features to Disneyland is the Tiki Tiki Tiki Room. This is a fun video showcasing the highlights.

Tags: Disney Enchanted Tiki Room, Disney Tiki, Tiki Disneyland, Tiki Room, Tiki Tiki Tiki Room Video

This is a really cool video on how to make a Tiki statue out of clay. Well, technically more of a Tiki skull, if you ask me. It states the person making the Tiki skull is using Wed clay, which is water based clay. Regardless if it is a Tiki skull or statue, it is pretty cool stuff, anyways! Enjoy

Tags: Tiki, Tiki art, TIki Chuck Ferrell, Tiki skull, Tiki statue

This is an amazing little video with lots of great Tiki party recipes. It has lots of great recipes like: Trader Woody’s Drink, Red Orchid, Banana Slam and London Fogcutter. The song is “Two Tom Collins Tipsy” by Bakey Baker and Betty Baker, and has a very vintage vibe to it.

Tags: Bakey Baker, Betty Baker, Tiki Drink Recipes, Tiki party recipes, TIki recipes, Tiki video, Two Tom Collins Tipsy

This is a fun video on how to make a Pineapple Tiki Cocktail.  I love bitters mixed with citrus.  This seems perfect for that next Tiki cocktail party, or for anytime you want to impress a friend! Seems like one would be all you need for a rockin’ good time!

Here is the list of ingredients:

• 1 Pineapple
• 10ml Bitters
• 15ml Tuaca
• 30ml Rum
• 15ml Tequila
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 1 lime
• 1 passionfruit
• ice

Tags: Pineapple Tiki Cocktail, Sarah Claire, Tiki Cocktail, Tiki cocktail recipe, TIki recipes

Trader Vic’s is perhaps the most famous tiki bar of all time. Victor Bergeron, owner of Trader Vic’s, helped popularize the tiki craze in the 1930s and 1940s, that has now become a phenomenon.  It is said that the Mai Tai, the world’s most popular Tiki drink, was also invented at Trader Vic’s in the 1940′s.  Now that is impressive!

Today, Trader Vic’s has several locations around the world – from Asia, to Europe, to the Middle East and the U.S.. The original location is in Atlanta, GA and is known for its amazingly unique tiki decor and fruity and exciting drink specials.  Trader Vic’s has a few different locations around the L.A. area including one located in The Beverly Hilton hotel.

Trader Vic’s also has a menu almost everyone can appreciate with offerings such as: Crispy Duck Tacos, Crab Rangoon, Miso Sea Bass & BBQ Sea Scallops.  I know next time I’m visiting Los Angeles I will be stopping in at Trader Vic’s for some food and fun!

Tags: Crispy Duck Tacos, Mai Tai, Tiki food, Tiki restaurants, Trader Vic's, Trader Vic's Los Angeles, Trader Vic's Tiki Lounge

What would a Tiki party be without delicious Tiki drinks?  There are some amazingly fabulous Tiki drinks that are perfect for the next Tiki- themed party!  I’m looking forward to Spring and Summer so I can throw my next Tiki party.

Here are my top five picks for fabulous Tiki cocktails:

Caipirinha

• 2 oz Cachaca
• 1 lime
• 2 tsp sugar

Cut up the lime and put into a glass. Ass the sugar. Smash the lime until the juice and sugar develops a rich froth. Add the Cachaca and shake vigorously. You may vary the amounts of lime and sugar to suit your taste.  Suggested glassware: rocks glass.

Mai Tai (Duh!)

• 1 oz fresh lime juice (not from a bottle!)
• 1/2 oz orange curacao
• 1/4 oz sugar syrup (simple syrup)
• 1/4 oz orgeat
• 1 oz Jamaican rum (dark rum)
• 1 oz Martinique rum (gold rum)

Pour ingredients in cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously, pour into a glass.  Suggested glassware: Tiki Mug

(Supposedly from Trader Vic’s, Oakland California, 1944)

Hazardous Waste

• 2 oz Blue Curacao
• 2 oz Midori Melon Liqueur
• 2 oz Southern Comfort
• 2 oz 151 Rum
• 4 oz Malibu Coconut Rum
• 4 oz Skyy Vodka
• 3 oz Orange Juice
• 3 oz Grapefruit Juice
• 3 oz Sprite
• 3 oz Sour
• 8 oz ice

In a 36 oz or larger glass add ice. Build drink spirits first, juice then soda.  Suggested glassware: Volcano Bowl, of course!

Sneaky Peaches

• 1 Can Peaches
• 1 Small Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate
• 1 Cup Spiced Rum
• Ice

Add peaches (with juice), frozen orange juice concentrate and Rum in blender, fill with ice, blend well and START DRINKING…suggested glassware: medium glass.

The Blood of the Tiki

• Pomegranate Juice/Grenadine: 4oz
• Orange Juice- 1.5 oz
• Pineapple Juice- 1.5 oz
• Sweetened Lime Juice- 1tsp
• OR
• Fresh Lime Juice- 1tbs
• Sparkling Water- 2-3oz

Stir Pomegranate Juice, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, and Sweetened Lime Juice/ Fresh Lime Juice. Pour into Tiki Mug. Add Sparkling Water into Tiki Mug. Stir once again. Serve

Tags: Caipirinha, Hazardous waste, Mai Tai, Sneaky Peaches, The Blood of the Tiki, Tiki cocktail recipes, Tiki Drink Recipes, Tiki drinks

Apparently they even have Tiki themed slot machines these days! The one on the video is Tiki Party and the picture above is Tiki Island. It appears they utilize volcanoes for the bonus rounds, and other fun tiki-related stuff.  You got to love those wonderful bonus rounds!  I’m definitely going to be on the lookout for these next time I visit Las Vegas as I’m sure this would bring me TIKI LUCK!

Tags: tiki fun, Tiki Games, tiki island, tiki party, tiki slot machines