Zen Tiki Lounge

ZTL 242 This Tiki Bar Welcomes Gay Marriage And Cocktails

Sunshine Tiki — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:36:53 +0000

You don’t have to tell us twice that a tropical drink is a well deserved treat at the end of a long work week. Sunshine mixes up Colonel Beach’s Plantation Punch which he pulled up on the Tiki Plus app by Beachbum Berry. This gingery, citrus rum drink is full of vitamin C and helps you quickly lose all memory of your worst demons. Our music this week comes from the most recent Tikiyaki Orchestra album, “Aloha, Baby.” The latest CD is another lovely stroll down the beach with the guys whom we have all come to respect for their modern take on exotica and lounge. We have to mention a couple of our friends out there: Listener Stefan from Germany has a podcast aptly named The CocktailPodcast and is suited for our friends and fans who speak German. Yes, tiki does exist all over the globe! Check out the drink centric podcast by a man who knows a thing or two about drinking and the art of making drink. You can also check out a blog we just became aware of, The Pegu Blog which has been temporarily renamed The Tiki Blog for the month of February. Blogger Doug Winship has written both many of the great tiki podcasts that are currently producing shows and some that are dormant. Other fun stuff for this week includes creating a Las Vegas disguise kit, exotic story time based on a randomly selected song and the much over due ruling in California: Prop 8 has been ruled to be unconstitutional by the 9th circuit court. This isn’t about gay marriage people. It’s about civil rights and allowing all adults to be equal in the eyes of the law. Religion has nothing to do with it. Can you feel me? Good! Enjoy the show and Mahalo.

As mentioned, visit the blog of Tiki Chris Pinto and grab a Tiki Noir book for the pool or settle into a dark corner of any bar.

Colonel Beach’s Plantation Punch (courtesy Beachbum Berry’s “Tiki +” app for iPhone)

1 ounce lime juice

2 ounces pineapple juice (unsweetened)

2 ounces dark Jamaican Rum

1 ounce gold Puerto Rican Rum

1/2 ounce Barbados Rum

1/2 ounce falernum

1 dash bitters

6 drops Pernod or Anisette

2 ounces ginger beer

Shake all but ginger beer with ice in a shaker. Pour ginger beer into shaker, stir or swirl and pour unstrained into large tumbler filed with crushed ice. Garnish with lime and mint.

ZTL 241 Campari Kraken Is The Tiki Bar Psychic

Sunshine Tiki — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:10:10 +0000

After a recent trip to a local casino, Starshine and Sunshine are back in the lounge to tell of their travels. This is mostly to lampoon the worst psychic experience we have ever had. Sylvia Brown attempted to put on a “show” or “reading” but really just ended up leaving us with a heated desire to run back into the casino and find the nearest mai tai. And we did just that. That disappointment led us to finding our own tiki bar psychic who makes his first appearance on this episode answering listener questions. But we couldn’t be in the mood for predicting the future without a cocktail. Since Starshine wasn’t here when we first tried the Puka Shell, we brought it back for a another taste. Sunshine was hearing he islands call so our music this week is all Danny Stewart and the Islanders. Good ukelele to drink by. And to prove we are somewhat cultured there is a little bit of island inspired art via the old fashioned X ray machine. The art of Bert Meyers is not only beautiful, but shows us the creatures of the deep and long long ago in a totally new light. Listener mail includes some tips and tricks for easy party planning and how to choose the party to go to. Before we called it a week it was another update for Tiki Caliente 4. This event is something not to miss. Not only will you have a chance to join our ZTL room party but the entire weekend is filled with great musical acts like Martini Kings, Hula Girls, Smokin Menehunes, Sand Devils and The Deadbeat Daddies. Rooms and tickets are on sale now and are going fast. Book NOW and be sure to grab one of the limited edition event mugs when you check out.

Puka Shell

2 ounces white grapefruit juice

1 ounce Okolehao (Hawaiian ti plant liquor)

3/4 ounce spiced rum (Seven Tiki or Voodoo)

1/4 ounce cinnamon infused syrup*

Shake all with ice and pour into highball filled with crushed ice. Garnish with single cocktail cherry on a pick layed over top of drink. *Cinnamon Syrup: simmer 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar and 3 cinnamon sticks for 5 minutes. Turn off heat, set for 30 minutes and bottle. Keep in fridge for use in cocktails, coffee, on ice cream etc.

ZTL 240 Hawaiian Bruschetta And Grapefruit Daiquiris

Sunshine Tiki — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:42:13 +0000

It’s been a while since we invited a new host into the Zen Tiki Lounge. This week we are joined by Krista! A huge fan of tiki and pop culture herself, Krista fits right in here in the ZTL. Now Who’s ready for a cocktail? Try a simple grapefruit daiquiri. Sunshine and Krista sip this low calorie drink while Xavier Cugat and other great latin artists of the day. This week is full of tips for entertaining with less calories, both food and drink. You must try the Hawaiian Bruschetta paired with the Grapefruit Daiquiri. Simply magical together. And for the veggie lovers Krista has some tips on platters with dips that won’t break your waist. We’re also talking about reusing things around the bar, keeping that cocktail lifestyle as green as possible. Theres plenty more but my inebriated fingers are growing weak. Listen to the show for all the rest. Cheers!

Grapefruit Daiquiri with just 182 Calories

2 ounces white grapefruit juice

2 ounces light/amber rum (10 cane or Rhum Barbancourt)

1/4 ounce cinnamon infused syrup

Shake with ice and pour over crushed ice and sip away your cares.

Hawaiian Bruschetta just 40 calories per piece

1 pack Kings Hawaiian Rolls

3/4 cup chopped red onion

3/4 cup crushed pineapple

2 tsp butter

2 tablespoon dark brown sugar

Saute onion and pineapple with butter, adding sugar after onions have already gotten soft and translucent. Stir till sugar dissolves completely. Set aside. Slice rolls into three each, creating three thinner slices from each roll. Toast on a baking sheet in a 350 degree until corners start to brown, remove from oven. Top each piece with a teaspoon of sauté mixture. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

ZTL 239 Time For Tiki Caliente 4, Book Your Rooms Now

Sunshine Tiki — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:21:56 +0000

Sunshine and Starshine couldn’t be more excited to tell you that Tiki Caliente 4 rooms and tickets are now on sale. The event isn’t till May 18-20, but you will want to book now to make sure you get a spot at THE best tiki weekend event this Spring. You can also get an exclusive event tiki mug themed after the long closed Don the Beachcomber location in Palm Springs. And if you want to make sure you look your best by the pool at the party, we have another lower calorie version of a classic tiki drink. This time, the Painkiller. What was 560 calories is now 240, thats two for one! We also have plenty to say about the current events that have had some of us on pins and needles. SOPA has been shot down or now, Keystone XL has been corked and Newt Gingrich is still upset that people would call him out for cheating on multiple wives. That all makes for good conversation. We answer some listener mail, discuss whether or not tiki and polynesian kitsch is on the down swing (it isn’t), give some advice on infusing rum, vodka and the like and so much more. So mix up a painkiller, book your room at Tiki Caliente and join ZTL at our room party that will open to all event guests. Tip your bartender! Cheers and Mahalo

The Pain Killer (low cal version) 240 calories

2 ounces Pusser’s Rum

1 ounce cocnut rum (Cruzan or Coruba work best)

4 ounces unsweetened pineapple juice

1 ounce fresh OJ

Sprinkle of nutmeg

Shake everything with ice except the nutmeg. Pour into highball glass filled with crushed ice and sprinkle with nutmeg. Simple. The original recipe calls for 1-2 ounces of coconut cream which add up to an additional 260 calories. Wow! We sub the cream for coconut rum. Still has that pineapple and coconut flavor but removes over 200 calories. For an even lighter version, you can cut the rum back just a little or some of the juice. But, we found this recipe balances the rum and juice perfectly. Enjoy!

ZTL 238 Puka Shells And Spy Music, Cheers!

Sunshine Tiki — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:14:58 +0000

This is week two of our series on low calorie cocktails. Our drink this week is the Puka Shell. A tasty grapefruit libation with Okolehao, spiced rum and cinnamon. All for 160 calories while still packing that inebriated punch you all love so much. While drinking we enjoy some classic 60′s spy movie tunes from the likes of Hugo Montenegro, Henry Maincini and others. Low cal drinks and spy music set the mood for some news about our favorite TIKI weekend event, Tiki-Caliente 4 in Palm Springs this May 18-20th. Rooms/Tickets go on sale to the general public on Jan 21st. The super hip event is packed with rum, music, parties and plenty of time to get to know everyone in the tiki and pop culture enthusiast communities. The Zen Tiki Lounge will be hosting another swining room party with two more unique cocktails sure to knock your knickers off. Don’t forget to snag one of the Tiki Caliente 4 event mugs when purchasing your room. You can grab everything in one purchase. Can’t be more convenient or a better value. The rest of the show centers around a healthy new year. Fresh juices, a little more exercise, starting that garden full of veggies and herbs and much more. Check out Sunshine’s favorite nutrition podcast, The Nutrition Diva Podcast, as this episode is about alcohol metabolism. Too much fun for one show. Oh, and there may be some offensive banter tossed in for good measure.

Puka Shell

2 ounces white grapefruit juice

1 ounce Okolehao (Hawaiian ti plant liquor)

3/4 ounce spiced rum (Seven Tiki or Voodoo)

1/4 ounce cinnamon infused syrup*

ZTL 237 A Low Calorie Mai Tai For A New Year

Sunshine Tiki — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:43:55 +0000

After a few weeks off from the podcast Kalani and Sunshine are back at the bar and behind the microphone. Feeling refreshed by the new year and the hope of things to come we start things off with a low calorie version of the famous Mai Tai. And, we are very glad to say that this 200 cal version of the usual 400-600 calorie cocktail is damn good. Other tiki friends are making promises to themselves to continue their own self improvement and we feel like joining in with some support and our own goals. Kalani wants to stick to a healthier way of eating and some more exercise while Sunshine simply wants some muscles. We can do it! Join us at Tiki Caliente Calorie Countdown and share your story and support. Speaking of Tiki Caliente, the fourth annual event is coming this May and we have plenty to say. Also, listener mail, some odd spacey exotica and plenty of the shenanigans you always tune in for. Plus a live version of Como Oye Va from The Revomatics at a recent show they did back home. Happy New Year and Cheers!

Mai Tai (Low Cal) But still great tasting!

1.5 ounces Fresh Lime Juice

1 ounce Rum (Plantation, St. James Royal Amber or Cruzan Single Barrle work well)

1/2 ounce Citronage or other Orange higher proof liquor

3/4 ounce Amaretto (this subs the orgeat)

1 tsp of pure cane sugar syrup (Depaz is great)

Shake with ice and strain into a double old fashioned filled with crushed ice. Garnish with lime wedge and mint sprig. This recipe cuts the typical mai tai from 420 calories down to 209. Cheers and Enjoy!

ZTL 236 No Blue Christmas In This Tiki Bar

Sunshine Tiki — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:33:04 +0000

Sunshine, Starshine and Kalani drop by the Zen Tiki Lounge for a little gift giving, cocktails and exotica holiday tunes. This is one of those podcast we dare not try to describe in words. But be sure to check out links to our friends below:

PopTiki.com for great hand made tiki mugs

Tiwaka Goes To Waikiki is a great new book, third in the series by Everett Peacock

The Revomatics new album is now on iTunes and for sale at their pretty groovy website

Kahuna Kevin has a great new cocktail book, second in his series. We are drinking our way though it right now!

Happy Holidays and Mahalo from all of us at The Zen Tiki Lounge Podcast

ZTL 235 Tiki Gifts For Tiki People, And Rum

Sunshine Tiki — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:22:06 +0000

December is up on us. That means it’s time for the annual ZTL tiki gift giving guide. As usual, we suggest music, mugs, books and wares from many of the friends we discover as a result of this podcast. We personally use and have everything we suggest. No duds here. Please check out the links below and get some of the great stuff from our tiki friends all over the country. This week isn’t just about gifts, its also the first week in many months that Pumpkin and Sunshine had a chance to be in the lounge together. The two original hosts of Zen Tiki Lounge act as if no time ever passed. And our show wouldn’t be complete without a great cocktail, this one is courtesy of Ken Kanaka of The Crazed Mugs. Coquito is a version of eggnog that comes to us from Cuba and has become popular in Florida. We think it could be a holiday favorite here in the lounge. Try the recipe below. Thanks for listening, tell a friend, find us on facebook, Google+ and Mahalo!

Tiki Gift Ideas for anyone:

Music: The Crazed Mugs, The Revomatics, Tiki Joes Ocean,

Tiki Mugs: Only the best at PopTiki.com, the offical mug of the Zen Tiki Lounge

Bar/Cocktail Books: Kahuna Kevin “Why is all the Rum gone”, get volumes 1 and 2. Over 100 outstanding recipes with superb illustration.

Books/Beach Reads: The Parrot Talks In Chocolate, In The Middle of the Third Planets Most Wonderful of Oceans, Death by facebook, Banana the fate of the fruit the changed the world, And a Bottle of Rum, Tiki Modern

Coquito (“little coconut”)

Ingredients

1 cup water
12 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 inch-long piece of fresh ginger, peeled
1 15-ounce can of Coco Lopez
1 12-ounce can of Carnation Evaporated Milk
1 cup light rum (I use Cruzan)
Powdered cinnamon

Directions

Place water, cloves, cinnamon sticks and ginger in a small saucepan to create an infusion. Cook at medium heat until the mixture begins to boil.
After cooking, cover and let the infusion cool for 15 minutes. Remove cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.
Place the Coco Lopez, evaporated milk, rum and infusion in a blender. Cover and blend for 30 seconds.
Pour contents into a glass bottle with a cinnamon stick and refrigerate until cold.
Serve in 2-5 ounce glasses. Spinkle top with powdered cinnamon.

Like an egg nog, the flavor improves with time. It’s quite good freshly made, but a 14-28 day aging in the refrigerator does wonders for it.

ZTL 234 Holiday Songs With Exotic Flare

Sunshine Tiki — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:09:38 +0000

Sunshine Tiki is solo in the Zen Tiki Lounge this week. As promised, this is our annual holiday music podcast. I have chosen each song to tell a familiar story, a tune everyone knows, but with a more exotic flare and maybe some instruments you don’t here to often. Each of the artists played on this weeks show have their music available online for download. How much easier could it be? Just listen to the show and find it all online. Of course the holidays wouldn’t seem right without a cocktail or two. So check out the recipes/drink ideas below to add some additional merriment to your gatherings. Next week we will be back with our holiday gift giving special. Just in time to help you find something special for the tiki fan in your circles. Enjoy and Mahalo!

Sunshines Very Spicy Holiday Rum

1.75L Gold Rum (Cruzan or Bacardi work well)

2 Vanilla Beans sliced length wise

10 whole cloves

12 Allspice berries cracked

3 Cinnamon sticks cracked in half

Put it all in the bottle. Turn upside down once each day. On day 5 use a permanent coffee filter or cheese cloth to strain out the bits. Remove the cloves. Put everything back in. On day 7 remove the allspice bits. The cinnamon and vanilla bean stay in forever, building more character. After a total of 14-21 days you are ready to enjoy this very spicy rum. Great with equal parts pomegranate juice and fresh OJ. Also great used in a rum cake recipe. Try it on the rocks or make your own holiday concoction.

ZTL 233 The Crazed Mugs And PopTiki

Sunshine Tiki — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:27:36 +0000

Aloha Listeners! Sunshine and Starshine are here in the Zen Tiki Lounge on our last podcast before Turkey Day. We have some great music for ya by The Crazed Mugs, their album Find Forbidden Island. Ken Kanaka was nice enough to send us a disc and we couldn’t help but play our favorite tracks on this weeks show. Be sure to grab your own CD by clicking the link and showing The Crazed Mugs your Mahalo! We also have a new mug courtesy of PopTiki.com, the offiical tiki mug of the Zen Tiki Lounge. Our Lovely new mug featured on this weeks show art is the Hei Tiki, a deep purple Maori figure that holds plenty of rum. With music and booze flowing we jumped right into turkey day shenanigans, perhaps a bit too much politics and started our Xmas lists. Do you have as much rum on your list as Sunshine? What better way to get the more expensive rum you just haven’t added to your bar yet? And one more thing to do with that rum, make ice cream. But freezing liquor isn’t easy. So you need this awesome book “Ice Cream Happy Hour” that shows you the science of boozy ice cream making and 50 recipes to go along with it. Now the holidays really will be bright! Theres a lot more squeezed in there so enjoy the show and see you after Thanksgiving.