A dimly lit tiki bar that lives in your head. Each and every podcast we bring you a new exotic cocktail followed by plenty of tiki talk, exotica tunes and whatever else your loyal hosts Sunshine, Pumpkin and Starshine care to dispense. Politics, religion and current events are all free game. This podcast is not for the kiddies, so remember to get a sitter before tuning in. Mahalo.
Sunshine here in the lounge solo for this episode. Conversation includes Tiki Oasis, Lost Spirits Distillery, home bar cocktail menus, and plenty of classic Exotica. Starting with our cocktail, the 1944 Trader Vic’s Mai Tai made with Rhum Clement, Kula Hawaiian Dark Rum, Liquid Alchemist Orgeat. Kula Dark Rum happened to be on sale and worth trying.
Read MoreSunshine, Starshine and Kalani hit the road to visit the grand opening of Trader Vic's LA. But Before we hit the road we had to sample a cocktail, answer some listener email and make some money. It's not all business, we squeeze some genital hygiene in just for good measure. The key to this episode is to do a road trip of your own. On your next day off just grab a friend, hop in the car and drive to your nearest Tiki joint. Fun for all. On the next show we will tell you all about our visit. Please take our listener survey.....visit ZenTikiLounge.com
This is the very first solo podcast for the Zen Tiki Lounge. Don' worry, Pumpkin is still around, but in order to keep our promise to bring you two podcasts each and every week Sunshine is flying solo on this one. I was able to visit both the new Don the Beachcomber location in Huntington Beach and the new (yet to open) Trader Vic's in Los Angeles. The two tiki franchise locations are very different in feel and atmosphere. Don's is a partnership between the Kona restaurant and the Don the Beachcomber name. The former Kona is a classic example of a mom and pop Polynesian palace on the coast of Orange County here in Southern California. The food is outstanding. Try the Kahlua pork, the house salad with ginger sesame dressing and the pineapple upside down a la mode. And naturally the drinks are great and a little stiff. On the other hand we have the more posh Trader Vic's that is about to open in downtown Los Angeles. This location is operated by an LA restaurant group that prides itself on their ability to sense what the public wants and delivers it well. In the next few days Pumpkin, Sunshine and Starshine will venture to this mecca and get as sloshed as possible. The decor is modern tiki, but not underdone in any sense. This could be a great hot spot near the Staples and Nokia center in LA. There are plenty of other reasons to listen including a giveaway, flocks of flamingos, the usual cocktail and much more.
Trader Vic's, at the world-famous Beverly Hilton hotel in glamorous Beverly Hills, CA, in trendy 90210. Before we hit the road, we discuss the burning topics of nameless fruit drink, how to get out of jury duty, with assistance from our listeners, and Sunshine introduces his "scam" to raise money for the Lounge and pay for new toys. Finally we hit the road, spend half the day on the Los Angeles freeways, and arrive at Trader Vic's. We enjoy a well-deserved cocktail stiff enough to knock you on your ass, and suck up the atmosphere while dining on some average food. Check out the pictures on our Flickr Photostream so you too can feel like you were there with us at Trader Vic's.Please forgive the audio, we are road-show virgins.
Drink of the Week: Trader Vic's Original Mai-Tai You'll have to go there to experience this one.
The Zen Tiki Lounge podcast is hosted by a group of friends from our home tiki bar. The show focuses on Exotica Music, Cocktail Culture, Mid Century Modern, Kitsch and the "Island Lifestyle." Join us for a slightly inebriated trip into our dimly lit paradise.
