130 Forgotten Tiki Cocktail Mixers

Starshine and Sunshine meet in the Zen Tiki Lounge for a much needed hump day drinking binge.  A few mai tais later and Starshine is even more liberal than her left wing self.  Sunshine gives some great tips on making tiki mixers of your own, start with one of our recipes and tweek to your liking.  Falernum, ginger syrup, orgeat syrup etc. Your friends and family will take notice when you use fresh ingredients in your favorite drinks.  Other than that, its a drunken good time this week on the podcast.

129 Zaya Rum Makes a Splash in the Lounge

After much listener feedback, Pumpkin has been informed that her frequent use of profane body parts is tickling the wrong nerve.  Not that we answer to anyone, but it is good to know what people think.  Just count how many times she says something naughty.  Staying professional after this weeks cocktail isn't exactly easy, try the Zaya Splash and you will understand.  This drink is made with Zaya Gran Reserva Rum and we highly recommend you get yourself a bottle if you don't already have it.  Sunshine shares some thoughts on things to do in Fort Lauderdale during this years Hukilau event.  Do your best to choose a hotel within a mile or two of the event, or take the water taxi from place to place.  Lets face it, your gonna be drinking all weekend so don't try driving.  Lastly, Sunshine discusses the similarities between men and candy bars.  Which one are you?

128 Miss California Drinks Bacon Vodka

Aloha Kiddies!  Sunshine and Starshine in the lounge for this podcast.  Our cocktail is a version of the dirty martini, but with the added flavor of BACON.  Did we like it?  Listen to find out.  We also try a newer rum on the market, at least in our neck of the woods.  Zaya Gran Reserva is a tasty sipping rum that you will surely enjoy neat, on the rocks or in your favorite drinky drink.  Now that your all warm and toasty its time for some helpful party throwing tips.  Are you a good host?  Have some of our recommended guest comforts at your next party to make sure anyone who over does it can recover as quickly as possible.  Be sure to check out ZenTikiLounge.com for the latest about the podcast, contact info, t-shirts, take our census and plenty of other great tiki themed STUFF.

127 The Impromptu Luau

Have you noticed the weather lately?  We have.  Its time go start getting ready for that Summer BBQ/Luau or any other theme you like.  Sunshine and Pumpkin naturally gravitate towards the tiki side of things but to each their own.  On the podcast this week we toast the traditional tack of the American/Hawaiian Luau.  A mai tai here and a pina colada there.  Maybe a blue hawaiian or two to wash it down.  You can feel good without a nice lei and a few grass skirts.  Pumpkin just reminds everyone that plastic leis and grass skirts are a tragedy.  Go for the real thing and use those skirts year after year.  Buy yourself a few nice silk leis and hang em on any old hook till you need them next.  Other subjects this week include Quiznos and their dirty after hours commercials....which we like, Malibu rum offers free applications for the Iphone, Steve Zahn is a funny guy and not bad to look at either, and the usual poor taste in vocabulary continues as Pumpkin gets buzzed.

125 Bring on the Pu Pu Platter!

Sunshine, 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

124 Don the Beachcomber vs. Trader Vic's

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.