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.
Hawaiian Bruschetta and Grapefruit Daiquirs pair together on this weeks podcast to call an end to our series of lower calorie cocktails and appetizers. Sunshine and a new host, Krista are on the lounge drinking and chatting about tiki, weight loss and and keeping the waist slim while enjoying all the exotic drinks.
Read MoreIt may seem far to early to bring you the merry and exotic sounds of the holidays. But, because the actual reality of exotica Xmas music is relatively rare we thought we should tell you where to get it early. Sunshine shares a few artists that endeavored to mix polynesian percussion with the usual kitch of the season. Arthur Lyman is most notable, probably the best example of this sub genre. Music alone does not put the holidays right, so we bring you an island inspired hot punch cocktail that will please even the Virgin imbiber. Think pineapple, spices, honey and your favorite rum. Outstanding after a heavy meal, its like dessert in a tiki mug. All things festive put aside, Sunshine and Pumpkin each share some much pent up bitching. Our recent listener email suggests that a good bitch fest was in order anyway. We aim to please. Ted Haggard, Paula Abdul, dumbasses in minivans and artificial sweetners are just some of the bashed. So sit back, drink your hot pineapple tea and spin yourself a vintage holiday....a little early. This weeks drink: Hot Pineapple Tea
1 can Dole pineapple juice (try to find NOT from concentrate), 1/4 cup honey. 3 cinnamon sticks broken in a few pieces, 3 peppermint tea bags.
On the stove top or in a crock pot, add all ingredients except the tea bags. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a low simmer. Add tea bags, brewing tea for approx 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags. Serve as is, or as we do here in the Zen Tiki Lounge: add 1 to 1.5 ounces of your favorite rum to one glass of the tea. We recommend Bacardi O, Captain Morgan spiced rum, Sailor Jerry, Myers Dark just to name a few.
This weeks show is very special. Special with a capital "S" and everything. Little did Pumpkin know (she may have suspected a little something, but she was surprised when it happened) but I decided to give her a surprise birthday party while recording the podcast. We start the show out just like any other, a delicious cocktail, some tiki music and a little mail. Then everyone showed up and it turned into a party. FUN! Our cocktail this week was concocted out of necessity. Basically my bar is still very low from a lot of parties, so you gotta use what you have. Luckily I threw together a boozy treat that even Pumpkin gave high marks. The "French Mai Tai" as I called it is a twist on the Trader Vic's original, but has a French twist. Cognac and Cointreau give this drink a sophisticated palate, but the Mai Tai origins are not lost. Using Cognac as a float instead of a dark rum actually turned out to be an amazing discovery. Try this one at home today. Besides the cocktail we did welcome a few new listeners to the lounge and had a few interviews with some of the party guests. You will either be turned off or laughing to hear our friend tell all about her romantic adventures with her home spa. Naughty. This weeks drink:
French Mai Tai
2 oz pineapple juice (not from concentrate)
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz simple syrup (don't use orgeat)
1 oz silver rum
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz Cognac for float (Hennessy works great)
Add everything but the cognac to a shaker with crushed ice. Give just 4-5 good shakes, you don't want froth. Pour into a chilled, clear glass with plenty of crushed ice. Top with the cognac. Garnish with a really think lime wheel on the rim, a cherry and sword or pick and the pretty parasol of your choice. Looks great, tastes even better.
This weeks episode is a little sick in more than one way. Not only was Sunshine deathly ill from a killer cold, but Pumpkin felt like discussing a subject that many of you may find extremely revolting. Sunshine gets up on his soap box to warn everyone about the evils of concentrated pineapple juice as it is one of the needed ingredients for many a tiki cocktail. Check those lables carefully or you may end up with a poor tasting mai tai. Our regular listeners were very active in the past few weeks, giving us lots of subject matter and even some Music. Thank you to Peter for the cool 80's tunes and listener Don for the feedback on a previous show topic, the merkin. Because Sunshine was so ill he didn't conjure up a new cocktail so we had some old favorites instead. Try a Yellow Bird for example, always a crowd pleaser and Pumpkins favorite cocktail.
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Drink of the Week
Yellow Bird
3oz Pineapple juice (not from concentrate)
1oz banana schnapps
1oz coconut rum
Use a small hurricane glass for this one. Put all ingredients in a shaker with ice and pour into chilled glass with cubed ice. This drink is for those with a sweet tooth. Don't like em so sweet? Try a squeeze of lime, it works well with this cocktail.
Drink of the WeekNavy Grog 1 1/2 oz light rum 1 1/2 oz gold rum 1 1/2 oz dark rum 2 oz each pineapple, orange and grapefruit juices in shaker with ice and pour over ice, etc.
Next Week's Drink Have the following ingredients ready:Vodka, Rum, orange juice, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice.
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.
