TIKI CULTURE

Huge Tiki Party in Fort Lauderdale - Benefit for Preston Weber - Jr. World FireKnife Champion

Preston Weber performing his FireKnife routine.

If you’re in the Fort Lauderdale area on Sunday, April 28, swing by the 5-Points Lounge for a very special Tiki fundraiser.

Dubbed the “Sunday Aloha Fun-Raiser”, proceeds from this show put on by Polynesian Proud Productions will benefit Preston Weber, 14 year-old Jr. World FireKnife Champion and Fort Lauderdale local. Preston will be flying out to Hawaii in May to defend his title, and this fundraiser is to help him get there.

The event will feature Polynesian music, live Tahitian drumming of Uhi Api, PolyProud performance, beautiful Hula, RONIN TAIKO (Featuring Marina The Fire Eating Mermaid drumming), special guest performers, $5 Hawaiian Plate Lunch sponsored by the NEW Florida Hawaiian Civic Association, island treats by way of Kauai, from DelaCruz Delights and Onolicious Cakes by Kathleen.

This event is open to the public, and any donations at the door are greatly appreciated. There will also be raffles and prizes, so throw on your best Aloha shirt and swing down to the 5-Points Lounge, 2608 South Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, Fl. There is Free parking in back of building.

5-Points is located at the KREEPY TIKI PLAZA, “Home of South Florida’s only 20ft. Hula Girl landmark”. Kreepy Tiki Tattoo is a very kool place for vintage & Tiki lovers. They are not only kool kats and kittens who ink some very impressive tattoos, they also carry some vintage clothing and goodies, and have Tiki-esque art by local artists including one of my favorites, De Tiki.

PRESTON WEBER has been performing since he was 10 years old at the Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale. He won his first Jr. World FireKnife Championship at 11 (2010), then skipped a year to audition for America’s Got Talent where he placed 49th out of 100,000 auditioned acts. Preston won his 2nd Jr World Championship title at 13 (2012). He is now 14 and looking for his third win! Congratulations and best of luck to Preston…break a leg!

-Tiki Chris P, Tiki Lounge Talk

Voodoo Cooler - Your Weekend Tiki Bar Cocktail Recipe!

As most of you mix-o-matic kats and shaker shakin’ kittens know, there’s a biz-zillion ways to combo rums, fruit juices and ice to make a groovy Tropical Cocktail. Some take time, skill and a bankroll to create, some are easy and cheap, and if done right, all are really good.

The Voodoo Cooler

is a drink that you can probably whip together with stuff you usually have laying around the bar, so you can have a tropical cocktail without taking a trip to the liquor store.

1 oz dark or spiced rum (your choice)
1 oz Midori
2 oz coconut rum
1/2 oz orange juice
1/2 oz pineapple juice

Shake everything up in a shaker with ice, and pour into the coolest looking Tiki mug you can find. Garnish with fresh orange and pineapple, a cherry, and an umbrella. This drink is a little sweeter than most, but it’s refreshing and has a real “islandy” taste.

If you wanna go nutz…

Put this all in a blender with ice and do a frozen job, then top with a jigger of 151. Woo hoo! Key West style, baby!

-Tiki Chris reporting from the outdoor bar on the lanai, in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida

It’s National Margarita Day! So, here are some Tiki-Rita Recipes for your party.

Tiki Margarita Recipes!

I just found out this morning that today is National Margarita Day. Not sure who put this day on Ash Wednesday, the day after Fat Tuesday, which created all kinds of problems for some people (from religious to hangovers), but it is what it is, so here are some cool Margarita drink recipes taken from “100 Margaritas” by Johnny Tiki with John Taddeo, available as a free PDF download from Voodoo Tiki Tequila.

By the way…Voodoo Tiki Tequila is some great stuff, and is perfect for your Tiki bar. The bottles feature a hand-blown glass Tiki inside, and look great on your top shelf. They have a variety of styles, with the REPOSADO being my favorite. Check em out: VoodooTiki.com.

Coconut Margarita

“Also known as a Chi Chi Margarita, it’s coco sweet and tasty.”
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Voodoo Tiki
Platinum Tequila
1/2 oz Coconut Rum
2 1/2 oz Piña Colada Mix
1 1/2 oz Sour Mix
Directions:
Up or on the rocks combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with
ice. Shake vigorously and let sit 5 seconds. Strain into martini
glass or into a freshly iced rocks glass. For frozen – recommended
– combine all ingredients in a blender with ice and blend smooth.

Tiki Torch Mar-Tiki

“Flaming shots are for showoffs…like me! And nothing lights a bar on
fire better than the Grain Alcohol! Grab a bottle at your local liquor
store or from Uncle Jesse’s liquor cabinet and layer your drink pouring slowly onto the
back of a bar spoon over your glass. Careful! Unless your into outdoor living, wipe up any spills before igniting.
Ingredients:
3 1/2 oz Voodoo Tiki
Añejo Tequila
1 oz Everclear or Grain
Alcohol (float and ignite)
1 1/2 oz Roses Lime Juice
Directions:
Layer tequila first, then lime juice, then the Grain. Light the torch and serve

Coconut Almond Margarita

“Tropical coconut and mango collide. A unique slant on the traditional tropical treat.”
Ingredients:
1 oz Voodoo Tiki Platinum
Tequila
1 oz Amaretto
1 oz Malibu Coconut Rum
2 oz Mango Juice or Puree
1 oz White Cranberry Juice
Directions:
On the rocks, combine all ingredients and shake well. If serving up, shake well, then allow a few seconds to rest before pouring.
Rim: Coconut Flakes

Piña-melon Pear Margarita

“Three sweet fruits – luscious prickly pear, juicy melon and
sweet pineapple – make this mouth watering margarita a fruit filled favorite.”
Ingredients:
1 oz Voodoo Tiki Desert Rose
Prickly Pear Infused Tequila
1 oz Midori Melon Liqueur
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz White Cranberry Juice
1 oz Sour Mix
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and shake. Strain into martini glass or over fresh ice.
Rim: Sugar

NOTE! My old buddy Steve Sharpe suggests adding a dollop of honey to your margarita before you blend. Thanks for the tip, Steve. This will come in handy if we ever make it to Manilla.

Happy Margarita Day! -Tiki Chris, reporting from the adobe bar next to Tiki Lounge Talk.

Mele Kalikimaka from Tiki Chris & Tiki Lounge Talk!

Merry Christmas to all of our kookie, krazy Tiki & Vintage-diggin’ pals!

Here’s hoping your Christmas & Hanukkah are filled with  fun & presents, and that you have a swingin’ New Year!

I am toasting you all right now with a cup of spiced-rum-spiked eggnog, and homemade cookies by Wahine Colleen. We’re surrounded by torn wrapping paper and fun gifts…and hope you are too.

Mele Kalikimaka!

Alcohol-Soaked Eggnog for a Very Merry Tiki Bar Christmas

With Christmas just a few days away I thought I’d give you kats and kittens some retro Egg Nog recipes to get your Christmas shindigs really swingin’! After all, you can’t have a retro, mid-century-style Christmas affair without a generous amount of booze flowing. And the easiest way to get your guests sloshed is with a couple of cups of good, strong, traditional eggnog. With these recipes, even the most uptight conformists will have lampshades on their heads before Santa makes an appearance. But be warned…these concoctions have been known to make some guests disappear two-at-a-time (and sometimes three) to darkened, upstairs rooms while the party is in full swing in the parlor!

Easy: Tiki Chris’ Pirate-Style Eggnog Recipe

I’m kind of lazy when it comes to Eggnog, so my personal recipe is the kind that uses pre-made non-alcoholic nog kicked up with some good booze and spices.

1 quart good quality store-bought eggnog
About 1 1/2 cups Captain Morgan’s or Sailor Jerry Rum
2 oz Coconut Rum
1 tablespoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Pour the nog into a large bottle and add all ingredients (start with ½ cup of rum and keep adding to taste). Shake vigorously and chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving. That’s it…it’s delicious.

A little more involved: Vintage Style Eggnog Recipe, from Rumdood.com

Thanks to Hurricane Hayward of TheAtomicGrog.com for turning me on to this kool Eggnog recipe. Check out his blog for lots of great recipes and more…and also check out RumDood’s post with four more great winter cocktail recipes.

“Egg Nogg:
.75 oz Brandy
.75 oz Rum
.5 oz Sugar
3 oz Whole Milk or Heavy Cream
1 Whole Egg

Mix rum, brandy, sugar, egg, and milk in a mixing tin.  Fill the tin with ice and shake like your life depends on it. Strain into a glass or goblet and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.”

Christmas Yule Eggnog: A complicated but well worth it vintage recipe.

From the Old Mr. Boston Deluxe Official Bartender’s Guide (my version is from 1979, the recipe dates back to the late 19th Century:

Beat first the yolks and then, in a separate bowl, the whites of one dozen eggs.
Pour them together and add:

1 pinch baking soda
6 oz. gold rum
2 lbs granulated sugar (yes, that’s two pounds)

Beat into stiff batter. Then add:

1 qt fresh milk
1 qt sweet cream
2 qts blended whiskey or bourbon

Don't forget to have a tasty Camel cigarette with your Eggnog! Santa approved!

Stir. Set in the refrigerator overnight. Before serving, stir again and serve in punch cups with sprinkled nutmeg on top. Fannnntabulous stuff.

That should keep you kids hammered through the holidays. Don’t forget, you can always add more booze if it’s not strong enough!

-Tiki Chris P. reporting from under the Christmas Tree at Tiki Lounge Talk

Looking for a great last minute gift for the retro lover in your life? You can gift an eBook to anyone with an email address from Amazon.com! Why not give your loved ones a fun, spooky, retro-tastic murder mystery ghost story…say, maybe, one written by your favorite Tiki culture blogger! Check out Murder Behind the Closet Door and Murder on Tiki Island, both under $4.oo on Amazon.com!