I was talking to a friend of mine and he mentioned that he really loves speakeasy bars. The idea of a speakeasy is borrowed from the days of prohibition when alcohol was illegal. People still wanted to party and get their drink on, so hidden bars were built. Some bars were in basements, in underground tunnels, or behind secret doors. Of course, it’s totally legal to drink booze now, but the idea of speakeasy is really cool.
I like to think of Toad’s Grog Grotto as a speakeasy Tiki bar! Heather and Terry Manning live in a townhouse in East Vancouver, BC and you would never think a Tiki bar would be near. But there is a Tiki bar and it’s in Heather and Terry’s garage. As much as Heather and Terry love Tiki, they also love bicycles. They needed to keep their collection of bikes somewhere, so they decided to split the garage in half. When you open the garage door, all you see are bicycles. Hidden behind the bikes is a curtain and behind that curtain lies Toad’s Grog Grotto! This is Heather and Terry’s story…
What brought you into the Tiki lifestyle and how long has it been part of your life?
Terry- My mum is from New Zealand, so we had a lot of Maori Tikis and artwork in the house. I was exposed to this sort of thing from an early age. In 2009, I bought my first Tiki mug while on a trip to Newport, OR and started building my collection, which now numbers over 200. We held our wedding ceremony and reception in 2011 at the Tiki Bar at Vancouver’s Waldorf Hotel, which has been in operation since the late 1940s. Since 2012, we enjoy our yearly winter escapes to Hawaii to explore the culture of the islands and discover old and new Tiki establishments. Now a group of us Tiki Canadians travel to take in the amazing fun to be had at the yearly gatherings for Tiki Kon, Tiki Caliente, and Tiki Oasis.
Heather- For me Tiki wasn’t really on my radar until Terry bought that first mug and started finding more mugs at thrift stores and online. We then looked up how to make Tiki cocktails like the Mai Tai and Planter’s Punch to put in those mugs. Next we attended a history of rum and Tiki event at one of the private liquor stores, where we sampled properly crafted cocktails from the original Donn the Beach and Trader Vic recipes. The bartender who hosted that event also did a Tiki Tuesday night at a Gastown bar and then co-presented another rum and Tiki event at the Modern Bartender supply store with the owner. By then, our rum and Tiki education was well underway.
How did you come up with the name of your Tiki bar?
Terry- Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is one of my favorite Tiki bars for the blend of Tiki with the Disney touch. So I borrowed the “Grog Grotto” part and added my nickname, Toad— same as the American Graffiti character Terry “the Toad”— and it became Toad’s Grog Grotto. Our friend Darren McQuitty offered to make a sign for the bar and it’s awesome! Barnacles and all!
Heather- We kicked around a few ideas trying to incorporate a reference to our East Vancouver neighborhood, or something West Coast or Pacific Northwest-sounding with Tiki. I even tried a reference to a classic Canadian TV show, The Beachcombers, by borrowing the name of one of the notorious characters, Relic.
When and what made you decide to build your own Tiki bar?
Terry- In January 2015, we moved into our new townhouse, which has its own 200-square- foot garage. I knew from the beginning that we were going to use part of this space for a Tiki bar. I had been talking with Rod Moore (owner of the Shameful Tiki Room in Vancouver and Toronto) for a while about this project and he generously offered to start the build for us just before Christmas 2015.
Heather- About four months before the build was a go, we scored a cane-wrapped shelving unit from a used furniture store in our neighborhood, perfect to display mugs and with some functional storage, too. We knew we needed a free-standing bar and Terry found one online at Home Depot that was solid wood with clean lines and a teak finish that looked island-inspired. And then we were fortunate to receive the burnt wood, bark cloth, bamboo, and other building materials when the Shameful Tiki Room Vancouver removed its two-person Castaway Room.
What was the first piece you bought on the path to making your own Tiki escape?
Terry- We had been collecting artwork and decor for a while with the intention of someday displaying it all together in our own Tiki bar. But in late 2014, I bought a Witco-inspired, Hawaiian Islands-carved wood map with a custom burnt wood frame. A real one-of-a-kind piece to design a bar around. Rod had made it when he had an exhibition for his Tiki carvings and other Mid-Century Modern artworks.
Can you give a little history of how it all came together?
Terry- In December 2015, Rod had returned from building and opening the Shameful Tiki Room Toronto and he had free time before Christmas to build out our bar. It took about two weeks with assistance from our friend Brian Verch who helped burn the wood and varnish all the bamboo trim. And the rest is history.
What is your favorite Tiki drink? What do you think makes the perfect cocktail?
Terry- It would have to be the Navy Grog. I think it has that perfect balance of sweet and sour. For me, the perfect cocktail is the right combination of elements: the correct rums, handmade syrups, and the best ingredients you can source. This cannot be quickly put together. Also, I think presentation is key. The correct garnishes and glassware make for a perfect visual and sensory experience.
Heather- A Trader Vic’s 1944 Mai Tai is my favorite classic Tiki cocktail. It’s great to see new interpretations appearing on some menus. The Shameful Tiki Room Vancouver does one with Campari called a Bitter Mai Tai. Bootlegger Tiki in Palm Springs has a Pod Thai with cardamom-lemongrass syrup. And Monkeypod Kitchen on Maui tops their Mai Tai with honey-lilikoi foam.
What is your favorite Tiki bar? Outside great drinks, what do you think are essential elements in creating the perfect environment?
Terry- I would have to say my favorite place is the Shameful Tiki Room Vancouver. It has the best mix of ambiance and décor and is the perfect escape. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, the music is spot-on without being too over powering, and there are special sound effects when certain drinks are ordered. I have been to a lot of other Tiki bars in the US and I still think Rod nailed it perfectly.
Heather- We’ve been regulars of the Shameful Tiki Room Vancouver since day one. And now three and a half years later, everything is still on point for keeping it authentic to Tiki of a bygone era. From stepping behind the curtain into a space lit by fishing float and puffer fish lamps and decorated wall-to-wall, to interacting with staff decked out in tropical wear that are enthusiastic about Tiki, too. In our travels, we’ve made it to some of the oldest Tiki bars still operating today, such as Tonga Room in San Francisco, Trader Vic’s in Emeryville, Tiki Ti in Los Angeles, and Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach. They all feel like our home away from home!
Do you feel that music has an important role in creating a great Tiki experience?
Terry- Absolutely! I think it is one of the key elements in the whole experience. It needs to be from a complimentary genre, such as exotica, instrumental, surf, or early rock and roll. There are some places that have great décor and cocktails, but miss the mark if the playlist is music from today’s era. It doesn’t make for a complete Tiki experience.
Anything else you would like to add?
Terry- I have enjoyed the whole Tiki experience to date, from that first mug purchase to fulfilling my dream to have my own home Tiki bar. Along the way, we’ve met so many wonderful people in the Tiki community near and far.
Heather- Tiki has now been an interest and lifestyle we’ve shared for seven out of our eight years together. And now with having our home bar, we don’t need a special occasion to host a Tiki gathering. It’s a thrill to see a first time visitor’s reaction to our little tropical escape.
Want to know a little more about Rod Moore? Here is my Tiki VIP post on the man!
