My name is Vance Klinke and I have a confession to make …
Lost Spirits Distillery – By Tom Hemmen
The last day of our recent visit to Los Angeles, we purchased tickets for a distillery tour we’d become aware of while researching things to do in the area online. At $40 per ticket it was not inexpensive, and its Yelp reviews, while mostly positive, featured some pretty poor ones as well – however, it looked intriguing, and potentially like a lot of fun, so we took the plunge …
Tiki Bar Review #58 Damon’s Steak House – Glendale CA
There’s other things you can do at a tiki bar besides just drink …
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Tiki Blogging #10 – The Search for The Ultimate Mai Tai (Kevin Crossman)
Where can I get a good Mai Tai?
This is actually a harder question to answer than you think. For many bars, a Mai Tai is their token tropical drink that has rum, pineapple juice and grenadine. Then there are tiki bars that know how to make a true 1944 Trader Vic’s Mai Tai, but the results range from great, to good, to passable, to “is this even a Mai Tai?”. I’ve been into tiki for a long time and had my share of Mai Tais which all taste drastically different. It’s only been more recently that I can pin down exactly what a Mai Tai should taste like and I’ve got to thank Kevin Crossman for that! Kevin’s website, The Search for The Ultimate Mai Tai, is a one stop resource that ranks and rates all the places that Kevin has had a Mai Tai. Check out The Search for The Ultimate Mai Tai and you will learn where you can find …
The Good, The Bad, and The Ultimate Mai Tai!
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It Isn’t Tiki But Damn! #4 Last Rites – San Francisco CA
Imagine you’re on an airplane …
It crashes into the jungle …
You’re still alive …
So, you and the rest of the survivors turn the wreckage of the airplane into a bar …
This is Last Rites …
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Home Tiki Bar Spotlight #63 Fred and Ginger’s Exotic Cocktail Bar and Lounge – San Jose CA
A lot can happen in a year …
Terra and Alex Fritch went from discovering what tiki is, to becoming members of the Rumbustion Society at Smuggler’s Cove, to building their own tiki bar on the patio behind their home. The name of their bar is Fred and Ginger’s Exotic Cocktail Bar and Lounge. Who are Fred and Ginger? Continue reading to find out!
Secret Tiki Escapes – Season 2 Episode 3: Twa-Wal-Kut’s Rocking Jellyfish Lounge – Gig Harbor WA
On this episode of Secret Tiki Escapes we head to Gig Harbor WA to visit Stephen Curran’s home tiki bar: Twa-Wal-Kut’s Rocking Jellyfish Lounge …
Tiki Bar Review #57 VenTiki – Ventura CA
Ventura is a solid hour-long drive heading North from LA (when traffic is good). It’s a hike, but if you make it up there, you’re in for a treat!
Home Tiki Bar Spotlight #62 South Pacific Room- Vista CA
When Derek and Roxanne Weaver moved into their new home in Vista CA and saw an add-on that was by the pool, they knew what they had to do, they turned it into a tiki bar! They named their bar the South Pacific Room in honor of the event room at the Bali Hai of the same name. Here is their story …
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It Isn’t Tiki But Damn! #3 The Formosa Café – West Hollywood CA
I’ve been to my share of Chinese restaurants but nothing compares to The Formosa Café!
There has always been a fascination for the exotic, the three biggest exotic locations being the South Pacific (Polynesia), Egypt and The Orient. When it comes to places that provide a full environment and experience, Chinese restaurants are right up there with Tiki bars. Looking back to my childhood, I believe my first exotic, full immersive experience was going to a Chinese restaurant with my aunt in Philadelphia. Continue reading “It Isn’t Tiki But Damn! #3 The Formosa Café – West Hollywood CA”