Results tagged “tiki”

Earlier this summer while on a trip to L.A. we made a pilgrimage to Tiki Ti. A tiny place perhaps (it seats fewer than thirty people) but its importance in the world of cocktails looms large. Opened in 1961 by Ray Buhen, a former bartender at the original Don the Beachcomber's as well as several lesser establishments, Tiki Ti has almost single-handedly kept many a vintage cocktail recipe from vanishing forever. Buhen passed away in 1999 but his son and grandsons proudly carry on the Tiki Ti tradition.

Polynesian Pop expert James Teitelbaum is looking ahead at the same time he's looking back. His previous book, Tiki Road Trip 2, has proved invaluable for scouting out tropical vibes no matter where we happen to be. Thanks to Teitelbam's advice, during a recent trip we spent a wonderful evening at Los Angeles' legendary Tiki Ti (an upcoming Properly Sauced post will feature a facsimile of a drink we imbibed there.)

Summertime: living is easy, the fish are jumping, and it's time to sit back with a long cool one and get pleasantly hammered. We have just the thing.

          

Yeah, we've blathered on and on about it. And now it's here! Rather than run off at the mouth again, here are some snaps of the new space. It's fantastic. With the crappy economy and snow piled up everywhere, doesn't an excursion to the tropics sound heavenly? They're open daily at 4 (but will be closed Christmas Day, alas).

        

A bar not dominated by flat-panel televisions and loud music. A sedate tropical environment which instantly transports you away from the outside world the moment you enter. Inventive, generous cocktails served without a drop of pretension. Trader Vic's is special to us.

The website for the new Chicago Trader Vic's at 1030 N. State is live. And while there's not much on it yet, you can sign up for their newsletter and also peruse the cocktail menu. Well, perhaps you should limit your perusal unless you have a drool cup handy. Because just reading names like Menehune Juice, Doctor Funk Son and Hot Rum Cow has already kicked our salivary glands into action.

Until Bottom Lounge (re-)opened, in order to find a good tiki lounge one had to travel to the suburbs. Within the city limits Trader Vic's closed last year, paving the way for the overpriced and subpar Lockwood restaurant. Trader Vic's was the lone standout for years after Ciral's House of Tiki in Hyde Park put up the shutters in 2000.