Trader Vic's Tiki Party!: Cocktails and Food to Share with Friends [A Cookbook]

by Stephen Siegelman, Maren Caruso (Photographer)

The tiki volcano is erupting all over again, and now Trader Vic's, the legendary purveyor of Polynesian food, drinks, and fantasy, wants to help us bring it all home. Step behind the bar and into the kitchen at Trader Vic's and learn how to create the kind of tiki magic that made “the Trader” famous. It's all recipes for 95 of the restaurant's best-loved tropical cocktails and after-dinner drinks along with more than 35 party-friendly recipes for pupus, tidbits, finger food, entrées, and desserts-all adapted from the past and present menus of Trader Vic's. Dozens of tips and ideas for inexpensive, easy tiki decorating and entertaining at home are included, as is a guide to the basics of bartending equipment and techniques. Whether it's a blowout tiki party for friends or a spontaneous occasion to dust off the shaker, this book brings favorite concoctions from Trader Vic's into your home. An entertaining guide from Trader Vic's restaurant including 130 recipes for cocktails, pupus, finger food, entrées, and desserts.A follow-up to the popular THE GREAT TIKI DRINK BOOK.Trader Vic's has 21 company-owned and franchised restaurants around the world-from Emeryville, California; to Berlin, Germany; and Osaka, Japan.Cocktail recipes include the Samoan Fog Cutter, the Tiki Puka Puka, Scorpion, the Kamaiina, and The Original Mai Tai, invented by Trader Vic himself in 1944.Appetizer recipes include crowd-pleasing pan-Asian small plates and nibbles, like Crispy Prawns, Cha Siu Pork, Ahi Tuna Poke, and Key Lime Chiffon Tartlets.Throw a rocking tiki party using the decorating, music-selection, bar-stocking, and menu-planning tips found here.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Food and Drink, Cooking, Reference

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 20 pages is a really nice history of the restaurant chain and how it influenced tiki culture, including a significant number of photos. The next 30 covers ideas on how to pull off tiki without tacky.

Not sure if I agree on the section about rum, as I find a number of their blends and mixes inferior to other inexpensive brands or fresh ingredients. And they are flat out wrong with what you can substitute Demarera Rum with. Captain Morgan’s (along with most other spiced rum) isn’t even in the same class as El Dorado.

The last 100 or so pages are recipes for food and drink, including a number of their non-alcoholic drinks. A worthwhile resource that’s a good second book to own after Beachbum Berry Remixed.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the history sections are interesting, far FAR to many of the recipes are nearly identical - changing only light for dark rum, or lemon juice instead of lime.

[Leslie Goddard · Rating 4 out of 5]

You could do much worse than this fun book which is a blend of short history and practical how-to guidance. It’s slanted, of course, towards Trader Vic’s, so the history you get is mostly about Vic Bergeron, but his role in tiki history is deservedly important. The recipes for drinks underscore his creativity and innate sense of blending flavors. You get a good sense of why his approach to tiki proved so enormously appealing. The food recipes are Trader Vic restaurant recipes, and that’s fine, although many are too complex for me to want to recreate. I liked the writing tone — a reassuringly casual “you can do this” and “it doesn’t have to be complex” style. I’m not sure it fully succeeds as either a full-blown history or as a universally useful hands-on party guide, but it’s a fun and very interesting read. I’ll keep it primarily for the drink recipes and the insight into what made Trader Vic’s the powerhouse of the tiki industry.

[False · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book with a mini-biography about Trader Vic's life, things you need for a tiki party and bar, drinks, non-alcoholic drinks and "nibbly thingies." Also resources on where to buy tiki barware and Hawaiian shirts. Aloha! Coming and going.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

GIVE ME ALL THE RUM DRINKS. and pretty umbrellas and fruit in them please.

[Cory Blystone · Rating 5 out of 5]

History, mixology, and gastronomy combine to make for one hell of a fun read. A must for any home tiki enthusiast.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for Trader Vic's fans! Can't wait to try a bunch of the drink recipes.

[Dena Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ideas are either for people with way more time than me or who are having a small, intimate tiki party. Not too useful for helping plan a large party. I did use a few of the punch recipes though....

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun, interesting, good lomi lomi salmon recipe