Quarantiki - Big Kahuna Bash: Tomorrow!

Friday, July 24, 2020

Poster created by Tom Laura aka Big Toe

Yesterday I bought tickets for the Big Kahuna Bash at Grumpy's in Roseville. This'll be the second year of the event and I'm glad it's happening. The inside of Grumpy's is spacious and they have a lot of space available outside as well. My understanding is that ticket sales are limited to 200 people so social distancing will not be a problem. 

According to a recent article in the Star Tribune by  Chris Riemenschneider, "...[the] Big Kahuna [Bash] is a celebration of the American G.I. postwar adaptation of South Pacific culture." Click on the link below for the full article. 

https://m.startribune.com/a-littler-big-kahuna-bash-planned-at-grumpy-s-roseville/571878602/?fbclid=IwAR22kfXrjZJiqoItDOfhPknCeqW2-GDWJY0ICAZyGUmssKoBqsyuouFsOQA

Quarantiki - Mid-Week Cocktails

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Cooler than usual day today. Maybe it got to 70 degrees? Perfect for sitting outside with Athena. Dale joined us when he was done with work.

For my first cocktail I had a Joey's Orange Speedo but without the club soda. 

For my second I made a Floridita Daiquiri from Shannon Mustipher's book Tiki - Modern Tropical Cocktails. Her recommendation is to use Diplomatico Planas rum which is what I did.

Athena just loves being outside. 

So do I. Especially when it's not a damned steam bath which is exactly what a good number of days have felt like this summer. 

Quarantiki - Merman Monday

Monday, July 20, 2020

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Quarantiki - Porch Life/Mermaid Lounge

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Dale and I each got a LOT of steps in today partly due to our walk around Lake Nokomis. We believe that all the way around is about 2.8 miles. Again, much more pleasant day than yesterday. Sunny, lower temps, and MUCH less humid along with a glorious breeze that pretty much lasted the whole day.

Due to the wonderful temps and awesome breeze we turned off the air conditioning and opened up the house. It was so pleasant to have the windows open on the porch for cocktail hour. Dale had wine and I made a Joey's Orange Speedo (Ounce and a half each of grapefruit juice, orange curaçao, rum, and one ounce of falernum topped off with club soda). I shake the first three ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker, strain into a lowball glass, add the ice from the shaker then add the club soda and stir. 

Downloaded another album by Augie Colon. 

Quarantiki - Psycho Suzi's

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Quiet evening at Psycho Suzi’s. When Dale and I went in June on a Friday night it was pretty hoppin’. Tonight the patio was probably only maybe about 25% full. This time we brought Mom who really had a great time. 

No seating inside.

Quarantiki - Psycho Suzi's

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Yummy but salty appetizers. We ordered a Hawaiian and a pepperoni pizza - also yummy. I went with tropical cocktails but Dale and Mom stuck with beer. The Mississippi looked beautiful from the patio. Mom really appreciated that. 

As on our last visit my first drink was the Psychotic Suzi.

As like our last visit my second tiki drink was the Native's Curse.

Unlike our last visit my third and final drink was the Fu Manchu. I couldn't decide between that one and the Beachcomber so I asked the bartender to pick for me. She told me that I for sure wanted the Fu Manchu. I thanked her for doing my thinking for me. In its description the menu says, "Only one foo will do, in this not so foo-foo fighting beverage. Special Kung Fu blend of Jamaican rums, coconut, and Hawaiian island flavor." The coconut really spoke to me. It was delicious. 

Quarantiki - Psycho Suzi's

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Dale,

Please stop teasing the tiki.

Thank you. 

Quarantiki - Psycho Suzi's

Thursday, July 16, 2020

My chauffeur takes me to all the best places.

Hot but not oppressively so. Beautiful evening none-the-less. 

Mom took the following picture of me and Dale once we got home:

Quarantiki - Tiki Tuesday Cocktails

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Cocktail hour tonight! I’m calling my new creation the Banana Hammock. It’s one part amber rum, one part orange curaçao, one part pineapple juice (one part in this case is an ounce and a half), one ounce falernum, and then topped of with club soda. It’s delicious and very refreshing if I do say so myself. Dale had wine.

I took a picture of the two of us on the porch but the flash worked more in my favor than Dale’s. I was closer to the camera so I looked radiant. Dale, however, was relegated to the shadowy background.  That said, he has forbidden me from posting it. Above is one I took just of myself. 

Music tonight by Augie Colon. I'd never heard of him before until I saw the above album cover posted on a tiki message board I follow. I think he's fantastic. 

Quarantiki - Psycho Suzi's Waterfront Lounge

Monday, July 13, 2020

Made reservations for Psycho Suzi’s patio extravaganza for this coming Thursday. Dale and I went in June and had a great time. We were supposed to go this past Thursday but couldn’t do it as I needed to self-quarantine due to waiting for my COVID test results. Anyway, this time we’re bringing Mom and she’s very excited.

Quarantiki -Merman Monday

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Quarantiki - Mikey's Banana Hammock

Saturday, July 11, 2020

Decided to modify my creation of Joey's Orange Speedo by switching the grapefruit juice for pineapple juice. That means the new drink is one part amber rum (I used Plantation), one part pineapple juice, one part orange curaçao, with 1/2 ounce falernum, and topped off with club soda. It's quite refreshing. The base of the drink is The Hula Joe. I gonna call it Mikey's Banana Hammock in honor of my friend Mike. 

By the way, Dale and I took a wonderful walk around Lake B'de Maka Ska today. It was much less humid than it's been lately which made for a wonderful experience. 

Quarantiki - Tangerine Speedo

Wednesday, July 8, 2020 

This is one of my new favorites. It's from the book Liquid Vacation: 77 Refreshing Tropical Drinks from Frankie's Tiki Room in Las Vegas. I originally made it back in May. 

The drink includes amber rum, Campari, creme de cassis, Chambord, lime juice, pear nectar, orange juice, and club soda. For the first one I followed the proportions in the recipe strictly but not some much for the two after that. They were all great by the way. The drink isn't very alcohol heavy but it is incredibly refreshing.

For cocktail hour Dale and I sat on the porch. I with my Tangerine Speedo and Dale with wine. It's been incredibly hot here and today was one of the stickiest of all the many sticky days this summer. We sat in the comfort of our air conditioned porch. 

Quarantine - 4th of July

Saturday, July 4, 2020

Dale and I took a walk around Lake of the Isles this morning. It continues to be hot and humid so we took our water bottles and toughed it out. 

Very quiet 4th of July. Rather somber too with all the unrest occurring in our country. 

Cocktails on the porch tonight. Dale had beer. I made a tiki-inspired concoction of rum, falernum, and pineapple juice. I'm holding a tiki Mom gave me. I think it was something of a peace offering after a political spat we had. It's not a bad little tiki. There's a spot behind it to put a votive sized candle. 

Quarantiki - Psycho Suzi's Waterfront Lounge Part 4

Friday, June 19, 2020

We monitored our time there and left about 5 minutes shy of our 1.5 hour time slot. What a great time. It was so nice to get out to eat with my honey. 

Quarantiki - Psycho Suzi's Waterfront Lounge Part 3

Friday, June 19, 2020

My final tiki drink of the evening was the Coconaut which the menu describes thusly: “A cross between a tropical White Russian and a Pina colada, but not really. Vanilla, coconut cream, allspice and West Indies rum. Served not in a coconut, but a rocket ship... if you use your imagination.”

My description: Yummy.

Quarantiki - Psycho Suzi's Waterfront Lounge Part 2

Friday, June 19, 2020

For his first drink Dale ordered a pint of Surly. 

I got the Psychotic Suzi tiki cocktail. The drink menu describes it as: “A delirium of Plantation 5 year rum, Sailor Jerry rum, Trader Vic’s rum, a whole lime and more.” I describe it as: “My favorite.” 

The menu was limited but everything on it that we ordered was great. It was all pub food which, unlike haute cuisine,  you have to really have to put some effort into messing up. That said they did NOT mess anything up. We ordered tater tots, cheese curds, French fries as appetizers and a Hawaiian Safari pizza as our entree. The only dessert item on the menu was Dole Whip and it was great. 

For the second round of drinks Dale got another pint of Surly. I ordered the Native’s Curse which the menu describes as “an elixir of West Indies rum, passion fruit, coconut, and citrus.” I describe it as: “Pretty freakin’ awesome.”