Shake off the cold with this Carribean delight. Easy to make and easier to drink, who doesn’t need a bit of Jamaican Winter. Thanks George L.

on to the drink…

Ok, we may be a bit late on this one, but it still needs to be noticed. Back in August, United Airlines began serving Trader Vic’s famous Mai Tai and Polynesian-inspired meals on flights to and from Hawaii. For us coach travelers, we will be able to purchase several different items inspider by the Trader.

This venture was recenetly one of the top brand extensions of 2006 by BrandWeek and brand agency TippingSprug. That means it has to be better than what we have been getting on United lately. Of course that is only on flights over 5 hours. At least that is enough time for a few of those Mai Tais. Yum.

This is the second partnership between Trader Vic’s and United Airlines. It was way back over 30 years ago that United served infight meals designed be Trader Vics. I borrowed this picture of the Trader showing off his creations. I hope it looks as good this time around.

Trader Vics & United
read the brand study (via)

As a nice break from these crisp, chilly fall days, our friends over at Hawaiirama have been busily adding reviews of bars all over the Hawaiian Islands. Here’s a few:

Tiki’s - Awesome views in the center of Waikiki
Murphy’s - An Irish Sports Bar in the heart of downtown

for more…
Honolulu Weekly Bar Guide

Fresh Cocktails - Honolulu Advertiser

photo from Restauranteur

This one was sent over by the nice folks at Malibu Rum (actually their PR Agency). We almost made it to the Distillery in Barbados, but didn’t make it past the Mount Gay Distillery. There are resons for this best lest for another time. Barbados is said to be the birthplace of Rum, having produced it for more than 350 years - WOW. Barbadian rum is much lighter than other rums, which helps give Malibu it’s distictive flavor, the coconut helps too.

1 1/4 oz. Malibu rum
3/4 oz. white crème de cacao
1/4 oz. grapefruit juice
3/4 oz. orange juice

Combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and serve into martini glass, garnish with Halloween gummy worms.

more halloween drinks

Annette Nahinu, owner of La Mariana, sits by the bar area with her dog, Bombay. Everything’s for sale, she says, for $3 million.
GREGORY YAMAMOTO | The Honolulu Advertiser

Long after the other classic Hawaii bars turned off their taps and put away their blenders, the La Mariana Yacht Club has served as the louche outpost for tiki culture mavens and those craving a sense of old Hawaii. In fact, proprietress Annette Nahinu bought up tiki furnishings from Don the Beachcombers and other old-school tiki bars as they closed in the 1970s and 1980s. Nahinu turns 92 this month and decided it was time to sell…

read the rest at hawaiirama

The Halekulani is probably the nicest hotel in the whole state of Hawaii. It has a prime spot the beach, right in the center of Waikiki, yet has the feel of a much large secluded resort. The hotel has several terrific bars and restaurants that feature awesomely crafted island specialties. Pictured is my Mai Tai from the restaurant Orchid’s at sunset. It was delicious. We also experienced once of the best ever tuna poke’s at the beach side bar.

The famed Lewars Lounge in the hotel was recently restored to it’s former glory as the premiere lounge in Waikiki. THey pulled out all the stops, bringing in the “King of Coctails” Dale DeGroff, formerly of the Rainbow Room, to design a unique cocktail menu for the Halekulani.
The following is an excerpt from Hawaiirama, run by our new friend Alex, on his trip to Lewars Lounge:

“Fortuitiously, I ran into Lesa Griffith, an assistant features editor at the Honolulu Advertiser and heavy foodie like myself. She used to edit my work at TimeOut New York. We both love Lewers.”

• read the full post at Hawaiirama
• Lewers Lounge
  

Prize winner @ the Bell & Hand, Boston

1 oz. Southern Comfort
1 oz. Stoli Raspeberry
1 oz. Stoli Orange
Pineapple Juice

Combine liqour in a pint glass filled
with ice. Fill with pineapple juice.