Tropical Delights
Get a taste of the South Pacific at a local tiki bar Trader Vic’s tradervicsatl.com (404) 221-6339 255 Courtland St. NE, Atlanta, 30303 Cosmo Tidbits - “Trader” Vic Bergeron’s original PuPu platter with crispy prawns, crab rangoon, pork belly and BBQ ribs for two, $19.25. Mai Tai - The original and most famous rum drink, $9.
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By Isadora Pennington You can almost hear the sound of waves crashing outside, and for a brief, glorious moment, the stifling city heat feels like it could be the balmy air of a South Pacific jungle. Beachy tunes play faintly in the background, and you kick back, sipping a cool, boozy beverage out of a funky tiki mug, thanking your lucky stars for a few days of respite from dayto-day life. But this is not your vacation, you’re still in Atlanta, and that heat isn’t going to be matched by a glistening blue ocean just outside the cabana door. This, my friends, is the power of the tiki bar. Tiki culture has a long and interesting history in mid-century America, mostly arising due to the food industry. Don the Beachcomber’s in Hollywood is considered to be the original tiki bar that inspired the trend of Polynesian eateries and bars across the country. Don is also considered to have singlehandedly invented the tropical drink genre. Quickly, the trend caught on and spread. His rival, Victor Bergeron, would go on to found Trader Vic’s and is credited with creating a variety of “Polynesian” dishes and drinks, such as Crab Rangoon and Mai Tai. This passion for Polynesian style, meals, drinks and music, can be traced all the way back to World War II, in which American servicemen returned from the South Pacific with stories and souvenirs. Affordable travel also enticed many middleclass families to visit, and American families fell in love with a romanticized idea of South Pacific culture. At l a n t a I N t o w n Pa p e r. c o m
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The S.O.S. Tiki Bar vicsandwich.com/sos
(404) 377-9308 340 Church St., Decatur, 30030 Pineapple guacamole with malanga chips, $8. Ghost Face Kula - Rum, gin, falernum, apricot brandy, orgeat, lime, orange juice, $10
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100% All Natural certified Angus beef. No hormones or antibiotics. All burgers are fresh, never frozen and are cooked in our hand churned gourmet butter to give extra flavor and tenderness to the burger.
Tiki Tuesdays at The Bookhouse Pub thebookhousepub.net (404) 254-1176 736 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, 30306 Spicy Bleu Cheese Chips - Homemade potato chips, bleu cheese, tomatoes, bacon, cilantro, chipotle sauce, $8. Vodka Punch A refreshing alternative to rum drinks, $9. So, if you can’t get to the beach this summer, I stopped in at some of my favorite tiki spots and photographed the experience. If you need a little staycation, step inside one of these fun spots and get carried away.
FREE frozen dessert With any burger, fries, and drink combo. Limited time only. Valid Monday-Thursday with coupon.
(404) 351-0450
2221 Peachtree Rd NE Ste G Atlanta, GA 30309 bigalsbuttermadeburgers.com town 41
July 2016 | IN