Rum N Pineapple

The delight of coffee!

2012-02-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

Just this week, The Pad inherited a wonderful new addition to its toy collection - a gorgeous Rancilio espresso machine and coffee grinder. In addition to the way mornings are looking MUCH shinier now, having access to wonderful, freshly ground, freshly pulled espresso has had me pulling out some of my happiest coffee based cocktail recipes. This one, named simply TIKI, was part of the second season of the Black Orchid Club and is a cocktail worthy of sharing: The rhythm of the savages, the music of the idols, the depths of mystery. Taste this combination of cardamom, almond, lime zest and bitter chocolate with rich Portuguese coffee, dark West Indian rum, and sweetened condensed milk, and be transported to a hidden jungle paradise.

Tiki
(cocktail by Suzanne Long for the Waitiki 7, and their 2010 release The New Sounds of Exotica)

1 oz sweetened condensed milk mixture in bottom of glass (half condensed milk, half heavy cream)
3 oz cold strong expresso - Sical Cinco Estrelas (from Portugal)
1 oz Tiki Syrup (see below)
2 oz Trader Vic's Dark Rum (Whalers is a reasonable substitute, Zaya makes for a very luxurious cocktail)

Shake rum, coffee and syrup with ice. Pour into cooler with condensed milk in the bottom. Garnish with an orchid, zest of fresh lime, a long coffee spoon and straws.

To make the Tiki syrup, take the zest of three oranges, the zest of one lime, 1/2 juice from each the orange and the lemon, and ten green cardamom pods, and bring to a boil in 4 cups water. Boil 5 minutes. Add 2 tsp chocolate extract and one tsp almond extract and 8 cups sugar, slowly stirring until sugar is totally incorporated and syrup is clear. Allow to cool and store in the refrigerator.

Now, there are so many options when choosing coffee that I encourage you, as I would with rum, gin, whiskey or anything else you add to a cocktail, to experiment and learn the glorious ins and outs of different roasts and brands. I use the Sical five star coffee from Portugal because I am in love with its unapologetic briskness and intense flavor, which reminds me of MANY mornings that followed rum soaked nights when I lived in Boston.

Imbibe Magazine just published a really nice article with some other very interesting cocktails using coffee. If you're looking for a few more excellent ones to try, check it out at http://imbibemagazine.com/Elements-Coffee. Also, a very hearty MAHALO to Tracy Howard and Imbibe for including The Pad in their article on inspiring home bars! If you'd like to read about my home lab, check out the article at http://www.imbibemagazine.com/Inspiring-Home-Bars!

I'm off to another cup of glorious espresso! I'll see YOU there - EVERYWHERE!

-- Suzanne

Aloha to a sunny new day!

2012-01-16T13:43:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a season this was! Now that we're all, finally, on the other side of the holidays and the new year has decided to stick around (sometimes on New Year's Day I'm not sure!), it's finally back to the chance to blog, and share some awesome new things with you. First of all, I'd like to share with you a new cocktail that I created on the eve of my departure from Forbidden Island (more on that below) called Chega de Saudade. The tune is one of my all time favorites, with its haunting sadness, and is widely held as the first Bossa Nova tune. The cocktail features the Del Maguey Crema de Mezcal (this mezcal has some agave syrup added back into it and so has just a touch of sweetness) with blood orange, and a hint of truffle salt - it was haunting in its own wonderful way; rich, savory, with that sweet mezcal smoke and yet dancing and effervescent, and I'd love to share the recipe with you, so here you go:

Chega de Saudade (Suzanne Long)

1/2 oz Del Maguey Crema de Mezcal
1/2 oz Lillet Blanc
1/2 oz Blood Orange Reduction (or organic concentrate)
approximately 4 oz brut champagne or sparkling wine
slice of blood orange
Truffle Salt (Selezione Tartufi Sale con Tartufo 10%)

Place Del Maguey Crema de Mezcal, Lillet Blanc and the blood orange reduction in a shaker and shake with cubed ice. Strain into champagne flute that has been half rimmed with truffle salt. Slowly top with brut sparkling wine and garnish with a slice of blood orange.

In regard to Forbidden Island, it has been a wonderful adventure, and I was pleased to spend nearly three years behind the bamboo stick there. In the sea of rum, limes, pineapples and glorious aloha, I don't regret a single moment, and will cherish all of those memories for a lifetime. However, I've got a VERY exciting adventure ahead of me, and each and every one of you will want to keep track of me in the coming months, so remember to swing by here or follow me on Twitter (@rumnpineapple and @spindriftsuz) for all of the updates on my latest project.

I'M not going anywhere - so don't worry! If anything, you'll be seeing and hearing a lot more from me!

I'll see YOU there - EVERYWHERE!

Suzanne

Christmas Cactus Cocktail

2011-12-12T16:46:00.000-08:00

Cozy December days call for revelry, good fellowship, bright cheer... and strong drink! Come to Forbidden Island tonight and join me for the delightful holiday treat the Christmas Cactus, featuring my handmade prickly pear citrus butter, a hint of ginger, and the fresh and delicious Clément Première Canne Rhum. Only tonight! Don't miss your chance to taste the wonderful handmade Prickly Pear butter, and have me craft an exclusive cocktail just for you! I'd love to... after all, on cold winter nights, I need *someone* to keep me warm. And don't forget, Happy Hour all night long!

I'll see you, tonight, at the Island! 5pm!

-- Suzanne

Festive for Fall - Suzanne's Pumpkin Eggnog

2011-11-07T15:57:00.000-08:00

Feeling festive, or just in need of a little liquid cheer? Come on by tonight and see me in Black Orchid Sessions as I feature a delicious and rich treat fit for the season - my Pumpkin Eggnog. Dark rum, cinnamon and fresh nutmeg swirl into delectable pumpkin and egg for an amazing treat. Don't miss this one!

Also, I have brought back the wonderful pumpkin butter from last season, so come and allow me to custom create a cocktail for you on the spot!

I'll see YOU, tonight, at the Island!

Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge1304 Lincoln Avenue, Alameda, CA

-- Suzanne

Madagascar Vanilla Smoked Cocktails tonight

2011-10-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

Come and taste the smoky sexiness of tonight's Black Orchid Sessions cocktail, Afro-Desia, with my Mt. Gay Eclipse flambeed rum cordial, fresh lime juice, Punt e Mes and a Madagascar Vanilla bean smoked glass. And as if you needed any other reason to brave the soft evening weather, we've also got Happy Hour all night long!

I'll see YOU, TONIGHT, at the Island, 5pm!

-- Suzanne

Debut of Autumn Specials at Forbidden Island

2011-09-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

Autumn has arrived, and we have a beautiful little menu of custom created treats for your imbibing pleasure. Come and enjoy these lovely cocktails created by me and my excellent staff:

Tempranillo Sling (award winning cocktail by James Eggett)

In tribute to the alchemy of historic cocktails, we join Hornitos Anejo tequila with the tangy flavors of ginger, lime and grapefruit and the well-balanced sweetness of our housemade Tempranillo agave cordial.

The Old Fig and the Sea

Our delicious tribute to the last work Hemmingway published during his lifetime, this cocktail features a house-made fig and spice reduction,bright citrus, Mt. Gay Eclipse rum and fresh thyme.

Autumnesque

Autumn swirls with the gracefulness of a dancer en pointe, in this enchanting cocktail, featuring 209 gin, fresh lime, Lillet Blanc and our house-made lemon thyme champagne reduction.

Maltwine Honey

The whisky-like triple grain distillate of Bols Genever, that the Dutch call maltwine, is partnered with the wonderfully mellow taste of Maker's Mark bourbon and a house made syrup that steeps mint, green mate, star anise, clove, pineapple in honey made right here in Alameda, CA!

Pineapple Fizz

Fresh delicious pineapple is paired with honey and peaches for aperfect fizzy autumn treat.

Biscotti Silver Flip (Pictured)

El Dorado Demerara Rum, Faretti Biscotti Liqueur and fresh nutmeg come together in a luxurious cocktail that will keep you warm through the coldest autumn nights.

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

National Rum Punch Day!

2011-09-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

Join us today, September 20, as we celebrate National Rum Punch Dayat Forbidden Island with delicious punches all night long! OurBarbados Rum Punch featuring Mt. Gay Eclipse will be discounted allevening, and enjoy two more rarely served punches, the Gallant-Yard, aliberating and delicious blend of fresh grapefruit, lime, silver rumand exotic far away spices, and the Queen's Tea Punch, with a mixtureof teas, vanilla and rich rums. Both will be served in bowls for twoat only $10 all evening... a fitting way to kick off your San FranciscoCocktail Week experience! Splice the Main Brace and join us tonightat 5pm!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

-- Suzanne

Indian Summer with Black Orchid Sessions at Forbidden Island!

2011-09-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

The weather is warm and breezy, the sun is shining, and yet the shadows are just a little bit longer and leaves blow across the lanai... yes, the golden season of California has arrived. It is our wonderful Indian Summer. In Black Orchid sessions tonight I have some fresh flavors in tribute, and am featuring a refreshing and tantalizing new cocktail, Maize, which is made with the light flavors of organic white California corn and heirloom tomatoes, and a red wine chipotle reduction paring beautifully with the Hangar One Chipoltle Vodka. Flavorful, yet surprisingly not overly spicy, this new cocktail will seduce you in the warm evening. Come and try one! Taste the fresh heirloom tomato and corn waters, and the stunning richness of the new syrup, and let's create a brand new cocktail just for you tonight!

Sessions is waiting for you! And, as always, enjoy Happy Hour all night long on Mondays!

I'll see YOU, TONIGHT, at the Island!

-- Suzanne

A photo interlude... Tiki Oasis 2011

2011-09-03T11:30:00.000-07:00

Tiki Oasis was, as usual, a complete blast. Forbidden Island hosted two back to back suite parties which were both packed for three straight hours... and we had a ball. I wanted to share some of the photos. Dig it!My first cocktail of the weekend, being poured into the approved container: A Mr. Bali Hai at the Bali Hai

Loading in a teensy bit of the rum for the weekend!

Line outside the Forbidden Island suite for Friday evening's party:

View from the balcony - floors and floors of parties at the Crowne Plaza Hanalei:

It felt like New Year's Eve! Marissa of Rock-a-Hula, Michael, owner of Forbidden Island and myself right before opening the doors of Saturday night's gala, One Night in Havana:

The Havana cocktail, with fresh mint, champagne,and Mt. Gay Eclipse:

The invaluable and utterly handsome Marty, running the roulette table for the evening:

The party in full swing. We couldn't have done it without our wonderful and generous sponsor, Mt. Gay:

Not to mention the overwhelming generosity of Cruzan, who sponsored Friday night's Fun in Acapulco party:

And Appleton, who sponsored us in the Sip 'n' Shop on Friday afternoon, where I served the "So Danco Samba," made with a flambeed Appleton rum cordial, Punt e Mes, Ramazzotti Amaro, vanilla and fresh lime juice:

Some of the usual characters were present, and a few unusual ones too. Here's a mysterious masked man, who is apparently a little bit ticklish:

Behind the bar with Patrick, who looked like a million dollars and was a darling and so very helpful all evening:

With The Mayor of Exotica (Tim Mayer of the Waitiki 7, and guest soloist with Don Tiki for the weekend), and Patrick:

After hours in the suite, Tim and Alika Lyman jammed straight ahead for us:

And then, there was Sunday. The judges came around to let us know our Saturday night Havana party was the best of the weekend! Here we are with our winning plaque:

And then... DON TIKI! I have to say that this was one of the best concerts I've seen in years. Solid, awesome exotica and latin jazz. The crowd hung on every note and was just waiting for the chance to jump up for a standing ovation. Seeing them on the mainland was an amazing treat. I hope I don't have to wait another ten years!

I love this shot - they were on stage, but the lighting makes it look like Lopaka was playing on the beach at sunset:

Just because we love good rum at Forbidden Island, we got up early on Monday morning and flew back to the Bay Area, just in time for the Brugal 1888 rum launch! Make sure to come by and try this wonderful new treat!

I'll see YOU at the Island!--Suzanne

(Photos by Suzanne Long, Michael Thanos, and the Ohana of the Tiki community. Mahalo!)

Manly Cocktails with Oro Pisco, Bourbon and Branch Beverage Academy, SF Bay Guardian Best of the Bay, and here comes Tiki Oasis!

2011-08-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

Someone make me a cocktail, quick - I've got so much to talk about!

On July 31, a gorgeous, sunny Sunday afternoon, I had the great pleasure of visiting the home base of Oro Pisco, who held a cocktail competition in their beautiful creative space on Treasure Island. The theme of the contest was "Manly" cocktails - no pink drinks, no sweet, fruity, or tropical drinks - but something a man would be proud to hold in his hand and drink. A fun theme, to be certain! My entry was the Proper English, with the Oro Pisco Quebranta, Montenegro, and a bit of Peychaud's bitters in a glass smoked with a pipe tobacco blend (Latakia, Virginias and Orientals), and finished with an oak ice cube made from water barrel aged in virgin American oak for 9 months.

Here are a few photos of me in the contest, courtesy of Dg Blackburn (of the Boothby Center for the Beverage Arts):

Lighting the tobacco to smoke the glasses:

Barrel aged water, in solid form!

The well deserving winner of the contest was none other than Tony Devencenzi, who brought in Susan Eggett and myself last month to Bourbon and Branch's Beverage Academy, where we taught our Rumbellion, Rumbustion, and Flaming Cocktails - a Concise Rum Soaked History of Tiki Seminar, which was a total blast. We were honored to bring our presentation to Bourbon and Branch, and it was a pleasure to meet such wonderful people and to have the opportunity to stand behind the beautiful bar in the Wilson Room, and share a little of our aloha with others. Here are a few choice photos of the class, taken by Paul McMillan of Zero Coordinate, Inc.:

Susan and I prep for the class in the beautiful Wilson and Wilson room:

Decor from Forbidden Island, bringing a little tiki to the speakeasy:

Tony, myself and Susan:

Our communal bowl experience, presenting the Makalani bowl aflame:

Me, professing the glory of the history of Tiki, Trader Vic and Don the Beachcomber:

Tony and I behind the bar as class participants, including Forbidden Island owner Michael Thanos, craft their own original tropical cocktails:

It was a treat. Thank you, Tony, and Bourbon and Branch! We look forward to the next class!

This year has indeed been one of honors for Forbidden Island, and our most exciting came just recently from the San Francisco Bay Guardian's Best of the Bay edition, where we were voted "Best Overall Bar" in the entire Bay Area by the Guardian readers. We couldn't possibly be more excited or proud! Michael and I attended the VIP party for all the winners last week, and it was quite something to be in a room full of that many winners, for so many things! The San Francisco Bay Area is rich with talented and wonderful people, and being there with many of them in one room was certainly a treat. Here is a photo of Michael and I with the plaque from the Guardian, and the winning issue of the paper:

This is the official photo of all the winners, published by the Guardian in this week's paper:

In all this excitement, I nearly forgot about my birthday, which was last week. Thanks, everyone who wrote, called, said hello on Facebook, and who showed up for my little shindig on Monday night. I had a blast.

Next up on the schedule is none other than Tiki Oasis! Forbidden Island is hosting two (count 'em, TWO!) exciting room parties on Friday and Saturday night this week down in San Diego at the Crown Plaza Hanalei. We're really excited for both - Friday night is our Fun in Acapulco Beach party, sponsored by Cruzan Rum, and Saturday is One Night in Havana, sponsored by Mt Gay Rum. I will be behind the stick for both parties serving up rummy goodness! If you're at Oasis, don't miss out on the best parties of the year. Also, Friday afternoon during the Sip and Shop at Tiki Oasis, I will be featuring a new cocktail with Appleton Rum and vanilla... not to be missed, for sure.

I'll see YOU there!

--Suzanne

Have you experienced SESSIONS lately?

2011-07-11T15:02:00.000-07:00

Have YOU tried a SESSIONS cocktail lately?

If you haven't - today is certainly the day to do so. If you HAVE - well, then today is one not to miss, since I have something spectacular for you to try. My special ingredient is a flambeed rum cordial, which you simply have to taste to believe. It came about as an 11th hour fix while creating the Mystery Bowl at Ohana, Luau at the Lake this year - we needed something to fix the flavor of the cocktail, and in a moment of MacGyver inspiration, I decided to flambe the Appleton Estate Reserve with the only sugar we had on hand... about 300 single serving C&H sugar packets. Here are a few photos of me playing with fire in Lake George:

The result was fantastic, and I love it so much that I've created a special cocktail featuring it, which I'll be serving tonight (with a smoked glass, punt e mes, and fresh lime juice), and I feel it is fully worthy of a few sessions cocktails too! C'mon over and try the cordial for yourself, and let's create some spectacular Black Orchid Sessions cocktails together!

As always, it's also HAPPY HOUR all night long, so come and see me!

I'll see YOU, TONIGHT, at 5pm at the Island!

--Suzanne

A little Maurin Quina in the Ides of March

2011-06-08T15:37:00.001-07:00

Wanted to post today about a wonderful little cocktail I've got on the menu here at Forbidden Island for only a short time longer. It is called the Ides of March, and features a wonderful, little known spirit called Maurin Quina. You are likely familiar with the image seen here, painted in 1906. The liqueur has recently become available again in the US and I was thrilled to get the chance to feature it in a cocktail, as I am madly in love with it! The cherry and almond notes of the liqueur make me swoon, and the addition of Black Maple Hill Small Batch Bourbon and the Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters just knock me over. The cocktail will disappear soon, though, as we're rolling out our summer specials in just two weeks.

Come and try one - no need to fear the Ides of March any longer. Especially when it tastes this good.

Also, I'm so thrilled to announce that Forbidden Island is featured on the cover of the San Francisco Bay Guardian today! Mahalo to the great folks on Mississippi Street for the nod!

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

(Cocktail Photo by Gabriel Hurley of Zero Coordinate, Inc.)

SHATFEST - More William Shatner than you can stand

2011-05-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

Tonight. Will Not. Be. Your Average Night. At. Forbidden. Island.

At all, actually. Tonight is off the hook! It's SHATFEST,Will the Thrill at Forbidden Thrills monthly movie night at Forbidden Island. We're showing disgustingly fabulous William Shatner movies tonight, and it will be a complete blast! Come and join us for great cocktails full of dramatic pauses!

(Also, I am painted green. Yes, yes, really. Come and see for yourself.)

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Will the Thrill's SHATFEST

Forbidden Island's Flight to Japan: Humanitarian Aid Benefit

2011-05-19T18:27:00.000-07:00

Just had to take a quick moment and tell everyone about the amazing evening Forbidden Island is shaping up to have tonight. We've just finished assembling all of the gift baskets and beautiful donations for our "Flight to Japan" a Humanitarian Aid benefit raising money for the Red Cross for relief efforts in Japan. We are deeply in dept to all of the businesses that stepped up to sponsor our event and donate: St. George Spirits/Hangar One Vodka, Mt. Gay Distilleries Barbados, Effen Vodka, Southern Wine and Spirits, Young's Market Company, The Alameda Cineplex, The Devil-Ettes and Baby Doe, Tiki Oasis and Otto Von Stroheim, Takara Sake, Barceluna, artist MP, Trader Vic's, The Fraternal Order of Moai, and many, many more.

I do have to say, with the silent auction and raffle table spilling over with donations, there isn't a single thing I wouldn't be pleased as punch to take home with me... such gorgeous stuff!

Effen Vodka has made a special event out of our fundrasier and is sending their Effen Flight Girls in 1960s stewardess costumes to mingle with the guests. We're serving Susan Eggett's award winning Sakura Daiquiri all evening long, and 100% of the proceeds are donated directly to Japan Disaster relief.

Well, time to put on my kimono and head back to it! Come over and raise a drink with us, dance to awesome 60s Japanese pop with DJ Sid Presley aka David Greenfield and the Pacific reverb sounds of the Japanese Surf Coasters cover band THE SURF FAUX-STERS, featuring Ferenc from Pollo del Mar, Danny from The TomorrowMen, and Zanti, Abraham and Jonathon from The Deadbeats playing the music of Japan's The Surf Coasters and Eleki (Japanese instrumental) style hits!

I'll see YOU there!

--Suzanne

The Queen's Flip for a rainy Monday

2011-05-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

Frequently at The Pad (thepad.us), we drink to the health of the Queen. Actually, we drink to her health about hourly. Which lead us to send her a postcard, actually -- but that's a different story.

Tonight at Forbidden Island, I'm sharing a flip that has been a favorite at The Pad - a cocktail that I've come to call The Queen's Flip - I like them so much that I'd like to keep drinking them, and keep toasting to her health as often as possible. Even more than once an hour!

The flip is made with fresh egg and a premium bourbon. We alternate between the Black Maple Hill Small Batch Bourbon and George Dickel Barrel Select. The addition of fig and blackberry preserves, honey, St. George Absinthe and St. George Aqua Perfecta Raspberry Liqueur makes for one delight of a cocktail.

Join me and Lee Williams this evening at Forbidden Island, as we, Sirens of Mixology, offer up this rich new enchantment, as well as Lee's latest, the Chipotle Margaritayeyayeyaye - featuring the unapologetic St. George Spirits/Hangar One Chipoltle Vodka and their amazing Qi White liqueur.

We'll see YOU there! 5pm!

-- Suzanne

Historic Tuning Temperaments and Classic Cocktails

2011-05-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

Interesting thought about cocktails today. Part of the reason that classic and historic cocktails call me is for their history - for the same reason that early music called me. Doing tiki tropicals properly and doing classic and prohibition-era cocktails properly is about taking them on their own terms - understanding them in context. Understanding what they ACTUALLY TASTED like and what the fuss was all about - and recreating them using those tools to recreate the experience. It is precisely the same thing as stringing with gut strings, playing a theorbo, or using a pre-equal temperament tuning. To hear Lully played on period instruments, at the correct pitch and temperament, and with period phrasing is a powerful time machine, as passionate as can be imagined. To taste an Aviation or (other historic classic) with just the perfect measure of violette and maraschino, and the correct sort of gin, will take an interesting and new-to-you cocktail to the WOW place. Lully played by a Wagnerian orchestra just is not the same experience.

It is also important to remember that these things, while taking their lead from understanding their beginnings, can also take on a life of their own. In order to fully understand how to create cocktails based on classics, one must first understand the classics themselves. We have people like Dale DeGroff and Jeff Beachbum Berry to thank for laying the groundwork of our understanding - many tedious long years of tasting questionable experiments have lent themselves to a publishable history - one that I personally am very thankful for! Cocktail innovation is everywhere, and there are many methods to approach such endeavors, but starting with understanding their history and construction, in my approach, is key. One can create a glorious thing by taking a good Aviation, adding a passionate amount of *this* or *that,* and a new cocktail is born. It won't be an Aviation, but some of your most treasured classics have begun this way.

Raise a glass! I'll see YOU there!

-- Suzanne

Tiki... Daleks?

2011-03-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, being a geek and loving cocktails works out as a pretty awesome thing. Saw a link today from Tiki Talk about the winning masquerade costume at Gallifrey One, the North American Dr. Who Convention. Apparently, it was made out of grass skirts, coconuts, and other tiki fabulousness.

If that doesn't deserve an honorary cocktail, what does?

Come on over to Forbidden Island tonight, and try the Tiki Dalek yourself... or get Ex-ti-ki-nated!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

My last Monday until January!

2010-10-11T16:36:00.000-07:00

Come and see me tonight! This is my last Monday doing Black Orchid Sessions until January, and I'm featuring a brand new cocktail - Rapture - a basil gimlet with St. George Absinthe. It is rapturous indeed.

I'll see YOU, tonight, at the Island!

--Suzanne

Last week's sea of cards, and today's Voodoo

2010-09-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

Adventurers who have heard the call of the Pearl were able to gather a sea of cards last week, and those who brought their twelve-sided die even more... and delicious cocktails accompanied them all! Here are some wonderful photos of some of those mysterious wild card cocktails, by the very talented Gabriel Hurley and Paul McMillan of Zero Coordinate, Inc.

Havana:

The Treasure Chest:

Tradewinds:

Harbor Lights:

Come in and try tonight's special, VOODOO:

This witch doctor’s potent potion of rich homemade pomegranate grenadine,
mind-erasing rums, tart citrus and unspeakable spices will haunt you
...like Robert Drasnin’s première exotica album.

I'll see YOU, TONIGHT, at the Island!

--Suzanne

Week Ten -double digit awesomeness

2010-09-08T13:35:00.001-07:00

This will a brief post, as I have to go make it all happen, but I simply *must* tell all of you about tonight… off the hook doesn’t begin to describe the fun in store. If you play your cards right (I’m not even going to apologize for the pun!), you’ll be able to head home tonight with five (yes I said it, FIVE) cards tonight. Glorious cocktails are there to be had! Fun with dice and cards! Bring that useful garnish from a few weeks back! You’ll be glad you did!

Peppercorns from last week? Yes!

Cards from last week? Yes!

A cocktail called Tradewinds? Yes!

A cocktail called Harbor Lights? Yes!

A taste of old Havana…. oh yes, baby, yes!

and MORE!

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Misirlou!

2010-09-02T11:54:00.001-07:00

Printers be damned, you can’t stop this game!

For those of you who were unable to collect your cards yesterday evening, please accept my sincere apologies. Below you will find the card for last night’s cocktail, Misirlou:

Note the web address: SeeminglyUnrelatedToThePearl.blogspot.com

You may also be interested in the puzzle piece on the back side of the card:

And what’s a Black Orchid Club blog post without the sweet, lilting tunes of the cocktails we sip? Take an audio taste of the glorious sounds of Arthur Lyman and his Misirlou:

Game cards for week 9 will be available for you to pick up next week. In addition, the wild card and cocktail from the puzzle above will be available… take into consideration all of your small cards and how they may work together. You will probably want to bring all of your cards and effects (including some of that special, non-edible garnish) into Forbidden Island on Wednesday evening. Having all of your playing pieces will you on Wednesday, September 8th *may* earn you special privileges… and it will make the game more fun!

I’ll see YOU, Wednesday September 8th with all of your collected game pieces, at the Island!

Oh, and the peppercorn cocktail will be available too. It will be worth the wait. I promise.

--Suzanne

Awesome, tonight!

2010-09-01T14:49:00.001-07:00

What an awesome few weeks it has been! Tiki Oasis, some glorious Black Orchid Club cocktails, and me getting almost no sleep at all… you know that’s truly the heart of creativity. :)

Tonight at Forbidden Island, for week 9 of the Black Orchid Club, come and taste the unparalleled Misirlou:

The dark eyed beauty of Ancient Egypt beckons you! This cocktail of brandy, honey, plum nectar, brandied raisins and the intoxicating kiss of rose and anise will capture your heart, leaving you helpless to resist the magical Egyptian night.

Also, word has it that a very special Wild Card cocktail will be available this evening, featuring caramelized candied peppercorns as garnish… you truly should join me. All of this PLUS Otto’s Grotto, when Mr. Von Stroheim spins his excellent mix of jazz, lounge and exotica for your audio sipping soundtrack.

In other fabulous news, this week’s JazzWeek World Music chart named the Waitiki 7 #1 for their newest release, New Sounds of Exotica. Congratulations to an absolutely phenomenal group!

Tiki Oasis was a blast. Two of the members of the Waitiki 7, Randy Wong and Tim Mayer, were kind enough to assist me in the Cocktail Presentation and Garnish Symposium I taught on Saturday. I was also assisted by the illustrious cocktail aficionados and killer DJs Jack Fetterman and Gina of the Jungle from NYC. I couldn’t have wished for a more fantastic team, and we had a blast carving up fruit and setting things on fire. I also served up my Adventures in Paradise cocktail (featuring Zaya Rum) in the Taboo Island/Thor suite. We made tons but it was gone in under an hour! Thanks to all who attended, came by and said hello, and for everyone’s wonderful words of encouragement. Kari Hendler, thanks for your photos and it was wonderful to see you in the symposium. Thanks also to Otto Von Stroheim, for a fantastic event. Here’s looking forward to another fabulous ten years!

Here’s a recap of the last few weeks of The Black Orchid Club:

Week 6: Firecracker

Explosive and delicious, this cocktail will rock you like the immaculate percussion of the Waitiki 7 in their performance of this fantastic exotica standard. Canton Ginger liqueur explodes in flavor when paired with pickled ginger, vodka, our custom sesame syrup, fresh lemon and a fine dusting of toasted wasabi sesame seeds.

Those who solved the riddle of what all of these cocktails have in common also earned themselves the “12” cocktail, with it’s very unique garnish.

Week 7: Adventures in Paradise

The ability to serve this cocktail at Tiki Oasis with a Zaya Rum sponsorship and the assistance of Randy and Tim of the Waitiki 7, after a cocktail that was named and created in honor of their fantastic record release of last year was an honest treat. Thank you again, gentlemen, for all of your help and support last weekend. Special thanks also to Zaya Rums, for sponsoring me and Forbidden Island!

Real Madagascar vanilla, allspice, rich dark rum and pepper berries... a glorious cocktail, worthy of the stunning tune that is its namesake!

Week 8: American in Bali

American Bourbon in a soothing sea of coconut, cinnamon and rice milk will carry you to the shimmering lush Balinese jungle. We won't fault you if you decide to never return from those lush bowers.

Perhaps you also asked about the “Party on Saturn?”

Wild Card: Saturday Night On Saturn

Wild times await on the exotic shores of Saturn! This sparkling flaming bowl for two features pomegranate, honey, cinnamon and cardamom with a medley of rums and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice.

More fabulousness awaits, more wild cards, more fun with great vinyl spinning and one of the hottest September 1sts you’ve ever had… so come and see me tonight at Forbidden Island, 1304 Lincoln Avenue, Alameda, CA.

You’ll be the thirsty one… I’ll be the redhead with the cocktail shaker behind the bar… it’ll be love at first sight, baby.

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

A Sparkling Monday Birthday Celebration

2010-08-09T13:15:00.001-07:00

It’s Monday… and I’m celebrating my birthday at the Island tonight! Come over and experience Black Orchid Sessions with two choices this evening. I am featuring my Sesame Syrup for custom cocktails, and also on the menu is a flight of champagne cocktails. Come by and taste these four sparkling delights:

Initiate in California:

Muddled Mint, Rose, and golden rum, with an orange flower bitters sugar cube and dried rose petals dropped into brut champagne.

Hollywood Hills Sparkler:

St Germain Elderflower Liqueur and Lemoncello with a gorgeous lemon twist and luscious bubbles. Imagine yourself up in the hills sipping this and gazing down at the golden sparkling lights of Los Angeles. It just might be the best part of LA you’ll ever taste.

The Primitive and the Passionate

A wonderful record by Les Baxter that tastes just like fresh berries, melon, tamarind and sparkling champagne. Oh yes, we did.

St. George’s Northern Lights

St George’s glorious floral absinthe splashed on a Demerara sugar cube, then dropped into a sparkling mix of Plymouth Gin, fresh lemon, and a drop of real Luxardo Marasca cherry syrup.

Thirsty yet? I am!

Have you recapped the last two cocktails of the Black Orchid Club? Here they are, weeks 4 and 5:

Week Four: Sophisticated Savage

He is dashing in white when called upon, but equally at home in the depths of the jungle. He is handsome and tall, with his hat just so. From the African bush to the wilds of Hong Kong streets, there is nothing he is not ready for - but the cocktail hour is never missed. Lillet Rouge in the arms of our rich dark rum make a cocktail that the Sophisticated Savage will always pause to sip.

Did you get the clue? The card read: “Between the two doors of FI, you will find the Jungle Wild.” Did you indeed find… the Jungle Madness Wild Card? If you didn’t, you’d better come in and ask for it!

Have a listen to Sophisticated Savage, from Les Baxter’s ground breaking album, Ritual of the Savage:

Amazon.com Widgets

Week Five: Limehouse Blues

Rings on your fingers and tears on your crown, that is the story of old Chinatown. Our custom tonic syrup with fresh lime, English Dry Gin, hidden ancient spices and a sparkling finish will take to you to the edge of the Thames River and a shipside delivery of awaited treasures.

Listen!

Did you call the number? 641-715-3900 x 272082.

Do it. Do it now. Come in to FI on Wednesday and tell me all about it!

Finally, have you NOTICED something linking all of these cocktails together? Have you noticed a common theme? If you have, and you can give me the correct answer on Wednesday Aug 11, there will be a VERY special WILD CARD Cocktail and Card… put on your thinking caps, and let me know. Here’s a hint:

You may have heard the answer while reading this blog.

I’ll see YOU, tonight for my birthday and Wednesday for wild cards and more delectable delights!

-- Suzanne

Week 5 - Come and taste the mystery... of history!

2010-08-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

Tonight is week 5... more adventurous discoveries of hidden cocktails await you! Join us tonight for the Limehouse Blues Cocktail:

Rings on your fingers and tears on your crown, that is the story of old Chinatown. Our custom tonic syrup with fresh lime, English Dry Gin, hidden ancient spices and a sparkling finish will take to you to the edge of the Thames River and a shipside delivery of awaited treasures.

Also... a hidden cocktail will be rewarded to those who hear the call. Listen for your clue in a very special way tonight! Want to know more? Come in and collect your card to see.

All this happens to the luscious vinyl sounds of DJ Otto, with all the best Exotica, Surf, Lounge and Latin Jazz.

I'll see YOU at the Island, starting at 5pm!

--Suzanne

Sneak Peek for Week 4 and Recap Wks 1-3

2010-07-27T15:51:00.001-07:00

Take a look at this gorgeous photo of tomorrow’s cocktail:

Have you been playing along online as well as in house? Have you followed the links to collect your clues? All of those links do lead to wild cards, so you’ll want to be sure to check it all out! Here is a little recap to help you with your adventuring:

The Scroll, and call to action:

Week One Card, the Sim Sim:

Note the web address: http://ThePearloftheBlackOrchid.blogspot.com

Week Two Card, the Tiki:

Did you ask for the Riddle Book while you were at FI? If you did not, here is the text of the riddle:

“In order to commence, or to finish, this second position character must exist. This character may pity the fool, may be a way to get to Harvard Square, and may be enjoyed hot or cold.”

If you think you know the answer, be sure to tell me tomorrow and be rewarded.

Week Three Card, Enchanted Sea:

Again, note a new web address on the card: ttp://MixingAdventurer.blogspot.com

Here is a photo of the Enchanted Sea:

Finally, last but most certainly not least, listen to the enchanting sounds of Martin Denny as he plays the cocktail’s namesake tune, Enchanted Sea:

Amazon.com Widgets

Tomorrow will be an exciting day in the Black Orchid Club – you don’t want to miss it... there just may be some WILD CARDS to be claimed... See you then!

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

-- Suzanne

Week II Recap: Tiki

2010-07-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

How can one resist the allure of glorious Portuguese coffee with cardamom, bitter chocolate, almond and lime zest, dark rum and a drizzling of sweetened condensed milk? One cannot!

(Photo by Zero Coordinate,Inc.)

"The rhythm of the savages, the music of the idols, the depths of mystery. Taste this combination of cardamom, almond, lime zest and bitter chocolate with rich Portuguese coffee, dark West Indian rum, and sweetened condensed milk, and be transported to a hidden jungle paradise."

Have you listened to those savage sounds? The deep jungle sounds of Tiki? Open your ears to the glorious sounds of the Waitiki 7 playing this exotica classic. As always, if you love it, show it, and buy it!

Amazon.com Widgets

Tomorrow... join me and Will "The Thrill" Vilharo for Mermaid Movie Night at Forbidden Island, and the launch of his new pulp novel. Mermaid drink specials, and me in costume! Don't miss it.

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Week I Recap: Sim Sim

2010-07-10T00:12:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic night. Wow. I had a killer time listening to the lazy exotica spinning at the fingertips of Jack, Gina, and Otto, and the Week 1 cocktail, the Sim Sim, was a hit. Thank you, all of you!

Thanks to Paul McMillan and Gabriel Hurley of Zero Coordinate, Inc, I have some stunning shots of the Sim Sim. For those of you not fortunate enough to have joined us on Wednesday evening, the Sim Sim is made from fresh muddled black cherries, a house made orange flower water syrup, gin, lemon and cherry bitters.

Will Anzeberger, a Season I Black Orchid Club VIP, also came in and shot a really nice photo of the cocktail and the flyer:

LISTEN to the sounds of the Sim Sim! This cocktail is named after a track on one of my favorite Arthur Lyman albums, Taboo. Exotic bird calls paired with glorious percussion and Lyman's fantastic vibraphone are the hallmarks of the famous Arthur Lyman sound. Enjoy the track, and remember to buy it if you love it.

Amazon.com Widgets

Season II: Pearl of the Black Orchid

2010-07-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adventurers and Cocktailians, Heed the Call! The Secret of the Orchid
Compels You!

Once, in the torchlit years of tiki's heyday, splendid cocktails
were the norm. Palaces of tiki abounded; alchemic mixologists brewed their potions for the layman to enjoy, and all was right with the world. But too soon the dark days came. One by one these palaces disappeared into the mist, and with them went the mixologists, taking their magical elixirs with them. Uncountable years passed in sobriety without these potent potions. Yet somehow, somewhere, shrouded in mystery, the secret recipes still remain. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to forge through webbed jungle, lush lanai, and forests of metal giants to rediscover these liquid treasures. The rewards are rich... and delicious! The Pearl of the Black Orchid is the most coveted treasure, and only the cleverest adventurers will discover it in the petals of mystery.

Join us tonight for the kickoff of the Black Orchid Club, Season II: The Pearl of the Black Orchid. Receive your parchment and taste your first hidden cocktail! Time is short and adventure calls!

Also, VERY special guests with Otto's Grotto tonight... Jack Fetterman and Gina of the Jungle (from the exotic isle of Manhattan) spin the very best exotica and lounge. Don't miss your chance to see these all-star exotica DJs in person in a very rare west coast appearance!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Photos from Black Orchid Sessions, June 14, 2010

2010-06-16T10:00:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to share some exquisite photos of Black Orchid Sessions this past Monday. All photos by Paul McMillan of Zero Coordinate, Inc.

Flambe of brown sugar and pineapple for a Sessions cocktail. This one was created for Sessions Bookholder Dave Hildebrandt:

The completed flambeed cocktail:

Me, preparing Pineapple Rhubarb Mojitos with the fresh rhubarb syrup and Cruzan rum:

Garnishing the mojitos:

Completed Pineapple Rhubarb Mojitos:

Thanks, Paul, for these lovely photos!

More photos and information about Monday nights and Black Orchid Sessions is available at http://www.facebook.com/forbiddenisland and http://www.forbiddenislandalameda.com/

More info about Zero Coordinate and all the awesome things they do at: http://zerocoordinate.com/

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Rhubarb!!!

2010-06-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

Summer is here, and summer to me means surf music, the top down on the car, trips to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to ride the Giant Dipper, Hukilau, Ohana, and Tiki Oasis... and RHUBARB. This summer veggie is one of my favorites for pies! Tonight I've made a glorious syrup from fresh rhubarb and pure cane sugar, and it's going into a killer cocktail... my Pineapple Rhubarb Mojito. Fresh mint, fresh pineapple, fresh lime all muddled with this beautiful red rhubarb syrup and rum... you won't be able to stop drinking them.

I hope I can. (hiccup!) So I can at least get to FI and make you one!

TONIGHT. 5pm. Remember, there's Happy Hour all night long too! And it's a gorgeous afternoon to sit on the patio. Come by!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Sunny Sunday... Sunny MONDAY!

2010-05-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

It's another stunning sunny day, and I'm gearing up for Pearl's Kitchen, the corned beef street vendor who brings Grandma's Jewish Kitchen to the Street. At 4pm we'll have hand made corned beef sandwiches and brunch cocktails... who could possibly ask for anything more?

... you can?

Ok, then, you've got me. I guess you'll just have to come by TOMORROW, on MONDAY, to experience the kickoff of Forbidden Island Mondays. That's right, starting tomorrow, May 24th, FI will officially be open 7 days a week. And Monday evenings are certainly not to be missed. Yours truly will be behind the stick, and we'll have HAPPY HOUR all night long, a SPECIAL MONDAY NIGHT ONLY MENU, and the continuation of BLACK ORCHID SESSIONS, all for your imbibing pleasure. Take a peek at the menu:

and tomorrow's special ingredient is my Gazpacho Water, with tomato, cucumber, basil and dill, and the cocktail with it will simply blow you away.

I'll see YOU, this afternoon and TOMORROW, at the Island!

--Suzanne

So much! Sessions! Mondays! Luau! Marie King!

2010-05-12T15:46:00.001-07:00

Another full week here at Forbidden Island! Last Sunday was phenomenal, with Natalie from Bike Basket Pies and Jason and Ed from AdoboHobo, all here with fantastic street food for Mother's Day... thanks a million to all of you for coming out. Great folks like you make it all worthwhile. And great folks like you make me not hungry anymore. Stay tuned: In 2 weeks, Jon from Pearl's Kitchen will be at FI with great Jewish Deli Food.

Coming up on Sunday, May 16th - Our 3rd Annual Luau! Featuring:
- live hula dancing by THE WIGGLING WAHINES and live fire dancing by Fire Pixie (at dusk) http://www.firepixie.com/

-an authentic Hawaiian plate lunch from Alameda's HAWAIIAN DRIVE-INN BBQ http://www.alamedabbq.com/index.htm

-Vintage Hawaiian music by THE FAUX HAWAIIANS outdoors in the afternoon http://www.myspace.com/fauxhawaiians

-cool live surf music by DRIFTING SAND indoors in the evening http://www.driftingsand.com

-with Exotica and Hawaiiana music spun by DJ FITZ in between http://www.firetiki.com

PLUS...the debut of the limited edition Forbidden Island/ Crazy Al "LONO" mug. First 50 people through the door will receive a FREE mug (with drink purchase).

Rum not included.

More info at : http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=117250104970671&ref=ts

Also, TOMORROW (Thursday), please join us for a benefit for a very special member of the TC Ohana and a very dear friend, Marie King. Marie is the bar manager at the one and only Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach, CA, and was recently in a very severe auto accident that nearly cost her her life. We're getting everyone together to try and raise some money and make things a little bit easier for Marie as she heals. We'll have a raffle, silent auction with many excellent tiki collectibles, and the surf sounds of the TommorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party. No cover! Proceeds from raffle, auction and a special, that one night only Marie Cocktail will be donated to her. Please come by! More info at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=114165148615725&ref=ts

Last, but first, is TONIGHT in Sessions! We've got some gorgeous cocktails with our special ingredient, Blackberry Jam. Read all about 'em:

Come and explore what fun it is to create cocktails with jams and jellies... a whole new world of cocktail flavors that you probably hadn't even dreamed of. I'll custom create an amazing cocktail for you right on the spot. Tonight is also the last Wednesday night for Black Orchid Sessions, in preperation for the second coming of the Black Orchid Club Game (more details soon on that!) Starting May 24th, Sessions will find a new home on MONDAY nights here at Forbidden Island, along with all night happy hour, and a brand new, Monday only special menu. Mark your calendars... Monday, May 24th will be a night to remember. Join us!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

Otto's Grotto goes Latin and fresh strawberries for Cinco de Mayo

2010-05-05T13:56:00.001-07:00

I am looking at a sea of gorgeous, fresh, fragrant, in-season strawberries that can't wait to jump into cocktails tonight for Cinco de Mayo, Black Orchid Sessions, and Otto's Grotto. Come by and try one of these delectable specials:

After you've tried them, sit down with me for a custom strawberry cocktail... and sway to the intoxicating sounds of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass as Otto spins the best 60s lounge latin... I can't wait.

... and I'll be looking the part. You'll see.

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Spider Monkey and Gitarzan

2010-04-28T10:33:00.001-07:00

Yes, you’ve heard all about it, and you’ve been waiting for it… tonight’s the night! Flambeed Banana Coconut Curry. It really WILL knock your socks off.

Here are tonight’s cocktails:

Spider Monkey

Deep rich coffee, dark rum, exotic spices and flambeed banana... it truly doesn't get better than this. That is, until it is served to you in our 20oz goblet topped with curried whipped cream.

Gitarzan

"He makes A and E and he's workin' on B, he digs C&W and R&B, and me and the chimpanzee agree that someday soon he will be a a CE-LEB-RI-TY." This delight of Lemon Hart Demerara Rum, fresh lime juice, and our flambeed banana coconut curry mix will make you a celebrity too... or at least sing like one.

If the title “Gitarzan” doesn’t already have you laughing, then have a taste of the cocktail’s namesake: this novelty song from 1969 by Ray Stevens about the rock and roll dreams of Tarzan, Jane and their pet monkey.

They’re all you can stand! Give ‘em a hand! Gitarzan!

I’ll see YOU, TONIGHT, at the Island!

--Suzanne

What a recap! PDX Cocktail Camp! Sessions XII and more!

2010-04-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

Wow, has it been an AWESOME few weeks. Amazing things have been happening at Forbidden Island, with Black Orchid Sessions, and in my other adventures, and so much exciting stuff if coming up that it nearly warrants three or four blog posts. But, you're getting it all, right here, right now!

I recently returned from Portland, OR for the first ever CocktailCamp, an awesome all day event put on by Kenn Wilson (of Cocktailia.com), and Aaron Jorbin (http://twitter.com/aaronjorbin). The event took place at the New Deal Distillery, where seminars were programmed all day with break-out sessions available. This was a wonderful event! I spoke as part of a panel of professional mixologists and bartenders (Jacob Grier, of Branch Whiskey Bar, Portland; Ricky Gomez, of Teardrop Lounge, Portland; Mindy Cook, of Toro Bravo, Portland; Elizabeth Markham, of Beaker & Flask, Portland, and myself, of Forbidden Island, natch) fielding questions from the audience. It was a treat to meet some of these clearly very talented and innovative folks, and I was really pleased to be there. There was also a just phenomenal triple presentation on tiki topics (Rum, Gum, and Lime) by the illustrious tiki trio Craig “Colonel Tiki” Hermann, Blair “Trader Tiki” Reynolds and Matt “Rumdood” Robold. I highly recommend setting your sights on this for next year, if you want to plan a trip to the City of Roses.

My trip was further highlighted by a visit (actually two visits!) to Clyde Common (fabulous food and excellent cocktails), and Thatch. I was very impressed with the barrel aging they're experimenting with in cocktails at Clyde Common (Barrel-Aged Negroni - what a brilliant idea - not too dissimilar to the aged rum barrels available by request at the Mai Kai), and I really enjoyed the One-Trick Pony made with a house-made tonic water. Good stuff. And Thatch.... WOW. Let's just say that some top secret, top shelf, amazing things appeared. While we weren't paying attention. And we don't remember any of it. At all.

The Oregonian ran a nice story about CocktailCamp and quoted me. Check it out:
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/04/thanks_to_a_growing_interest_i.html

In homefront news, on April 22nd we celebrated Forbidden Island's 4th anniversary... by rolling out a brand new, 20 cocktail addition to our menu! This addition focuses on Savoy-style classic cocktails, and innovations in the style. Let me tell you, there are some out-of-this-world cocktails to be had. You're going to love 'em. Take a peek at all the new potables at: http://www.forbiddenislandalameda.com/fi/menu/

What about Black Orchid SESSIONS, you are wondering? (It was loud. I could hear it. I know you're thirsty, and I know you want to know what this week's secret ingredient is, so here it comes...)

Flambeed Banana Coconut Curry.

Yep.

It is as amazing as it sounds! I am so excited about this mix, I can't begin to tell you. It is decadent, delicious, dangerous, and very, very, very drinkable. Just wait til you get your monkey hands on the cocktails for tomorrow evening. Fantastic! Gitarzan!

Also, stay tuned for Street Food Carts at Forbidden Island - this Sunday, May 2, we've got wood-fired pizza from the portable ovens of The Pizza Hacker.

...and very soon, Forbidden Island will be OPENING on MONDAY EVENINGS, with custom cocktails from yours truly, all night long.

You've heard the whispers. Start saving those Monday nights!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Photos of Sessions

2010-04-06T10:05:00.001-07:00

What a joy in this world is a happy tipsy imbiber with a camera! This is a collection of great photos of Black Orchid Sessions. Enjoy!

Otto Von Stroheim DJs monthly at Forbidden Island on the first Wednesday of each month. Cocktails pictured are the Exotica Cocktail (front, in honor of Martin Denny), and Strawberry-A-Go-Go. Photo by Bill “Mai Tai” Graff.

The Aztec Stargazer – Blanco Tequila, Coconut, Lime and Pineapple. Out of this world, truly. Photo by Bill “Mai Tai” Graff.

One of me, in Sessions. Cocktail was created for Dave Hildebrandt and is called Uranus, “The Magician.” It features St. George Absinthe, gin, lemon juice and my house made Exotica Syrup (bitter chocolate orange). Photo taken 3/3/2010 by Devora Z.

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Something AWESOME at Forbidden Island… Street Food Carts and Island Time Cocktails

2010-04-04T01:37:00.001-07:00

Starting tomorrow (that’s right, on Easter), I’m really excited to announce that something new and totally awesome is beginning at Forbidden Island. Tomorrow is the debut of the partnership of many awesome street food carts and Forbidden Island. We’re giving a whole new meaning to Sunday Brunch!

For those of you who haven’t yet heard about Street Food, this is an awesome movement in San Francisco of gourmet food carts that bop around from place to place in the city serving hot amazing food on the spot. There are dozens of awesome carts, including tomorrow’s featured guest, LumpiaCart. LumpiaCart will be at FI starting at 5pm serving up hot, fresh Lumpia (fried Filipino style egg rolls) and other treats. This is fresh, hot, and awesome, and you’re going to love it. Pair that with a cocktail from our amazing Island Time menu, such as the Wrath of Pele (pictured), and you’re set! Check out more about LumpiaCart by following them on Twitter at twitter.com/LumpiaCart and check out their Yelp page too: http://www.yelp.com/biz/lumpia-cart-san-francisco

Future carts we will be featuring include ThePizzaHacker (wood fired pizzas – yes really, right on the spot at FI, May 2nd, don’t miss it!) and La Marea of the Sea, will be shucking oysters and serving freshly prepared Cerviche and Shrimp Tostadas (during our Sea Shanty event on April 18th with the Shark Alley Hobos featuring Tippy Canoe). Many, many more to come! Watch this space and our twitter feed twitter.com/ForbiddenIsland for details about each week’s featured carts.

I’ll see YOU, on Sundays, at the Island!

--Suzanne

The One and Only Black Orchid Syrup, tonight in Sessions!

2010-03-31T14:32:00.000-07:00

The fantastic Black Orchid Syrup makes her return tonight in Sessions. This stunning French black vanilla tea reduction with sour cherry is a taste sensation never paralleled - and not to be missed. These are tonight's specialty cocktails:

Come in, try these delectables, and then allow me to take you on a journey of International intrigue, mystery, and taste sensation. Make it one you'll never forget!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Which one did you LOVE? Choose your syrup!

2010-03-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Sessions today is up for a fun new spin. Today I'm bringing back many of the syrups we've seen in the last few weeks, and in your Sessions, you can choose which syrup you'd like to use... or several, if you want! These are the specialty ingredients I have available today:

Exotica: A bitter chocolate orange delicacy.

Maple-Apple-Cinnamon Reduction (Bitch Syrup): in the one and only Black-Hearted Bitch.

Rose Syrup: Floral, delightful, springtime in a glass!

Black Orchid Orgeat: My special recipe orgeat with almond milk, almond extract, and pure cane sugar.

and, the amazing Black Orchid Syrup, a french black tea, vanilla and sour cherry reduction.

Choose any (or several!) for your sessions tonight... come and taste them all! Custom create several totally different cocktails! And we're reprising that fantastic grog, the Black-Hearted Bitch!

Only with Black Orchid Sessions, and only at Forbidden Island!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Photo Credit: Bill Mai Tai Graff. The cocktail is a Sessions cocktail created for him with Prickly Pear called "Zazz... in the Desert."

A handful of stunning Sessions photos

2010-03-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

Gabriel Hurley, Paul McMillan and Shelby Keller Miller, of http://zerocoordinate.com/ took some amazing shots last Wednesday of Black Orchid Sessions cocktails, and I wanted to share these gorgeous shots with you:

The Mask of the Red Death.

A custom cocktail created during Sessions for Jen Erlichman. Her instructions: "Make me something really GOTH." This cocktail delivers, in amazing deliciousness... Prickly Pear Puree with fresh squeezed cranberry juice, sour cherry, rum and allspice. The presentation is the best part... set a 151 doused orchid aflame in the cocktail glass and allow to wilt, then pour this cocktail over.

Look for a video on YouTube soon with the entire show!

Neptune.

Another of our Sessions Bookholders, Dave Hildebrandt, has been requesting cocktails based on each of the planets in the solar system. This is Neptune, with custom made Black Orchid Orgeat, Leopold Brothers New York Sour Apple Liqueur, and Blue Curacao.

Flaming presentation during Black Orchid Sessions.

Three amazing shots of a custom bowl created on request for Sessions Bookholders... Sour Cherry, Mango and Demerara rum with cinnamon made this cocktail a huge hit!

Tonight at FI - DJ Tanoa spins 50s and 60s vinyl for your swingin' and jiving pleasure. Come cut a rug with me! I'd love to have a dance partner!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

A little Irish for your cocktail glass

2010-03-17T13:10:00.001-07:00

Spring has sprung here in Sunny California! The sun is shining, and green cocktails are flowing… this is what I have dreamed up for your imbibing pleasure tonight in Sessions.

Special Ingredient: Spearmint-Lime Syrup. Fresh lime juice and mint together in this refreshing syrup – it’s not just for Mojitos anymore!

This week’s special cocktails:

Irish Eyes Are Sparkling

Fresh mint and lime muddled in our delightful spearmint-lime syrup. Add Jamesons Irish Whiskey, the sparkle of champagne, and the luck o’ the Irish for a festive treat, as green as the Emerald Isle herself.

The Orange and the Green

A Collins like you’ve never tasted before. Hangar One Mandarin Vodka, fresh mint, lime and Grand Mariner are a marriage that brings harmony to the cosmos… and to Ireland.

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Photo Courtesy of the excellent ladies of http://lupecboston.com/

Sessions V: Black Orchid Orgeat

2010-03-10T13:41:00.001-08:00

Monday was a blast… opened up Forbidden Island for a video and photography team from http://zerocoordinate.com/ to shoot some great photos of Black Orchid cocktails, and video of myself creating some of the most exciting Sessions creations to date. You’re going to love these videos! I’ll have more information as the release date gets closer. Spread the word… if the Sessions cocktail you create with me gets chosen, you just might have it featured in the video series!

Today I’ll be creating custom cocktails with Black Orchid Orgeat, an almond syrup made with almond milk. Orgeat is one of the four ingredients that go into that most classic of tropical cocktails, the Mai Tai. Come on in and try the Black Orchid version! Here are this week’s specialty cocktails:

Black Orchid Mai Tai

Trader Vic Bergeron created the Mai Tai in 1944 right here in the Bay Area. The Black Orchid version of this classic cocktail, with two rums, and fresh lime is indeed "Mai Tai Roe Ae" Tahitian for "Out of This World!"

S.S. Lurline Cocktail

Board the S.S. Lurline in San Francisco Bay and begin your trip to the Islands! This cocktail with Black Orchid Orgeat, Lemon, Grand Mariner and bourbon is poolside perfection. Aloha!

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Mai Tai photo credit: http://www.cocktailia.com/ Check ‘em out!

S.S. Lurline Photo Credit: http://www.Matson.com

Sessions IV: Exotica Syrup

2010-03-03T14:32:00.000-08:00

Just got back from an amazing weekend in Ft. Lauderdale... my good friend the Bargoyle (Michael Sullivan, from Connecticut), turned 40 this weekend and decided to have his 4-0 bash at the famous Mai Kai Restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale. The Mai Kai is my absolute favorite place on Earth... and the perfect Polynesian paradise. The Mai Kai IS everything that is Tiki. Unbelievable cocktails with secret recipes, being made the same since 1956; a bar with tikis and rain pouring down the windows, and serving maidens in micro-mini sarongs and bikini tops; a huge, dark and glorious dining room with a live Polynesian dinner show, and wonderful food from a Chinese oven; a stunning Lanai with streams and waterfalls and ancient tikis; all in the glorious tropical weather of Florida. It simply is the most amazing place on Earth.

The exciting thing is, I get to come home to another world famous and glorious Tiki lounge - Forbidden Island! While I was in Florida, I dreamed up some new cocktails with one of my exciting syrups, a bitter chocolate orange syrup called "Exotica." This syrup is... just... wow. Fresh from Florida, here they are:

Exotica

The tropical beach at sunset. The sound of distant drums and the call of the conch. Bird calls, exotic vibraphone, Latin percussion, strong cocktails. Perfect Mid-century escapism was encapsulated in sound by the father of this amazing musical genre, Martin Denny. This cocktail is in honor of him. (Bitter Chocolate with orange, a taste of strong coffee, several rums and citrus juices).

Strawberry-a-Go-Go

Dress your strawberries up in chocolate, and go, go-go girl! Fresh strawberries, chocolate and bitter orange muddled to pure perfection, then topped with champagne.

Join the growing ranks of Sessions Bookholders, with all of their custom designed recipes in a tiny composition book, sitting here on our shelves at Forbidden Island. At the end of Sessions, each Bookholder takes all of those recipes home to keep. Learn the art of excellent mixology! Become the one everyone invites to parties because you'll be behind the bar! Just a few Sessions and you'll have the tools to have a great time at home and at parties, plus a book full of unique and innovative recipes to share. I want you to have a good time with me at Forbidden Island, and at home in your home bar, creating new specialties.

Come and try the fabulous Exotica syrup! Also, it's the first Wednesday of the month, so it's time for Otto's Grotto... exotica tunes, surf, 60s grooves, and more. Special guest DJ Jab also makes an appearance tonight. Don't miss it!

I'll see YOU, TONIGHT, at the Island!

Rain, Go-Go Boots, Fresh Juice and it's Tuesday!

2010-02-23T16:01:00.000-08:00

It's raining... but that doesn't stop the girl who dreams up cocktails while squeezing fresh juices in white go-go boots and a beehive. Actually, I love the rain. It's lovely to look out at over a cocktail glass.

I'm putting the finishing touches on this week's Black Orchid Sessions cocktails. One thing is for sure, they are GORGEOUS! The focus ingredient for tomorrow is Prickly Pear pureee with organic Lemongrass and Citrus. The psychedelic vibrant hue of these cocktails is to die for, and the taste is out of this world... far out, man! You're gonna love 'em.

Specialty Cocktails for February 24, 2010:

Barbara Eden

Hot Pink, curvy, and full of pep, this delightful and exciting mix of rums with prickly pear puree, falernum, citrus and lemongrass truly is from another world... a world shaped an awful lot like a genie's bottle. Cheers, Master!

Aztec Stargazer

Prickly pear and agave tequila go together like stars and the moonlit sky... add the kiss of coconut and pineapple and transform them into a taste sensation that is truly out of this world!

In addition to these delights, I can't wait to custom create cocktails with this exciting focus ingredient. Ooooh, I'm thristy already!

Also, tomorrow Otto celebrates his completion of the Kill Devil Rum list, and JenTiki completes the Kill Devil List for the SECOND time!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

-- Suzanne

It is GORGEOUS out… perfect time for a cocktail!

2010-02-17T10:13:00.001-08:00

It’s GORGEOUS out today! Stunning! Sunny, warm, breezy… I love California. All this sunshine has me thinking about refreshing cocktails, and what exactly I should be mixing up this afternoon. I’ve already got the batch of Rose Syrup ready for Black Orchid Sessions tonight – with two fantastic cocktails being featured, as well as some other ideas I have rolling for floral delights. In addition, I’m working on a new secret ingredient… Passion Pomegranate. Prepare to start looking for those socks that got knocked off!

This week in Sessions: Rose Syrup. Delightful, floral, reminiscent of spring… and delicious! Here are the two featured cocktails for tonight:

Initiate's Offering - The most earnest of initiates offers up her soul... and it is full of rum and roses. Muddled mint, rose syrup, lime, Rhum Barboncourt and champagne make a delightful cocktail.

Food of the Angels - Rose and Cardamom infused vodka in a luxurious blend of rich cream, rice milk, condensed milk and coconut. Heavenly.

Of course, the best part is sitting down and working with me directly to custom create a cocktail just for you...

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Love is in the air at the Island!

2010-02-14T10:05:00.001-08:00

Stop by today for our special, just for lovers menu. We’re introducing Bowls for two today, including our classic Scorpion Bowl sized down to share, and a new bowl called the Candido Cocktail for Two, with Passion Fruit, Honey and Pomegranate. Some other new delectable potables as well… come and see me!

All the best wishes for a Valentine’s day filled with love, happiness, and great cocktails!

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

ZOMBIES!

2010-02-14T09:50:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! I hope that those of you who are in love are enjoying it, and those of you who are not can find a good place for a nice cocktail… because that’s really where all the romance is, anyway.

Last night was the 1st Annual Alameda Zombie Crawl… and while the zombies were moving slowly, it was a raging party. By 7:30 Forbidden Island was completely overrun with the undead, and they were fueling themselves with $6 Zombies. A makeup artist was on site to zombify those who came as civilians. Here are a few photos of the insanity:

A thirsty zombie

A hungry zombie

Time Warping zombies

Zombie drinking zombies

Zombies on Sherman Street headed for the 51 bus

Airborne zombies while the 51 bus sped up and flew by (The bus driver had seen enough horror movies to know better than to stop for 50 zombies!)

As you can see, even the undead know how to have a good time. Of course, some of those zombies might be feeling even more undead this morning!

Until we meet again, living or not…

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Sessions Week I - Thank you!

2010-02-12T14:30:00.000-08:00

What a good time I had Wednesday for week I of Black Orchid Sessions! Thank you to everyone who sat down with me directly and worked with me to create those custom cocktails... there were a few that were really innovative and original, and that I definitely wouldn't have been able to dream up myself, but WOW, were they tasty! Mel Waldorf of Meshugga Beach Party asked me to see what I could do with the secret ingredient (an Organic Maple Syrup, Apple Cider and Cinnamon reduction) and his beloved Slivovitz... quite the challenge if you've ever tasted it! I came up with a cocktail with gin, the Slivovitz, the maple-apple reduction and some limoncello... amazingly delightful, and you couldn't even taste the Slivovitz! Just got a little bit of the plum notes with the lemon. I also created a bourbon based cocktail with Black Maple Hill bourbon, which was rich and wonderful, and several others with various different spirits. The true challenge of the evening, however, was when someone asked me to come up with something using Hangar One Chipotle Vodka and the maple apple reduction... something one would really NOT think would work. With the addition of grapefruit juice, campari, and Bittermens Xocolatl Mole bitters, we came up with a unique and fantastic cocktail. I can't wait to make another one!

For those of you not quite in the know, Black Orchid Sessions is a new, innovative and fun way to learn more about the art of Mixology by working with me directly at Forbidden Island to create custom cocktails. Each week, a focus ingredient will be announced (last week it was the apple-maple-cinnamon reduction, next week rose syrup; see a list of all the planned specialty ingredients below)... but here's the fun part: You come in, sit down with me, and get to taste the special ingredient of the week. After that, we'll talk about its characteristics, and how we can creatively use it in a brand new cocktail... you tell me what you like, what you feel like, and we'll put it together right there on the spot! You get a special little notebook to keep all of your custom created recipes in, and at the end of the Sessions, you can take it home and keep all of your recipes! Any questions you have about how to create a good cocktail, where to find ingredients, or anything similar - well, you've got my full attention during your session and the sky's the limit! In addition, if you like, I'll send you home with a small container of the special ingredient for the week, so you experiment in your home bar with creating new cocktails, based on what you learn in our Sessions. We want you to have a blast at home AND at FI with those new cocktailing skills you're learning.

Every week, there will be a new, unique ingredient to try... the possibilities for innovative Mixology are endless, and the possibility for fun even more so! Just like this week when I was challenged to create a cocktail with maple and Chipotle vodka and came up with something I'll likely be making in my home bar, (wish I had one right now as I type!), I'm positive some AMAZING cocktails will result from this drinking and mixing adventure. Ah! My mouth waters just thinking about it!

At the end of the six weeks, I'll put together a list of cocktails that were created in Sessions, and we'll have a contest for the best... the most original, the tastiest, barkeeps choice, and the one with the craziest name... and those cocktails will be featured on a special evening with YOUR name on the menu.

Need a little more delicious enticement? Here's a list of upcoming specialty ingredients:

Rose Syrup
Prickly Pear, Lemongrass and Citrus
Bitter Chocolate and Orange Peel
Orgeat (Almond), with a rum base
Pomegranate Honey
Black Orchid (French Vanilla and Black Tea with Sour Cherry)
...and perhaps even more!

Sound good? Well, don't miss it! Come and see me on Wednesday nights at Forbidden Island, 1304 Lincoln Ave in Alameda, CA, 5pm 'til Midnight. Remember your Black Orchid Club VIP cards are valid for 10% on your entire check Sunday through Wednesday (and it just so happens I work on all of those days), so bring your friends!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Photo Credit: Sparkling Future Cocktail. Photo by William Anzenberger Photography

Black Orchid Sessions… tonight at 5pm!

2010-02-10T10:11:00.001-08:00

First of all, I’d like to say thank you to each and every one of you who were a part of Season I of the Black Orchid Club. It was such a treat to create all of these cocktails and this game for you, and fabulous to share them with you each week. Thank you, thank you!

This week, Black Orchid Sessions begin… and I couldn’t be more excited about what’s on the horizon. This week’s special ingredient is a maple syrup, apple cider and cinnamon reduction called “Bitch Syrup,” so named for the signature cocktail it was created for, the “Black-Hearted Bitch.” Here are this week’s cocktails:

Black-Hearted Bitch

Goslings Black Seal and Lemon Hart Demerara give this grog style cocktail its name. With the addition of the specialty ingredient, notes of apple and maple, with hand squeezed grapefruit and a dash of Maraschino Liqueur, this cocktail may make you forget her... or she may haunt you forever!

Bitch’s Revenge

The taste of revenge is sweet... and it has hints of bourbon, orange, lemon, apple, cinnamon and spices. Served up with a flamed orange peel.

Bitch’s Redemption

An effervescent delight with gin and a lemon that makes maple and apple seem angelic. A good cocktail can mean redemption for us all... or not! But you'll have to taste it to find out!

Of course, you can also sit down with me for that custom made cocktail…. right on the spot, using the specialty ingredient and anything else you can dream up (that we’ve got behind the bar).

I’ll see YOU, tonight, at the Island!

--Suzanne

What an awesome 13 weeks! Reckoning Party tomorrow!

2010-02-02T19:03:00.000-08:00

...and here we are! 13 weeks have passed, and the Black Orchid Club has been such a complete blast. Tomorrow is the Reckoning Party, where all the prizes will be awarded and you'll see EXACTLY how many people really did have every single Black Orchid cocktail. I'll tell you one thing, it blows my mind. :)

Awards begin at 7:30pm, so be sure to be here tomorrow by then, and bring all of your cards. You must present your cards to win!

In case you need a checklist, here it is:

Week 1: Song of Delilah
Week 2: Valmont
Week 3: Rhapsody in Blue
Week 4: Pumpkin Delight
Week 5: Bora Bora Tea Punch
Week 6: Bavarian Yule
Week 7: Kiss of the Tiki
Week 8: Alta California
Week 9: Cape Verde Collins
Week 10: Taj Mahal Twilight
Week 11: Howard Street Cocktail
Week 12: Beseme Tamarindo
Week 13: Black Orchid

Wild Cards:

3am Atlantic
Girl From Alameda
Cherry Blossom Fizz
Island Bitters

We've also got DJ Otto for Otto's Grotto, and his special guest Johnny "Big Hands" Bartlett (The Phantom Surfers, The Barbary Coasters, Hillsdale Records), spinning wax for your dancing pleasure. AND it's Baby Doe's birthday!

Looking forward to a fabulous night all around.

I'll see YOU, TOMORROW, at the Island!

--Suzanne

Mai Tais for Haiti

2010-01-26T15:18:00.000-08:00

I've only got a second... but wanted to quickly post about the awesome benefit we're doing at FI tonight for Haiti:

Across the globe, people are uniting to raise money for the earthquake victims of Haiti.

Please join Forbidden Island on Tuesday, January 26, and help us join in the relief efforts. A special, one night only Haitian Mai Tai featuring our beloved Haitian Rhum Barbancourt will be available, and a portion of the proceeds of each Haitian Mai Tai will be donated to relief efforts. In addition, a raffle will be held with wonderful FI collectibles, dinner at Trader Vics, some amazing limited edition Trader Vics mugs and other tiki schwag.

So mark your calendars and get ready to raise your glasses, your spirits, and funds for Haitian relief.

More info about the event here : http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=256528187634&ref=mf

I'll see YOU at the Island!

-- Suzanne

Photo Contest Winners!

2010-01-20T16:14:00.000-08:00

Special Congratulations to Sue Trowbridge, our drawing winner for last week's photo contest. Sue has won one Black Orchid Cocktail on me tonight! Sue's photo entry was this photo:

Our second winner is a photo (actually a set of photos) by Will Anzenberger. These are really stunning photos, Will. Thank you!

The Flame:

The Pour:
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I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Press release: BLACK ORCHID SESSIONS provide custom gourmet cocktails at Forbidden Island, Alameda

2010-01-17T10:41:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2010

Alameda, CA.
Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge announces Black Orchid Sessions

On February 10, 2010, Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge rolls out a unique cocktail experience... custom made cocktails, created on the spot based on customer requests. On the heels of her wildly successful Wednesday night cocktail series the Black Orchid Club, mixologist Suzanne Long is taking cocktail creation to an even higher level by inventing cocktails on the spot, using premium ingredients and the suggestions of the imbiber. Each week, a focus ingredient will be announced. Focus ingredients will include Suzanne Long's custom made cocktail syrups and liqueurs, and some specialty spirits. The focus ingredient will be used to create each guest's custom cocktail, and a special weekly specials menu will also be available.

"In my experience, creating an excellent custom cocktail is similar to a Jazz recording session," says Long. "Creating custom cocktails for my guests on the spot is something that I already do. I'm just opening the doors to the public so everyone can participate. With my custom made syrups, the premium spirits and fresh juices we have here at Forbidden Island, and your input about what you feel like tasting tonight, we can together create the perfect, exceptionally crafted cocktail - right here in front of you!"

Black Orchid Sessions will take place on Wednesday evenings at Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge, the very hip 1960s style tiki lounge in the heart of Alameda. More details about the Black Orchid Club and Black Orchid Sessions can be found on Suzanne Long's blog, Shakin' Rum and Pineapples - http://rumnpineapple.blogspot.com and at http://twitter.com/BlackOrchidClub.

WHERE: Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge, 1304 Lincoln, Alameda.
http://forbiddenislandalameda.com
http://twitter.com/BlackOrchidClub

WHEN: Wednesdays, 5PM-12AM beginning February, 10, 2010
CONTACT: Suzanne Long (manager), suzanne@forbiddenislandalameda.com
Michael Thanos (owner) info@forbiddenislandalameda.com
Will Viharo (publicist), will@forbiddenislandalameda.com

Tonight! Week 11 of the Black Orchid Club!

2010-01-13T13:06:00.000-08:00

We've made it to Week 11, and we're rapidly approaching the end of the Black Orchid Club! As you know, the 13 weeks will be up the last Wednesday of January, and the Reckoning Party is coming up on February 3rd. I know that many of you have quite a few if not all of the cards, and now's the time to start letting me know how many you have so I can start getting all of the prizes ready. I've got some awesome stuff lined up for prizes and am very excited about the Reckoning Party.

Tonight, however, there is a special small contest happening, and it is photo related. Tonight, come in to FI and take a photo of the Black Orchid cocktail. Any media will do - fancy camera, cell phone camera, spy lapel pin camera, whatever you have on hand - and get your photos to me by Monday of next week (Jan 18, before midnight Pacific time), and you'll be entered to win your Black Orchid cocktail free (I'll pay for it myself!) on Jan 20. Two winners will be chosen - one via random drawing, and one for the most interesting, creative, beautiful, funny, or otherwise entertaining. Each photo entered is worth on drawing ticket (so if you have 20 photos, your name goes into the hat 20 times). Every photo entered must have the cocktail in it... but the rest is up to you! I'll announce the winners here on the blog by Wednesday, Jan 20, before 5pm. Photos may be submitted via email at rumnpineapple@gmail.com , or posted to your Twitter account with an @BlackOrchidClub (or you can bring a Polaroid into the bar). Can't wait for some awesome clicks!

I'll see YOU tonight for Week 11 at the Island!

--Suzanne

Photo Credit: Paul McMillan and Gabriel Hurley of Zero Coordinate, Inc.

Happy 10th Birthday, Tiki Central!

2010-01-12T11:08:00.001-08:00

Tiki Central is 10 years old today! 10 years of tiki madness, tiki ohana, the tiki world growing up together... ten years of the happiest and best times of my life. Thank you, Hanford Lemoore, for everything. I couldn't have done it without you!

Last night, we rang in Tiki Central's 10th with hugs and cheers and a 10 second countdown at Smuggler's Cove. Here's the photo proof:

Jason Untulis, Hanford Lemoore, Chad Spacey and myself, just after midnight.

Cheers to you, Hanford. I'll raise a glass to you at Forbidden Island tonight! I send this request out into the world, for all you tikiphiles out there... patronize your favorite (or at least your closest) tiki establishment tonight! Come and see me at FI, and I'll have a drink special for you! Or go to the Mai Kai, to Trader Vic's, to Kowloon, to the Bali Hai, to the Tiki Ti, to the Tonga Hut, to Smuggler's Cove, to the Kona Club, to Don the Beachcomber, to the Rendezvous, to Bahooka, to the Conga Lounge... if you can't make it out, raise a glass from home and join us live at Forbidden Island on UStream after 5pm Pacific time. We'll all have a mai tai tonight and long live the Ohana of Tiki!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Cape Verde Collins

2010-01-05T10:47:00.001-08:00

Cape Verde Collins
Originally uploaded by Crease Monkey

A very popular collins with St Germain, Peychaud's and Angostura bitters.

Kiss of the Tiki - Week 7

2010-01-05T10:46:00.001-08:00

Black Orchid Club (Week 7)
Originally uploaded by Crease Monkey

Ginger, Peach, Rhum Barbancourt and champagne!

Alta California - photo by Creasemonkey

2010-01-05T10:16:00.001-08:00

Black Orchid Club Drink (Week 8)
Originally uploaded by Crease Monkey

Another fantastic photo of a Black Orchid Cocktail... this one of the Alta California, made with Black Orchid special recipe orgeat, chocolate, and heavy cream. The glass is rimmed with sugar and crushed almonds.

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! 2010 is here!

2010-01-05T09:48:00.000-08:00

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

And here we are, in 2010. Hard to believe, as it all comes so quickly, but 2009 set in motion some wonderful things, and I'm looking forward to this year, and all the good it will bring.

I'd like to take a moment and extend my thanks to all of you. Thank you for reading along with my blog; thank you for watching the stream at Black Orchid Live; thank you for playing along with the Black Orchid Club, both in person and on Twitter; thank you for having such a good time with my puzzles and riddles; thank you for all of your wonderful compliments and encouragements; and most of all, thank you for the honor of allowing me to share my cocktails with you, and thank you for drinking them. Working at Forbidden Island is truly a dream come true for me, and getting to share with all of you is truly a highlight in my life. I'm honored to have the chance.

2010 is already looking to be a very exciting year. The Black Orchid Club will reach the end of these first 13 weeks at the end of January, followed by the Reconking Party on the 1st Wednesday of Feb, where we'll give out all of the prizes to our Black Orchid Club members, and basically have a great big bash. Afterward, I'll be moving into the commencement of the Black Orchid Sessions, where each week, on Wednesday, we'll have a focus ingredient - usually one of my homemade specialty syrups or liqueurs, but also sometimes focusing on a specific spirit - and a short menu of about three cocktails featuring that ingredient will be available. In addition, should you wish to, I will custom build a cocktail for you based on the focus ingredient and any other direction you give me... basically you'll tell me what you want, and I make it on the spot, using all of the premium fresh ingredients available at Forbidden Island. I guarantee you won't have an experience like this anywhere else!

It has been a few weeks since I've posted about cocktails from the Black Orchid Club, and so I'll recap the last few weeks of cocktails and cards:

Last week was the Cape Verde Collins. My inspiration for this cocktail came while I was living in Boston. I was throwing around the idea of using St. Germain in a Collins, because of how floral and delicate it is, while still being very present. It matches well with herbal gin notes. Around the same time, I had a great conversation with a friend about one of his recent trips to Cape Verde (one of many, for him) and how lemons there are intense and very sour, because of the volcanic soil. The image of a lemon tree growing inside the very fertile crater of a volcano never left me, and the two were put together into a delightful effervescent cocktail. The snow cone of crushed ice with Peychaud's and Angostura bitters lends depth of flavor... and of course, makes the drink look like a volcano with its branch of greenery!

Alta California
Legend has it that Spanish Missionaries brought the almond to California, and almond trees are known to have flourished in the gardens of California missions. This cocktail is made with my own homemade orgeat, creme de cacao, and heavy cream, with a shake of cocoa on top and rimmed with sugar and crushed almonds.

Kiss of the Tiki
A less complex cocktail, The Kiss of the Tiki is made with the clean flavors of peach and ginger, and Rhum Barbancourt from Haiti, with the sparkle of champagne on top and a candied ginger garnish. The inspiration for this cocktail came as I was telling a friend about the wonderful Ft. Lauderdale festival the Hukilau, and how in the tropical Florida night, tiki puts a spell on you. He was eating candied ginger as we talked.

In addition to these cocktails, several people have already solved the fortune cookie riddle, and earned their second wild card, along with the accompanying cocktail. Last week, I even had someone earn their wildcards by proxy - that is, they happened to be sitting next to someone who solved the riddle at the bar, and the person who solved it said the answer loudly enough to be heard by the people sitting next to him. When the new group heard the answer and saw the new wild card cocktail, they asked, "Is it okay for us to order it? We don't want to cheat! We overheard the answer just now, but didn't solve the riddle!" I told them, "All's fair in love, war, and cocktails."

If you're still working on the fortune cookie riddles, here are the three clues so far:

Love is Kewpie at Neptune

Four Score and Seven Years

Launching Clipper, China Bound (for easy use chopstick)

Come on in tomorrow for week 10 of the Black Orchid Club, another fortune cookie riddle, and Otto's Grotto (Otto Von Stroheim's DJ night). This month, Otto spins Bond style spy tunes. If you haven't solved the fortune cookie riddle yet, maybe you'll be lucky enough to sit next to someone else who does.

I'll see YOU at the Island!

-- Suzanne

Tonight - it's Black Orchid Live!

2009-12-23T15:00:00.000-08:00

Tonight is week 8 of the Black Orchid Club, and starting at 5pm Pacific, we'll be broadcasting live from Forbidden Island! Experience the mystery of the Black Orchid Club, the majesty of Forbidden Island, and the killer surf tunes of The Deadlies. Come in and be live on our broadcast!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/black-orchid-live

Black Orchid Live!

I'll see YOU at 5pm sharp at the Island! And you'll see me too! Live!

--Suzanne

Week 6 - Bavarian Yule and Video!

2009-12-18T10:01:00.001-08:00

Alooooooooha! Wow, it has really been crazy these past few weeks. I've been dividing my time between Forbidden Island and the Christmas Revels, a show I'm performing in at the Scottish Rite Theatre in Oakland. Between rehearsals, performances, and my days at FI, sleep has been at a premium, but at least I've had a few good cocktails along the way!

Last week I was in a dress rehearsal for Revels on Wednesday, so I missed many of you who came in for your cocktails. If you were in the bar, then you got the chance to see this video in person. Very special thanks go out to Gabriel Hurley-Ramstad and Paul McMillan of Zero Coordinate, Inc. for this glorious Hi-Def video!

You can also check out Gabriel's blog at http://gabriel.zeropeople.com/2009/12/16/hd-video-bavarian-yule-and-the-black-orchid-club/.

As I mention in the video, the cards from the first 6 weeks fit together and give you the name of the first wild card, the 3am Atlantic. If you've got all 6, flip them over and fit them together, and they should look like this:

And there you have it. If you don't already have your 3am Atlantic wild card, you now have the solution to the first puzzle... come on in to FI and ask for the 3am Atlantic Wild Card and cocktail.

Lots more coming up, including details about week 7, lots more photos, and details about a second wild card... stay tuned!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Black Orchid Club Rules - one more time

2009-12-11T09:24:00.000-08:00

We're halfway through week 6 and I just wanted to post the rules once more, just in case anyone wants a quick review.

Beginning Wednesday, November 4, 2009, you will be treated to a unique experience... you will be initiated into the Black Orchid Club, exclusively at Forbidden Island. On that Wednesday and for 13 consecutive Wednesdays, you have the opportunity to taste an all unique, all original, all new, and totally exclusive cocktail. Each cocktail will only be available on that specific Wednesday, and will never again be available at Forbidden Island. When you come in and order the special cocktail of the day, you will also be presented with a collectible card, specific to the cocktail. At the end of the 13 weeks, if you have been present for 9 of the thirteen weeks in a row (or at least have cards to prove it) then you will win a prize!

These are the details:

One card, per person, per evening.
Cards may be traded! So, if you can't make it in, send a friend! Also, remember that you only need 9 in a row to win, not all 13. However, if you do collect all 13 cards, you will win an even more exciting prize!

Placeholder Cards: We have a magic (and secret) number of first run cards each evening specific to that evening's cocktail. Once we have exceeded that number, the next person who orders the cocktail and all subsequent players will receive a placeholder card. The placeholder card has two known functions (and perhaps more). First, it shows that you were indeed present that evening, and if you present it the following week you will be given a second run edition of the cocktail card you missed. In addition, the placeholder cards may serve as additional trading cards. Their value is not yet known (but there is certainly a value to them). Hold on to them or trade them for cards you'd rather have; they are important either way.

Wild Cards:
Should you miss an opportunity to come in on a Wednesday evening, there are several chances to earn Wild Cards. Wild Cards may be used to fill in any holes in your 9 consecutive weeks, at no penalty. Clues about how to earn the Wild Cards will come from the bar, the cards themselves, and from clues on the new blog, Shakin' Rum and Pineapples... Tales from behind the bamboo stick at Forbidden Island: http://rumnpineapple.blogspot.com, as well as the Twitter feed for the Black Orchid Club: http://twitter.com/BlackOrchidClub. Be sure to follow them! Once you have solved the Wild Card riddles, you will be able to come in and claim your Wild Cards, and you'll be able to then order the Wild Card cocktails... which you can only try by knowing the answers to the riddles.

Dates: The contest begins on Wednesday, Nov 4, 2009 and runs each consecutive Wednesday through Jan 27, 2010.

Prizes: Anyone who presents cards that represent 9 consecutive weeks out of the 13 in the game period at the Reckoning Party will automatically win. Wild cards may hold up to three places in the 9 with no penalty. Persons having all 13 cards (with no wild card replacements) will win an even better prize, and those retaining all 13 named game cards and all wild cards, even more so! Persons with less than 9 consecutive cards, and or persons with interesting combinations of cards may also be considered for prizes.

Reckoning Party: Prizes will be awarded at the Reckoning Party, Feb 3, 2010.

Good luck!

Wild Cards! Wild Cards! Wild Night on Wednesday!

2009-12-04T11:43:00.001-08:00

What a night at Forbidden Island! Wednesday was a blast, with Otto's turntables spinning Herb Alpert and all the best Feliz Navidad, and Black Orchid Week 5. I couldn’t stop making drinks even for a few seconds! Quite a few people figured out the first Wild Card Wednesday night.

Wednesday’s cocktail was the Bora Bora Tea Punch. The cocktail is based on a 1960’s Hawai’ian cookbook recipe for a non-alcoholic punch, which was very vague and called for “brewed iced tea” and various “tropical juices.” It gave a list of suggestions and basically just told you to pick a few and toss them into the punchbowl. I took it a step further and picked some of my favorites, then added the potent part – rum, naturally (in this case Goslings Black Seal and Cruzan Aged White) - and decided on African Roobios Tea in lieu of your plain ol’ orange pekoe. I like Roobios tea quite a bit. It has no caffeine but retains that nice light tannin tea quality, and it’s fantastic with some vanilla and almond in it. Apparently one Hukilau villager agrees; I served this punch as part of the first annual Room Crawl at the Hukilau in Ft, Lauderdale, FL in June, and one fellow thanked me for the cocktail, walked out of the room, then came back in two minutes later, got down on his knees, took my hand and declared that it was the very best cocktail he had tasted in his life… and asked for another. Life is good at the Hukilau!

Here is the card for the Bora Bora Tea Punch:

For those of you who didn’t make it in, be sure when you come next Wednesday that you bring all of your cards. Quite a few Black Orchid Club members solved the first puzzle this week, and earned themselves a wild card AND the first Wild Card Cocktail! Join the ranks of the Wild Card Cardholders!

Special thanks to Crease Monkey, once again, for awesome photos! Check him out on Flickr at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kicksaveandabeauty/sets/72157622709672373/

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

-- Suzanne

Remember to bring all of your cards tonight!

2009-12-02T10:09:00.001-08:00

Remember to bring all of your cards in to Forbidden Island tonight for week 5 of the Black Orchid Club! Tonight is the night that many of you have been waiting for… you’ll see what I mean when you get there.

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Pumpkin Delight

2009-12-01T17:06:00.001-08:00

Pumpkin Delight
Originally uploaded by Crease Monkey

Another killer photo by Crease Monkey. Thanks for stopping in before the Sharks game, CM!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Tomorrow Marks Week 5 of the Black Orchid Club!

2009-12-01T17:05:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all of you who are continuing to make the Black Orchid Club a success… I’m having a blast sharing these cocktails with you, and sharing my game with you. I hope you’re having as much fun as I am!

This week’s Black Orchid Club coincides with Otto’s Grotto, Otto Von Stroheim’s DJ night at Forbidden Island, and Otto is going Latin for the Holidays. He promises to play lots of Herb Alpert (my favorite!) and get December swingin’ with only the best Mid-Century Latin grooves.

In addition, this week is a very special week for those of you working on the puzzles, so be sure to bring in all of your cards. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!

I’ll see YOU, TOMORROW, at the Island!

--Suzanne

Pumpkin Delight – week 4 of Black Orchid Club!

2009-12-01T17:03:00.001-08:00

Week 4 of the Black Orchid Club fell on the day before Thanksgiving. In honor of the holiday, the featured cocktail was the Pumpkin Delight. My inspiration for the Pumpkin Delight was simple… a trip to Trader Joe’s and a jar of pumpkin butter on the shelf, and I thought, “Hmm. I’ll bet that would be fantastic with rum!” I have a series of cocktails called Delights that feature creamy jams, like Lemon Curd, Lime Curd, and other fruit butters. About a year ago back in Boston, my friend Randy Wong (of the Waitiki 7), gave me a few jars of Hawai’ian Lilikoi butters (Passion Fruit) and in Guava, Lime and Pineapple as well, and wow, were some of those cocktails amazing! Creamy and delightful desert drinks, which is how they became known as “Delights.” The tradition lives on with this cocktail, made with Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Butter, Lemon Hart Demerara rum, dry sherry, and dashes of nutmeg and allspice.

The Pumpkin Delight was a smash… we ran out of everything to make the cocktail, working our way through an entire case of pumpkin butter! The evening was a smash too – everyone was jolly with Thanksgiving coming the next day. The bar was packed right until closing. Here are the very few photos I managed to snap of Wednesday’s revelers:

After a busy Wednesday (we stayed open later than usual!), long time FI cocktail waitress Melissa was ready to let her hair down and rock out to a little Def Leopard (yes, even we listen to Def Leopard after hours, folks). Rock on Melissa!

Tomorrow is Week 5 of the Black Orchid Club… and a very special one for those of you working on the puzzles. Be sure to bring all of your cards. You’ll be glad you did!

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Black Orchid Club Cards – Weeks 1-3

2009-11-25T12:28:00.001-08:00

Here is a recap of the first three Black Orchid Club cards, for you puzzlers out there:

Week One: Song of Delilah

Week 2: Valmont

Week 3: Rhapsody in Blue

I’ll see you TONIGHT, for Week 4, at the Island!

--Suzanne

Technorati Tags: black orchid club,cards,cocktails,forbidden island,wednesday,valmont,rhapsody in blue,song of delilah,puzzle,riddle

Week 3 Recap: Rhapsody in Blue

2009-11-25T12:17:00.001-08:00

Thank you, everyone, who came out for week 3 of the Black Orchid Club, and to those of you following and playing along with us on Twitter!

The featured cocktail was Rhapsody in Blue. Rhapsody is a twist on 1920s style gin cocktails, with the addition of fresh ginger and muddled fresh blueberries, and a ginger simple syrup, which I make with fresh juiced ginger (try squirting that in your eye – ! ). I use Martin Miller’s Dry Gin, one of my favorite gins.

It was also International Flight Lounge, with DJ Jab – so along with our cocktails we had the swingin’ 60s sounds of lounge, Ye Ye, French Pop and go-go fabulousness!

For those of you who missed it, this is the card from week 3:

Tonight is week 4, so I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

A few photos of Black Orchid Club, week 3 - Rhapsody in Blue

2009-11-20T16:42:00.001-08:00

Thanks, Crease Monkey, for the excellent photos!

Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge
Originally uploaded by Crease Monkey

A lovely photo of the sign outside Forbidden Island

Suzanne with her drinks and Fezillas
Originally uploaded by Crease Monkey

Suzanne (me!) with 5 Rhapsody in Blue cocktails and Fezzilla

Week 3 of Black Orchid Club
Originally uploaded by Crease Monkey

Rhapsody in Blue

Week 3 of Black Orchid Club
Originally uploaded by Crease Monkey

Rhapsody in Blue, with card and fortune!

More details about week 3 coming up!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

A Kosher Thursday: Meshugga Beach Party

2009-11-20T10:32:00.001-08:00

And then along comes Thursday… and Meshugga Beach Party at Forbidden Island. What a blast we had! These local to Alameda fellas (and one lovely gal) were hands down fantastic, as usual. I really love this band. If you’re not familiar with Meshugga Beach Party, they play surf versions of traditional Jewish tunes. Too much fun! Of course, I was making cocktails like crazy, but I did manage some photos:

Meshugga Mel asked me to create a cocktail for him with Slivovitz for their appearance at Forbidden Island… I took the challenge and came up with the Suffering Shlemiel (shown below), with Slivovitz Kosher Plum Brandy, more Brandy, Cherry Heering, Bourbon, and Ginger Ale. Mel’s comment on the cocktail:

“I had a chance to preview the Suffering Shlemeil last night, and I have to say, not much suffering involved - an amazing feat of mixology. Of course, I suspect the true suffering comes from drinking too many!” --Mel Waldorf

We also had a special guest in the house, MiMi Le Meaux, burlesque dancer extraordinaire. Here she is pictured with Melissa, cocktail waitress at FI:

Next up – details about week 3 of the Black Orchid Club, and photos of the Rhapsody in Blue! Stay tuned!

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Photos of Week 2: Valmont Cocktail

2009-11-19T16:19:00.001-08:00

Here are a few photos of the Black Orchid Club last week.

The Valmont Cocktail:

As we mentioned last week, our very first person in would get something extra special… in this case, the first person was actually a couple! Here they are with their two Valmont Cocktails, and the special treat they earned for being first in… a sneak peek at one of our Holiday specials, a cocktail I call St. Nick’s Whiskers:

A partially enjoyed St. Nick’s Whiskers (fresh rosemary, fig preserves, Flor de Cana 5 year and St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram):

A few more:

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

Technorati Tags: black orchid club,cocktails,valmont,forbidden island

--Suzanne

Tomorrow! Week 3 of the Black Orchid Club!

2009-11-17T21:46:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow...

We've got something very special planned! If you're interested in earning your wild cards, tomorrow is a day NOT to miss! Not only that, but we'll have cookies. Yes, really.

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Week 2 Recap: Valmont Cocktail

2009-11-17T15:56:00.000-08:00

It has been a whirlwind week! Last Wednesday was week 2 of the Black Orchid Club, and the featured cocktail was the Valmont Cocktail. The Valmont is a sparkling cocktail, made with Square One Cucumber Vodka, fresh muddled cucumber, lemon juice and orange flower water, with a Demerara sugar cube soaked in Forest Floor bitters and a champagne top. My inspiration for this cocktail came from the wonderful delicate aroma of the Square One Cucumber Vodka... that with a dash of orange flower water left me dreaming of the decedent halls of Versailles and the intrigue of a play that I adore, Les Liaisons dangereuses. The irresistible and wicked character of Valmont only seemed a fitting namesake for the cocktail.

Last week, we tweeted about some special extras for week two of the Black Orchid Club. The first person through the door got a special surprise... in addition to the Valmont and the collector card of the evening, the first person in (well, in this case, the first couple in), also got a special exclusive taste of an upcoming holiday cocktail special of mine called St. Nick's Whiskers. Everyone who came in last Wednesday also got a special sneak preview view of the collector card for week four.

Even more fantastic secrets will be revealed tomorrow, for week 3 of the Black Orchid Club! Don't miss it!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Week 2: Tonight!

2009-11-11T08:42:00.000-08:00

Tonight is week 2 of the Black Orchid Club. Don't forget that if you have a placeholder card from Week 1 (i.e, you didn't get a Song of Delilah card), you can come into the bar tonight and pick up your second run of the first week's card - just show me your place holder when you order. Also, along with tonight's cocktail and card, you will get a special sneak peak of the card for Week 4! Don't miss it!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Vampires, Bananas, and the world's only Theremin lounge band

2009-11-10T21:42:00.000-08:00

Like none other! I spent another Saturday cocktailing, and Saturday nights
are unlike any other night at Forbidden Island. A totally different crowd comes
in on the weekends, and it's fun to see many people discover the place for the
very first time. After about 9pm it picked up and we were slammed until after 1am.
The best part of Saturday, though, was the fact that there was another event happening on the island - a dance sponsored by PEERS called Le Bal des Vampires (The Vampire Ball), that is an annual event for PEERS, and happened to be taking place in Alameda. The beauty of it was that after the dance, several of the vampires decided to take a quick side trip over to FI before the sun rose... in all of their multi-century finery (I saw vampires in every sort of costume, from medieval to 18th century French to modern), the vampires remained to drown themselves in the Two Crazy Redheads Bowl (Click here to see video), and about three rounds of Banana Mamacows. Note to self: When expecting vampires, be sure to have extra bananas on hand.

As we rolled into Sunday, it was time for an afternoon with Project Pimento, the world's only theremin lounge band! I really love Project Pimento, and it was a great treat to see and hear them while I was working shakin' up that rum. We were busy (no surprise with a great band like this), but I was glad I did have a chance to shoot a few quick photos.

You know you're working in the right bar when one of your regulars produces bongos and starts jamming with the band:

Even more mania is coming up for week 2 of the Black Orchid Club... stay tuned!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Week One: Song of Delilah

2009-11-06T18:37:00.000-08:00

…and we’re off! Week one of the Black Orchid Club features the Song of Delilah.

The Song of Delilah is a cocktail featuring Licor 43, (a delightful Spanish liqueur with vanilla, spice and citrus notes), pomegranate, honey and fresh banana nectar. My inspiration for this cocktail came to me one evening while listening to one of my favorite albums, Rains in the Tropics, by the incomparable Gene Rains.

Our very first card holding member of the Black Orchid Club is Tracey Lee, who arrived just after opening. Here is Tracey with her card, cocktail, and as you can see, she’s number one! The evening went on with lots of excitement and many participants. We now have 61 card holding members of the Black Orchid Club… scroll down through the blog to see photo of the Initiates!

If you are not yet following the Black Orchid Club Twitter, be sure to add it. There will be special perks and prizes for those who follow the Twitter feed (and clues and inside information will be there too).

For those of you who didn’t make it in on Wednesday, this is what card number one looks like:

Photos of some of the first night members of the Black Orchid Club:

Mai Tai (Bill Graff, on the left above), brought up the rear as the LAST person to order the Song of Delilah on Wednesday. Rock on Mai Tai!

I’ll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

Tomorrow...

2009-11-03T17:29:00.001-08:00

Wednesday - a great day at the Island

2009-10-31T12:28:00.000-07:00

Wednesday is always a treat for me at FI. It is the long-standing night when folks from Tiki Central come by, so I get to see lots of friends. I very frequently get to meet other interesting people too, and such was the case this past Wednesday. It was a fairly quiet start to the evening, and everything was humming along as per usual, when a couple strolls into the bar. As they are sipping their Painkillers, I overhear them mention something about a sailing expedition from here in the Bay Area all the way to Australia, via Hawai'i and the Polynesian Islands... my curiosity was piqued, as I once had a very similar opportunity myself (although it didn't come to fruition). We started talking, and as it turns out, this couple, Steven and Kristin Osborne, originally from Alaska, but now living in Marin County, were gearing up for their last two weeks in California before heading out on this amazing journey. They had been hired to sail a vessel that someone from Long Beach is selling to a buyer in Sydney (the coincidence in this is almost uncanny to the offer I had, just about 2 years ago, that sailboat also having been in Long Beach, and going to Sydney... but in my case the deal fell through. I believe someone else in California ended up buying it).

Steven, Kristin and myself got into a wonderful conversation about all of this. Their plan is to sail to Hawai'i, then down to Fiji and through many of the Polynesian Islands before making it to Sydney. The entire journey will take several months. The idea of the chance to sail the South Pacific is something that has always been attractive to me personally, and I think an opportunity such as this only comes around once in a lifetime. Oh, the amazing things one would see! It can only be described as life changing. After that, I run out of words.

Steven and Kristin Osborne

Steven and Kristin went on to tell me about the name of this expedition, and the name of the new vessel they will build when they return to the Bay Area afterward - Merlin's Revenge. Their wonderful dog, Merlin, who was deaf and was trained using 100% hand signals, recently passed away. They had planned to take him all around the world with them - so this expedition is in his honor and memory.

Kristin's tattoo of Merlin

Check out the progress of Merlin's Revenge as they journey the south seas by following their blog, http://merlins-revenge.org.

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

T-Minus One Week to the Black Orchid Club!

2009-10-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

Beginning Wednesday, November 4, 2009, you will be treated to a unique experience... you will be initiated into the Black Orchid Club, exclusively at Forbidden Island. On that Wednesday and for 13 consecutive Wednesdays, you have the opportunity to taste an all unique, all original, all new, and totally exclusive cocktail. Each cocktail will only be available on that specific Wednesday, and will never again be available at Forbidden Island. When you come in and order the special cocktail of the day, you will also be presented with a collectible card, specific to the cocktail. At the end of the 13 weeks, if you have been present for 9 of the thirteen weeks in a row (or at least have cards to prove it) then you will win a prize!

These are the details:

One card, per person, per evening.
Cards may be traded! So, if you can't make it in, send a friend! Also, remember that you only need 9 in a row to win, not all 13. However, if you do collect all 13 cards, you will win an even more exciting prize!

Wild Cards:
Should you miss an opportunity to come in on a Wednesday evening, there are two chances to earn Wild Cards. Wild Cards may be used to fill in any holes in your 9 consecutive weeks, at no penalty. Clues about how to earn the Wild Cards will come from the bar, the cards themselves, and from clues on the new blog, Shakin' Rum and Pineapples... Tales from behind the bamboo stick at Forbidden Island: http://rumnpineapple.blogspot.com, as well as the Twitter feed for the blog, http://twitter.com/RumNPineapple. Bookmark these! Once you have solved the Wild Card riddles, you will be able to come in and claim your Wild Cards, and you'll be able to then order the two Wild Card cocktails... which you can only try by knowing the answers to the riddles.

All in all, we have 13 weeks, 15 all original cocktails, 15 trading cards, great prizes, and much much more!

Good Luck everyone!

I'll see you at the Island!

--Suzanne

Zombies... and cocktails, on a Saturday night

2009-10-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

Last night was a lot of fun at Forbidden Island. Instead of mixing drinks, I was there cocktailing, as our regular Saturday evening cocktail waitress, Meg, needed the evening off. Early in the evening, a pair of Zombies found their way into the bar... I was sad that I had forgotten my camera and didn't get the chance to get a photo of them. They were having your typical excellent undead sort of time. Jolly Zombies, these two ladies were!

Lots of conversation was in the air about the launch of the Black Orchid Club, too. For those of you not yet in the know, the Black Orchid Club rolls out on Wednesday, November 4th. Beginning that day for 13 consecutive Wednesdays, Forbidden Island (and yours truly) will present one all original cocktail, never before served at FI and never to be served again. Each Wednesday is all unique, and you only have that one chance to have that unique cocktail. Each person ordering the special cocktail of the day will receive a collectors card specific to that day and cocktail. At the end of the 13 weeks, cards will be redeemable for special prizes... watch this space for more details as the game unfolds.

Today, I'm tightening up the straps on my Halloween cocktail special, the Renfield Cocktail (one of my favorite Halloween characters of all time). Here's Tom Waits as the infamous character:

Come and try this potent delectable on Halloween at FI!

I'll see YOU at the Island!

--Suzanne

This is a test.

2009-10-23T11:57:00.002-07:00

Posted on Friday, October 23, 2009 at 10:27 AM by Rum and Pineapples

"This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. The broadcasters of your area in voluntary cooperation with the Federal, State and local authorities have developed this system to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency, the Attention Signal you just heard would have been followed by official information, news or instructions. This station, Rum N Pineapples, serves the entire rum consuming tiki community. This concludes this test of the Emergency Broadcast System."