Post #291292 by ikitnrev on Mon, Mar 12, 2007 2:03 PM

Here is a nice review of the Taky Tiki, from the Prague Post.

Vern

http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2007/03/07/for-the-tropical-set-a-taste-of-the-exotic-in-zizkov.php

For the tropical set, a taste of the exotic in Žižkov
Tiki bar catches on with escapist fantasy

March 7th, 2007

Polynesian tribal masks, coconut cocktails and Don Ho singalongs aren’t components of a typical evening in Prague. However, a new Žižkov nightspot is combining these frivolous indulgences — and then some — to create the aptly named Taky Tiki, the city’s first Tiki lounge.

After a shaky opening in March 2006, Taky Tiki is now generating local buzz for its deceivingly fruity cocktails and South Pacific décor. Kept in a perpetual twilight, the theme here is pure escapism. Bamboo columns, synthetic orchids and fishermen’s nets line the walls and ceiling, and the house specialty is the Riki Tiki Tavi, a mixture of gin with strawberry and cranberry juices. Noticeably absent are televisions, neon beer signs or rock music — anything that could disturb the fantasy of being in a tropical locale.

“A lot of people either just don’t get it, or maybe they think it’s just about the strong drinks,” says former bartender Pamela Moye, a Californian who designed the signature cocktail menu. “But there are some people who treat Tiki culture like a religion. It can be a bit overwhelming if you’re not familiar with it. It’s a phenomenon, and they’re absolutely obsessive about it.”

Although the exact origin is unknown, enthusiasts trace the inception of Tiki culture to Los Angeles, with the opening of Trader Vic’s restaurant in 1937. Decorated in Polynesian detritus, it attracted a cult following. World War II further directed international attention to the Pacific islands, and popular novels and films followed, peaking with the 1961 Elvis Presley classic Blue Hawaii.

The local take on Tiki is largely the brainchild of Jason Adams, an Arizona native and self-proclaimed “Tiki aficionado.” Adams first arrived in the Czech Republic in 1992, but relocated to the United Arab Emirates for three years beginning in 2000. It was there that he became fascinated with all things Tiki. He promptly converted two rooms in his Abu Dhabi apartment into a makeshift island-themed bar, partly as a personal rebellion against the dress-code policy in that region’s nightspots.

“Tiki became an outlet for me to express myself,” Adams says. “I always had [a penchant for] Hawaiian shirts, and I’d dreamed of owning a bar by the beach. I couldn’t wear shorts or hats, and I wanted to create a place for people to party during Ramadan.”

Upon returning to Prague, Adams began propositioning bar owners in hopes of creating a Tiki lounge. Despite hosting a few beach-themed events, he found no takers. “I was basically driving bar owners nuts,” Adams says. “Most would just say, ‘You can’t make it Tiki because no one knows what it is, and it’ll never work.’

”It wasn’t until Adams was introduced to Harry Hasan, owner of the former Unicum Herna Bar at Cimburkova 22, that he found someone who would take the risk.

“He convinced me of the idea because I didn’t like the way [Unicum] was,” Hasan says. “I wanted to create something different and special. The bar really needed a change.”

The pair joined forces with Moye, who had experience creating exotic drinks. Still, making up Tiki cocktails — traditionally based on rum and exotic fruits — for European palates was a challenge.

“We did have to adapt things a bit,” Moye says. “These are tropical drinks designed around nontraditional ingredients.” As for the kick, she says, “It’s about the artistry of the cocktail. If you have a good bartender, you won’t understand the power of a Tiki drink until the second or third, when it’s too late.”

After a slow start, Taky Tiki seems to have caught on with both locals and expats. Lounge musicians have played to packed weekend crowds, and there is talk of adding a trivia night. “It’s a real pleasure to the eye and soul,” says Tommy Barwick, a Prague resident and London native visiting for his third time.

The sentiment comes as no surprise to the resident fanatics, who’ve been adamant about the calming effect of kitsch with a cocktail all along.

“It’s not pretentious; there’s no stress,” Adams says. “People can relax and be transported to somewhere totally different and warm.”

“Tiki has a spirit — a special ambience and comforting feeling,” Hasan adds. “It’s like a little fantasyland, an oasis.”