Dreaming of warmer days? Escape the winter blahs with an indoor luau shindig. Gather your buds, mix up a big batch of piña coladas and forget about the date on the calendar for a night.
the scene
>>Light Tiki torches outside your front door to put guests in the right mood. Ask them to wear summer attire—think beachy maxi dresses, flip-flops, captain’s hats, board shorts and Hawaiian shirts. Set out leis and grass skirts for guests to grab on their way in.
>>Set up a Tiki bar. Adorn it with a grass table skirt, Tiki lights, pineapples and bright, tropical flowers.
>>Decorate the party area with potted mini palms or inflatable palms and strings of Tiki-themed paper lanterns.
the eats
>>The day before, cook up a big batch of kalua pork—it’s a Hawaiian-inspired crowd-pleaser made hands-off in a slow cooker. (The version on skinnytaste.com is delicious and easy!) Serve with sweet rolls and hoisin sauce. On the side, offer fruit kabobs, coconut shrimp and a tropical salad with romaine, pineapple, macadamia nuts, green onions and flaked coconut.
>>For dessert, have chocolate fondue with fruit and pound cake.
the drinks
>>Serve Hawaii-brewed Kona beers, available at The Wine & Cheese Place on Forsyth Boulevard and at many local grocery and liquor stores.
>>For cocktails, think Tiki. Mix up a batch of piña coladas (you can even rent a machine from stlmargaritas.com), or Blue Hawaiis, a midcentury-era
cocktail made with rum, vodka, blue curacao, pineapple juice, and sweet & sour. Serve drinks in Tiki glassware, complete with bright cocktail umbrellas.
the fun
>>Put on a soundtrack of beachy tunes. Screen Lilo & Stitch for kids or Jaws or 50 First Dates for teen guests. In the main party space, put on Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii in the background.
>>Send guests home with a sand pail filled with Kona beers, chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and Trader Joe’s dried pineapple rings.
