Tiki Party at Rambutan for Appleton Estate Rum @Not Quite Nigella

Tiki Party at Rambutan for Appleton Estate Rum

November 8, 2008 by Not Quite Nigella

I don’t know much about Tikis. I’m a bit ignorant of them in fact. I haven’t yet graced Hawaii’s shores and the only thing I know about them is that Greg Brady once wore a Tiki pendant and almost drowned as it gave him bad luck. As Greg was my favourite Brady along with Marcia that caused me great distress.

Tonight my husband and I are attending a Tiki party at Rambutan, an Oxford Street bar much more tastefully decorated than you’d think (I think they even have Florence Broadhurst wallpaper) and lights that I am just itching to climb up and unhinge from the ceiling and take home with me (the fact that they’re huge would put an end to that).

Tonight there are 6 bartenders competing to make the best cocktail using Appleton Estate Rum, a premium brand of rum that rum aficionados flock to (I’ll admit, I’m wholly underqualified for that title). Originally named Wray & Nephew, it was the first rum used by Tiki aficionados Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic and was used it in their classic Tiki cocktails. These are ones that you’ve probably had quite a few of: the Mai-Tai and the Hurricane. We get to top up our Marcus Pizzuti designed Maile Ku mugs with delicious cocktails above. Maile is a traditional Hawaiian leaf used in royal and wedding leis and Ku is a god that was both a warrior and protector. Just in case you were asking.

The rum itself has been made since 1749 (yes really) and the Jamaican Estate is headed up by the world’s first female master blender/distiller Joy Spence.

Tropical fish

Downstairs is where the competition is taking place with bartenders from Rambutan, The Beresford, The Colada Cub, The Rum Diaries and The Victoria Room. Judging are rum afficiandos and the Tania the editor of the fantastic Taste.com.au website.

The bartenders and placings were:

Ryan Gardam from Rambutan (3rd place)

David Beattie from The Beresford (1st place)

Nick Braun from The Beresford

Nick Van Tiel from The Colada Club (2nd place)

Hugh Payten Smith from The Rum Diaries

Ryan Coleiro from Victoria Room

Fabulous lamp-me wanty! Stuffing this under your sarong isn’t recommended though.

Dim sims

Curry puffs

The finger food is what has me interested though and clutching my Tiki themed totem pole sized mug I balance the delicious morsels heading my way and a variety of cocktails. There are piping hot and fluffy curry puffs, dim sims with a delicious sweet sauce, lettuce cups with larb (chicken salad), betel leaf roll ups and my favourite little rectangles of the most perfect salted pork belly with a delicious crackling crust.

Crispy skinned pork belly

If this is Tiki culture, sign me up.

Rambutan

96 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
Tel: +61 (02) 9360 7772
Open: 7 days 6pm to late.

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1. Reemski | November 8, 2008 at 9:36 am | #

You should have dinner there. Really beautiful food.
2. Annie | November 8, 2008 at 11:30 am | #

Those dim sims look awesome! I hope you had an extra one for me!
3. Maria T | November 8, 2008 at 5:36 pm | #

Juicy juicy piece of pork you are holding there. I would hover over the platter and guard it all night long. mmm…
4. kate | November 8, 2008 at 6:15 pm | #

The food looks good but so you know larb is the one of the national dishes of Laos. Every household has it’s own version of larb as well as other specialties.
5. FFichiban | November 8, 2008 at 6:26 pm | #

Pork crackklllinnngggggg mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm That place looks really lively! and the lamps are quite pretty indeed
6. Lilia | November 8, 2008 at 9:14 pm | #

Any picture of the cocktail?
7. Blond Duck | November 8, 2008 at 10:22 pm | #

It looks very exotic and sophisticated!
8. the projectivist | November 8, 2008 at 10:38 pm | #

wow! i like the look of that – even their signage is great, don’t you think?

i hope you were dressed in suitable tiki style? i noticed some people went all out!

oh – you made me laugh with that reminder of Greg and the curse of the tiki that they found when they went on holiday to Hawaii. all the memories came flooding back…including when Greg took over the den. remember that one? he made it all cool bachelor pad stylee!!

ahhhh those were the days!
9. Karen | November 9, 2008 at 12:04 am | #

Hehe if you ever find a way to nick that pretty patterned lamp in clandestine, please snatch another one for me. I will even provide a sarong…extra large.

Cheers!
10. snooky doodle | November 9, 2008 at 4:08 am | #

what an interesting place to visit . the food looks delicious. Great photos. I ve tagged you please visit my blog
11. Not Quite Nigella | November 9, 2008 at 10:12 am | #

Hi reemski-After the delicious canapes, we plan to!

Hi Annie-They were-who’d have thought the humble dim sim was so tasty?

Hi Maria-I definitely tried to I should have offered to help them take the plate around perhaps?

Hi Kate-I didn’t know that. I only know of the larb at Thai restaurants (the chicken salad)

Hi FFichiban-Haha yes that crackling was soooo amazing!

Hi Lilia-Nope, they were served in ceramic Tiki mugs so you shouldn’t have seen much of them!

Hi Blond Duck-It was very nice indeed and very Tiki-fied!

Hi the projectivist-Bien sur! I brought out my very Tiki style sarong and jewelry (which I was glad to actually wear as I haven’t had the chance to wear it anywhere before this )

Oooh yes I do have a very good recall of Brady episodes. I lived through them and desperately wanted a bathroom with two doors into it like the kids had. Greg was the hottest (although I prefer to think of them back then, not how they are now )

Hi Karen-Done! If I get the opportunity although this story would just lead police to the both of us

Hi snooky doodle-Thanks so much for the tag! That’s very sweet of you to think of me
12. grace | November 9, 2008 at 11:32 pm | #

so greg was your favorite, eh? i think i preferred alice to all of ‘em.
13. Not Quite Nigella | November 10, 2008 at 9:32 pm | #

Hi grace-I admit it, he was! But not now I have to say, way back then Alice huh? I guess she kept them all fed!
14. Maria | November 11, 2008 at 4:31 pm | #

Yum, it all looks good!! And I have to agree..the light fixtures are fantastic.. love them! The atmosphere seems awesome.. what was the music being played on the night, can you recall?
15. brian | November 11, 2008 at 6:07 pm | #

hi there. came across this by chance – a friend sent me the link. i supplied the big tikis to the appleton promotion night you went to. we are opening our venue – opening night is this fri. it is an oceania arts centre / tiki lounge. if you would like to come to the opening send me an email, cheers
16. Not Quite Nigella | November 11, 2008 at 10:18 pm | #

Hi Maria-You know I don’t think I remember the music much? I was too busy talking. That’s terrible isn’t it!

Hi brian-Oh cool! That’s great, sounds brilliant, I wish I could come but I have plans for this Friday
17. Shereen | November 12, 2008 at 12:09 am | #

Helloo,

Just wanna say – love your website! I’ve tried a few cupcake recipes and they have turned out beautifully, however I was wondering if you could reccommend a good website for ordering cupcake cases? I live in England and the English haven’t quite caught on to the whole cupcake thing so it’s difficult to find a good cake decorating shop. I’ve bought a few from a website i found on google but the cases are TINY and not very deep.

Can you help??

Thanks!!!
18. Not Quite Nigella | November 12, 2008 at 9:32 pm | #

Hi Shereen-Thankyou so much and that’s great! I think you guys have a better selection than we do at times There’s Jane Asher who stocks some things http://www.jane-asher.co.uk/sugarcraft.php although I’m not sure how much is online. I hope that helps!