Tiki, Luau, Beach Party, or Parrot Head Party:
Plan for both indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. If you have a deck or an additional outside social quarters, set up a few Tiki lamps and citronella candles to brighten your event and ward off insects. Also, check your local party stores for Tiki masks and beach party style decorations. Greet everyone with leis from the party or dollar store. http://www.partycity.com/product/tropical+tiki+party+supplies.do#Decorations
Encourage all attendees to wear their best Hawaiian Shirts and beachwear. Publicize a Hawaiian Shirt/Dress contest, a Hula contest, or limbo contest with prizes to increase attendance. http://www.goodhawaiianshirts.com/index.html
Play Hawaiian, Jimmy Buffett, or surf guitar music (Dick Dale, Beach Boys, Ventures, Santo & Johnny or other 60s instrumentals, or discover some of the new Surf Guitar artists.). http://www.nutsie.com/top100sradio/Top%20100%20Surf%20Rock%20Songs/2694835
Set up a single large table for your entrées, and decorate it with centerpieces of coconuts and tropical flowers and plants and serve the entrées buffet-style, not in courses.
Use green paper plates cut in the shape of banana leaves or find paper ware with a tropical theme, and encourage guests to eat with their hands. http://www.partycity.com/product/tiki+time+party+supplies.do
Cheeseburger In Paradise
Start the night right with shrimp and cocktail sauce as an appetizer, or a fruit plate of tropical fruit such as pineapple and mangoes.
The main menu can include fire-roasted (bar-b-q) pork, Pineapple fried rice, and teriyaki chicken skewers. Other foods you might include: Chicken Wings, Sushi, crab legs, Roasted Pineapple, and fish tacos. Or try some of the foods referred to in Jimmy Buffett songs, like:
Whether you grill up full-size burgers or sliders, cheeseburgers are a must at a Buffett-themed party. To make them Buffett-approved, cook them medium-rare and serve with an onion slice, mustard, lettuce, tomato, Heinz 57 and French fried potatoes on the side. Don't forget the big kosher pickle and cold draft beer.
2 Lbs. Hamburger 1 Tps. Salt 1 Clove Garlic 2 Packages Ranch Seasoning Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir thoroughly. Break out into medium sized patties and put on the grill. Grill on a very low heat for 25-30mins to retain juices. Cooking the burgers too fast will cause them to lose the important ranch flavor. Top with your favorite cheddar cheese and smother in limejuice for a tropical flair. Serve on toasted bun with a pickle on the side.
Grilled Fish
In "I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever," Buffett savors the scent of fish on the grill. Get some fish, preferably a fresh catch from your Lodge’s Rod & Gun group, and season it up with citrus & spices, then begin the barbecuing.
Coconut Tart
In "I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever," Buffett sang, "We'll begin with dessert a little coconut tart." A coconut tart can be prepared by simply combining eggs, sugar, melted butter, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Stir in flaked coconut and then pour the mixture into individual tart shells, baking for about 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow to cool. Jimmy Buffett would be proud.
Nibblin’ On Sponge cake
Sponge cake with a Lemon drizzled icing; Key Lime Pie, Hawaiian Shave Ice, and Sherbet are all great tropical ways to cap the meal off. Pineapple Upside-down Cake is always a big hit.
Margaritaville
Make tropical drinks, such as mai tais, piña coladas and daiquiris. Have pineapple juice and other fruit juices on hand, or mix up a batch of Virgin Coladas & Margaritas for a nonalcoholic alternative.
Here’s a recipe for our very own Moose Red RUM-bler
1 ounce of Spiced Rum 1 ounce of Coconut Rum 1 ounce of Amaretto or Apricot Brandy
Hawaiian punch red Dole pineapple/banana/orange juice
Sliced pineapple (halved rings) Maraschino Cherries
Fill a Mason canning jar with ice up to the bottom of the shoulder. Add Spiced Rum, Coconut Rum, and Amaretto. Fill half way with pineapple/banana/orange juice. Fill the rest with Hawaiian Punch Red.
Garnish with half pineapple ring and Maraschino cherry on skewer
Classic Margarita
Fresh lime wedge (optional) Margarita salt (optional) Ice 1/3 cup fresh lime juice* 3 tablespoons orange liqueur 2 tablespoons tequila 1/3 to 1/2 cup powdered sugar Garnish: lime slice
Preparation
Rub rim of a chilled margarita glass with lime wedge, and dip rim in salt to coat, if desired.
Fill cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add lime juice, liqueur, tequila, and powdered sugar; cover with lid, and shake until thoroughly chilled. Strain into prepared glass. Garnish, if desired, and serve immediately. *1/3 cup thawed frozen limeade concentrate may be substituted for fresh lime juice. Omit powdered sugar, and proceed with recipe as directed.
Note: For testing purposes only, we used Cointreau for orange liqueur and Jose Cuervo Especial for tequila.
Pre made Frozen Margarita: Combine lime juice, liqueur, tequila, and powdered sugar in a small pitcher or measuring cup; stir until powdered sugar is dissolved. Pour into a zip-top plastic freezer bag. Seal and freeze 8 hours. Let stand 5 minutes at room temperature before serving. Pour into prepared glass. Makes 1 serving.
Frozen Strawberry Margaritas: Process lime juice, liqueur, tequila, powdered sugar, 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries*, and 1 cup crushed ice in a blender until slushy. Rub rim of 2 chilled margarita glasses with lime wedge, and dip rim in red decorator sugar to coat, if desired. Serve immediately in prepared glasses. Makes 2 servings. *Your favorite fruit, such as watermelon, peaches, or berries, may be substituted.
Margarita Sunrise: Pour lime juice, liqueur, tequila, powdered sugar, and 3 Tbsp. orange juice over ice in a cocktail shaker. Cover with lid, and shake until thoroughly chilled. Strain into prepared glass. Add 3 Tbsp. club soda or lemon-lime soft drink for a little fizz, if desired. Top with 2 tsp. grenadine. Serve immediately. Makes 1 serving. Melon Margarita: Substitute melon liqueur for orange liqueur. Proceed with recipe as directed. Makes 1 serving.
Games and Entertainment
If you want to play games, get a few sets of swimming flippers and have flipper races. You can turn the flipper game into the "lost shaker of salt" game in honor of his famous lyric by balancing a saltshaker on your head while attempting to race with the flippers. For added fun, you can break out the karaoke machine and let your guests take turns belting out their favorite Jimmy Buffett songs.