Kahiki Moon - finally a newspaper review!!! aka where the hell are YOU! - General Tiki

PK Primo Kimo Tiki Socialite Vermont Joined: Jul 08, 2003 Posts: 324	PK Primo Kimo Posted posted on Thu, Nov 18, 2004 8:02 AM Let it be known that any Tiki Central member registered before today (11.18.2004) will receive 50% off your entire food and drink tab Locating Tiki: Kahiki Moon Aloha my friends: Geez, it's about time. This is from the biggest paper in Vermont... By Melissa Pasanen Correspondent Before he created a Polynesian restaurant and lounge in downtown Burlington, co-owner James Kathary had already built a tiki bar in his basement. "I could have lived with that," he said as he sat on a carved wooden stool at Kahiki Moon's bar where spiky pufferfish glow from the thatched roof and his tiki swizzle stick collection graces a nearby wall. But when he heard the news of Hector's demise, he couldn't resist the opportunity to transform the subterranean space in One Lawson Lane into a temple to the pop culture twist on South Pacific food and drink that has captured American imaginations since the 1930s. "It was perfect for my theme," he said, surveying the hanging netted glass floats and the tropical fish tank on the wall. "The tiki experience is all about coming in, closing the door behind you and escaping to your own tropical paradise." On a recent chilly evening, descending the stairs into Kahiki Moon did feel like entering a different world. According to the most famous Polynesian restaurant chain, Trader Vic's, it's like "a faux vacation to the tropics." And who couldn't use one of those as the temperature falls? Whether you choose the classic Mai Tai or Kahiki Moon's signature Kahiki Moonlight in Vermont, a drink from the bar will put you in a festive mood, and the food created by chef Steven Gross will keep you there. Gross -- who attended New England Culinary Institute before cooking in California and most recently at Stowe's Edson Hill Manor -- admits that he did not let the Polynesian theme limit him. "Tiki food is not really a draw," Kathary agrees. "It's more just good food with some Hawaiian and Asian flavors thrown in," Gross explains. Guests can easily feast on appetizers alone. The extra-crisp calamari is complemented by a dipping sauce flavored with lemon grass and lime leaves. Tall crab cakes are sweet and crabby and served with a delicious saffron aioli. We didn't try the nachos made with sweet, smoky pulled pork, but apparently they are a crowd-pleaser. Crunchy vegetable spring rolls and beef bamboo skewer appetizers made a nice meal for young diners, although there is also a standard kids' menu. (Ask if the chef is offering a special Spam ya ya appetizer. It's a uniquely tasty tidbit. Seriously.) Entree highlights include the mahi mahi with rich lemon grass-butter sauce served over risotto with generous chunks of sweet rock shrimp, as well as the perfectly cooked duck breast with its irresistible layer of crisp, salty skin set on vegetable lo-mein. A Caesar with house-made dressing and fresh goat cheese gnocchi with butternut squash and spinach are among the fine choices for those with no interest in Asian flavors. If you choose not to drink your dessert in the form of another fruity cocktail, the pineapple creme brulee is very good. As if food, drink and bamboo walls weren't enough to get you in the mood, there is mellow lounge music Wednesday through Saturday nights. At 10 p.m., dinner service stops and the beach party begins with a DJ and dancing. "It's amazing the tiki resurgence that's going on all over the U.S. right now," Kathary says. "But it's sort of the same reason it took off back around in the 1930s. It's an uncertain time and the only thing certain are Mai Tai's and good food." Kahiki Moon Polynesian Restaurant & Lounge LOCATION: Downstairs in One Lawson Lane, behind Pacific Rim HOURS: Serving dinner 5-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, until 8 p.m. Sunday. MENU: Appetizers, $5-9; entrees, $12-20; desserts, $6-7. PAYMENT: Cash, credit cards, no checks. ACCESS: Not handicapped accessible. OTHER: Valet parking coming soon. INFORMATION: 660-4852 Excluding JTD (Florida), dogbytes (Washington) and Badmojo (local) I have yet to meet any other TC peeps even from the closely surrounding states. Waazzzzup? Let it be known that any Tiki Central member registered before today (11.18.2004) will receive 50% off your entire food and drink tab [ Edited by: Primo Kimo on 2005-02-11 06:14 ] [ Edited by: Primo Kimo 2005-09-17 13:45 ]

Let it be known that any Tiki Central member registered before today (11.18.2004) will receive 50% off your entire food and drink tab
Locating Tiki: Kahiki Moon

Aloha my friends:

Geez, it's about time. This is from the biggest paper in Vermont...

By Melissa Pasanen
Correspondent

Before he created a Polynesian restaurant and lounge in downtown Burlington, co-owner James Kathary had already built a tiki bar in his basement.

"I could have lived with that," he said as he sat on a carved wooden stool at Kahiki Moon's bar where spiky pufferfish glow from the thatched roof and his tiki swizzle stick collection graces a nearby wall.

But when he heard the news of Hector's demise, he couldn't resist the opportunity to transform the subterranean space in One Lawson Lane into a temple to the pop culture twist on South Pacific food and drink that has captured American imaginations since the 1930s. "It was perfect for my theme," he said, surveying the hanging netted glass floats and the tropical fish tank on the wall. "The tiki experience is all about coming in, closing the door behind you and escaping to your own tropical paradise."

On a recent chilly evening, descending the stairs into Kahiki Moon did feel like entering a different world. According to the most famous Polynesian restaurant chain, Trader Vic's, it's like "a faux vacation to the tropics." And who couldn't use one of those as the temperature falls?

Whether you choose the classic Mai Tai or Kahiki Moon's signature Kahiki Moonlight in Vermont, a drink from the bar will put you in a festive mood, and the food created by chef Steven Gross will keep you there.

Gross -- who attended New England Culinary Institute before cooking in California and most recently at Stowe's Edson Hill Manor -- admits that he did not let the Polynesian theme limit him. "Tiki food is not really a draw," Kathary agrees. "It's more just good food with some Hawaiian and Asian flavors thrown in," Gross explains.

Guests can easily feast on appetizers alone. The extra-crisp calamari is complemented by a dipping sauce flavored with lemon grass and lime leaves. Tall crab cakes are sweet and crabby and served with a delicious saffron aioli. We didn't try the nachos made with sweet, smoky pulled pork, but apparently they are a crowd-pleaser. Crunchy vegetable spring rolls and beef bamboo skewer appetizers made a nice meal for young diners, although there is also a standard kids' menu. (Ask if the chef is offering a special Spam ya ya appetizer. It's a uniquely tasty tidbit. Seriously.)

Entree highlights include the mahi mahi with rich lemon grass-butter sauce served over risotto with generous chunks of sweet rock shrimp, as well as the perfectly cooked duck breast with its irresistible layer of crisp, salty skin set on vegetable lo-mein. A Caesar with house-made dressing and fresh goat cheese gnocchi with butternut squash and spinach are among the fine choices for those with no interest in Asian flavors. If you choose not to drink your dessert in the form of another fruity cocktail, the pineapple creme brulee is very good.

As if food, drink and bamboo walls weren't enough to get you in the mood, there is mellow lounge music Wednesday through Saturday nights. At 10 p.m., dinner service stops and the beach party begins with a DJ and dancing.

"It's amazing the tiki resurgence that's going on all over the U.S. right now," Kathary says. "But it's sort of the same reason it took off back around in the 1930s. It's an uncertain time and the only thing certain are Mai Tai's and good food."

Kahiki Moon Polynesian Restaurant & Lounge

LOCATION: Downstairs in One Lawson Lane, behind Pacific Rim
HOURS: Serving dinner 5-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, until 8 p.m. Sunday.
MENU: Appetizers, $5-9; entrees, $12-20; desserts, $6-7.
PAYMENT: Cash, credit cards, no checks.
ACCESS: Not handicapped accessible.
OTHER: Valet parking coming soon.
INFORMATION: 660-4852

Excluding JTD (Florida), dogbytes (Washington) and Badmojo (local) I have yet to meet any other TC peeps even from the closely surrounding states. Waazzzzup?

Let it be known that any Tiki Central member registered before today (11.18.2004) will receive 50% off your entire food and drink tab

[ Edited by: Primo Kimo on 2005-02-11 06:14 ]

[ Edited by: Primo Kimo 2005-09-17 13:45 ]

Post #126203 by Primo Kimo on Thu, Nov 18, 2004 8:02 AM