Post #258931 by Robertiki on Wed, Oct 4, 2006 10:55 AM

This Friday evening is the last day of their existence.

Please stop by and say your farewells to Tai, Terry her son and see all the tiki glory of the place before it gets town down in the name of light rail construction.

There is some real history here for you tiki-philes.

When Vic (as in trader) needed food for his tiki bar concept, he figured people weren't ready for actual Polynesean food, Poi and all, so he turned to Chinatown and recruited a Cantonese chef. This Chef also brought his son who was 18 at the time.

The son ended up as head chef and the guy who would fly to new locations, set up kitchens, hire the crew, and stick around to make sure everyone was on the right page.

He opened up Seattle, BH, Dallas, and of course Portland.

He fell in love with Portland.

When Stephan Crane's people came calling with the opportunity to be the head chef in Portland's new Kon Tiki, he said good bye to the Trader Vic's and headed north, young family in tow.

When the Kon Tiki closed, he took all the tiki stuff and moved it to his new Chinese restaurant...the Jasmine Tree.

After a Stroke, Tai, his wife took over the place. and now it must close.

Please come by and enjoy a Mai-Tai one last time.
Robert