B
Joined: May 29, 2004
Posts: 24
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B
Aloha all,
Been perusing this thread. I guess a lot of perspectives are valid...some are wishful thinking, then again perhaps not since things evolve over time. I kinda consider myself a purist, having grown up in the industry...Grandfather being the executive chef for Don the Beachcomber and the Trade Winds, growing up in Trader Vic's (Cosmo Place, S.F.) and Tiki Bob's (working and running the place.). Recently someone told me the Bay Area is the Tiki capitol of the US. I was pretty suprised...I couldn't think for the life of me why that's so. As far as I'm concerned...there are only a handful of places throughtout the US that can really be considered 'Tiki'. In the Bay Area I can only think of one...that's Forbidden Island in Alameda, that even qualifies. Trader Vic's is a pale shadow of what it once was so it can't even be considered. Now I know there are quite a few 'Hawaiian' themed bars and restaurants...but if you really think about it 'Hawaii' was never really part of the original Tiki theme...it was Tahiti and the rest of Polynesia that was always in the forefront of of the genre. The food? Wasn't Hawaiian. that's for sure...pure Cantonese cooking. Now some of the previous posts alluded that 'Tiki' is a lifestyle and an appreciation of things 'Tiki' and I concur on both counts but I contend that one can't lump everything from the 'Islands' and consider it Tiki. 'Tiki' was and is truly unique to the US, but sadly there are few examples left today. Now I might draw some flack over this post, but that's the way I see it.
Mahalo all,
Kal
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