Trader Vic's, Shanghai China (restaurant) - Locating Tiki

FM fez monkey Tiki Socialite San Francisco Bay Area Joined: Jul 10, 2006 Posts: 205	FM fez monkey Posted posted on Sun, Sep 30, 2007 6:54 PM I kind of expect it these days, and not just in the world of tiki. When it comes to food, drink, etc., things are sold as being "authentically" Mexican, Spanish, Japanese, New Mexican, Cajun, or what have you, by people who wouldn't know the real thing if they stumbled across it. I don't mind as much if it's an honest mistake and they have a real interest in learning about it. It's when they don't care and are just using it for marketing purposes that it galls me. It's not just that I'm a purist at heart - though that's certainly part of it - it's that often enough people get a wrong idea about something to the point where the original gets changed to meet the expectations of the hordes who expect it to be a certain way, regardless of the merits — and hence long traditions — that are part of the original. That's why it's so gratifying to find people who really "get it", whatever "it" is. What's even better is when you introduce a friend to "it" and you see their eyes light up as they suddenly get "it" and you feel as if you've struck a blow for truth and purity. I can't believe how emotional I am about this topic. I need to go take a breather. SV

I kind of expect it these days, and not just in the world of tiki. When it comes to food, drink, etc., things are sold as being "authentically" Mexican, Spanish, Japanese, New Mexican, Cajun, or what have you, by people who wouldn't know the real thing if they stumbled across it. I don't mind as much if it's an honest mistake and they have a real interest in learning about it. It's when they don't care and are just using it for marketing purposes that it galls me.

It's not just that I'm a purist at heart - though that's certainly part of it - it's that often enough people get a wrong idea about something to the point where the original gets changed to meet the expectations of the hordes who expect it to be a certain way, regardless of the merits — and hence long traditions — that are part of the original.

That's why it's so gratifying to find people who really "get it", whatever "it" is. What's even better is when you introduce a friend to "it" and you see their eyes light up as they suddenly get "it" and you feel as if you've struck a blow for truth and purity.

I can't believe how emotional I am about this topic. I need to go take a breather.

Post #335689 by fez monkey on Sun, Sep 30, 2007 6:54 PM