Post #559686 by telescopes on Wed, Oct 13, 2010 8:20 PM

Hey, I think that the first dish you posted was an awesome tiki dish. And most of the old tiki establishments pretty much served Asian food that they re-branded as tiki food, including the Stockton Islander, including the Bali Hai's "Chicken Of The Gods", including the Oyster Beef at Minnie's, etc. That's not what my argument on this thread is about.

Mai Tai, not to be contrary, but Chicken of the Gods is the consummate Tiki Food. In my way of thinking, tiki food is any food that is altered in some manner in order to make it seem more exotic.

This could mean revisionist versions of traditional asian dishes to chicken liver and water chestnuts wrapped in bacon. Tike food is food altered to provide the consumer a sensory feeling of escape.

I think Sven might be able to agree with this definition of what constitutes tiki food and could even improve upon it.

I don't believe tiki food has to be Polynesian in its origin. In fact, some tiki foods actually have become asian classics - I give you Crab Rangoon.

In closing, it is important to remember why we have tiki restaurants and what their purpose is. These temples serve as places for average Americans to side step the bonds of time and space so that we can find "our own island" if even for a moment.

And why an island? Because they don't have bridges to the mainland.

So, whether it is tiki drinks, atmosphere, or food, it is all about severing the bonds of our 9-5 existence if only for a moment.

Islands are a part of our primordial existence. They are important to our psyche. And so it is thus, that Chicken of the Gods is truly a tiki food.