Post #661891 by ErichTroudt on Tue, Dec 18, 2012 5:37 PM

because of a deficiency of real Tiki temples in the area -

So what does it take to be "real tiki".....?

I'm asking hypothetical really...

It just seems to me that the last 15 years, an idea of what "Tiki" is or isn't, has been pushed and preached by some people. Yet very few places, and especially the orginal places fit that "idea".

The two places that most people would consider the "real" tiki...don the beachcombers and Trader Vics... Both men stated to be influenced by their travels to the islands...which included cuba, jamaica and the caribbean, not just the south pacific.

They severed Asian food, hired chinese cooks, used the words fusion and hybrid to describe their food. They named their drinks to reflect cannibals, navy, snakes and asia.

The dining areas were often heavily nautical themed and one was named after India.. "Black hole of calcutta".

The mugs often had african or asian influence.

The island bars that influenced these men were probably filled with tons of local decor, with foriegn items mixed in. In the 1920's boats took people all over and the trading of goods on small islands took place. So, for example, seeing asian items in a bar in tahiti was probably par for the course.

Does it matter though? If you like chinese mugs or african statues and you want them in your bar..fine. Why are people so worried about "authentic" and "real tiki"? Its obvious the first and biggest "tiki" bars weren't worried about it.

Nobody's grading...there's no prize.... enjoy your tiki space.