Post #94923 by Jay_G on Sun, Jun 6, 2004 5:05 PM

Buffett/Tiki is kind of like that east coast/ west coast rap thing.

The Book of Tiki says that "In the 70s, the thus segregated Polynesian style was watered down further through a certain 'Jimmy Buffetization," -the introduction of a generic tropical island theme with no definite identity" (Sven A. Kirsten, book of Tiki p. 52)

However I did mention Buffett because he was one of the reason's I started looking into Tiki. I'd love to hear, Buffett, or Real Hawaiian Music, Steal Drums, or 50's jazz lounge music, in a "Tiki Bar". Insted I mostly hear whatever pop hit happens to be on the radio or maybe some country on the jukebox.

I was in a bar at a better local Mexican resteraunt and started noticing a lot of TIKI influence in both the decor, and the Menu. Just as 50's TIKI was adopted (almost) exclusivly by Chinese Resteraunts. Until recently I thounght Tiki and chinese were one and the same. There were more Taquila drinks then Rum, both were creative with lots of fruit. The inside was brightly painted, and had window treaments much like the Thatch ones in "Tiki Bars" only here they were clay. (A frame over window covered with exostic material) There were Mexican artifacts around the room much like the polinesian ones in Tiki bars, and the staff was all in bright hawaiian print shirts.

Tiki influence is everywhere once you start to look for it. I think of rainforest Cafe as one of the more sucessful attempts at a modern tiki resteraunt. They play their own music (Brazilian mixes of american songs). The menu is not authentic to anyplace but was influence by many different kinds of cusine, and turned into something uniquly American. However it isn't a place to "chill" and is busy and much more of a once a year on your birthday kind of place then a local hangout, and it's way to commerical. Still I see the Influence in every corner.

_ Jay