Mai-Kai Restaurant
Encyclopedia
Tiki culture
Tiki kitsch culture is a 20th-century theme used in Polynesian-style restaurants and clubs originally in the United States and then, to a lesser degree, around the world...
-themed restaurant located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It opened to the public on December 28, 1956, and is one of the few "Grand Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
n Palaces of Tiki" still in operation today. It is the last restaurant/bar in existense carrying on the traditions of service and serving the original drink recipes of Don the Beachcomber's.
History
The Mai-Kai was created by Bob and Jack Thornton. The brothers visited Don the Beachcomber'sDon the Beachcomber
Donn Beach , born Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, is the founding father of tiki restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The many so-called "Polynesian" restaurants and pubs that enjoyed great popularity are directly descended from what he created...
in Chicago, as children, and even at that young age said they wanted to open a similar place. When they opened the Mai-Kai they hired away number 2 chef Kenny Lee, number 2 bartender Mariano Licudine and the head Maitre d' Andy Tanato from that particular Don the Beachcomber's along with many staff members.
Their original design cost one million dollars; it was the most expensive restaurant built in 1956. In its first year it earned over one million dollars, becoming one of the most successful restaurants of its time. It was built in an open field on Federal Highway, on the outskirts of Fort Lauderdale, then only two-lanes. Fort Lauderdale in the late 50's was a seasonal place, catering mostly to "snow-birds", and in the first few years the Mai-Kai was only open during the Winter Tourist season.
Originally the roof of the main dining room was open. The constant nuisance of moving dining room guests out of the rain caused them to enclose the roof with glass. That glass roof was opened and closed until maintenance issues kept it closed.
For many years it sold more rum than any location in the United States.
The Mai-Kai became rather expansive in time; it includes eight dining rooms, a bar, tropical gardens with walking paths and waterfalls, a stage in the center to showcase the Polynesian Islander Revue floor show, and a gift shop. The last large renovation took place in 1970. Even during these massive construction projects, the Mai-Kai never closed. They stipulated that the work must be done so that customers could not see or hear it. This oftem meant the work was done in the wee hours of the morning.
Today, the Mai-Kai is much like it was in the 1960s. A wooden slat bridge is crossed to reach the porte cochere and valets. A maître d' greets visitors, and in the beautiful restrooms there is an attendant, which the restaurant says is "a luxury missing from too many places today".
The restaurant is now run by Bob's stepson Dave Levy. He has undertaken a massive renovation of the building as of 2008 to restore the building and repair damage from Hurricane Wilma.
Mireille Thornton has been in charge of the Mai-Kai's Polynesian Islander Revue since 1962. As new dances are added to the show, Mirielle first visited the island where the dance originates to ensure it will be performed properly. One large dining room overlooks the show.
The general manager of the Mai-Kai is Kern Mattei, whose father, Kern Sr. was general manager for decades before him.
The waitresses at the Mai-Kai's Molokai Bar are attired in bikini
Bikini
The bikini is typically a women's two-piece swimsuit. One part of the attire covers the breasts and the other part covers the crotch and part of or the entire buttocks, leaving an uncovered area between the two. Merriam–Webster describes the bikini as "a woman's scanty two-piece bathing suit" or "a...
tops and wraparound sarong
Sarong
A sarong or sarung is a large tube or length of fabric, often wrapped around the waist and worn as a kilt by men and as a skirt by women throughout much of South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, and on many Pacific islands. The fabric most often has woven plaid or...
s. The sarong-clad serving girls were a Mai-Kai invention started in 1958 to boost interest in the then newly opened bar. For many years, a Mai-Kai calendar was offered featuring the women of the Mai Kai. This worship reaches its zenith with the Mystery Drink, delivered by the Mystery Girl, which is supposedly "an experience that must be witnessed to be fully appreciated".
The Mai-Kai Gardens
The Mai-Kai has taken advantage of the nearly year-around growing season and sub-tropical climate to its fullest advantage. Some of the palmsArecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
and orchids are over fifty years old. On June 8, 2009, a massive carving by Barney West that stood in the gardens for decades collapsed. It was replaced by a piece that had stood in the original Surf Bar in 1956.
Polynesian Artifacts
The Mai-Kai contains many genuine Polynesian artifacts, some that are over 100 years old. Much of the original collection of Polynesian artifacts was donated to the Thorton's alma mater Stanford University in the 1970s. Part of the collection was donated to the local Fort Lauderdale art museum. An insurance appraisal put such a high value on the artifacts that it made the Mai-Kai virtually uninsurable.See also
- Tiki barTiki barA tiki bar is an exotic–themed drinking establishment that serves elaborate cocktails, especially rum-based mixed drinks such as the "mai tai" or "Zombie cocktail". Tiki bars are aesthetically defined by their Tiki culture décor which is based upon a romanticized conception of primitive tropical...
- Mai TaiMai TaiThe Mai Tai is an alcoholic cocktail based on rum, Curaçao liqueur, and lime juice, associated with "Polynesian-style" settings.-History:It was purportedly invented at the Trader Vic's restaurant in Oakland, California in 1944. Trader Vic's rival, Don the Beachcomber, claimed to have created it in...
- Pu pu platterPu pu platterA Pu Pu platter, Pu-Pu platter or pupu platter is a tray of American Chinese cuisine consisting of an assortment of small meat and seafood appetizers...
- Crab rangoonCrab rangoonCrab rangoon are deep-fried dumplings served in American Chinese, and more recently, Thai restaurants, stuffed with a combination of cream cheese, lightly flaked crab meat , with scallions and/or garlic...
- Tiki mugsTiki mugsTiki mugs are ceramic drink ware originating in mid-century American tiki bars and tropical themed restaurants, believed to have been pioneered by Don the Beachcomber....
- Don the BeachcomberDon the BeachcomberDonn Beach , born Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, is the founding father of tiki restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The many so-called "Polynesian" restaurants and pubs that enjoyed great popularity are directly descended from what he created...
Further reading
- Jeff Berry: Sippin Safari. SLG Publishing (June 2007), ISBN 1-59362-067-7.
- James Teitelbaum: Tiki Road Trip. Santa Monica Press (May 1, 2003), ISBN 1-891661-30-2; 2nd edition released June 1, 2007.