NEW SAN DIEGO SECTION: • Down the coast, things are sizzling, too. San Diego is seeing the opening of a new happening spots such as Mr. Tiki's Mai Tai Lounge. Lesley and David Cohn add Mr. Tiki’s Mai Tai Lounge to their growing stable of restaurants. The San Diego Metropolitan: The Cohn Group – the San Diego restaurant empire – has opened Mr. Tiki’s Mai Tai Lounge at the famed culinary corner of Fifth Avenue and G Street in the Gaslamp Quarter. Little known is that Southern California is a hotbed of tiki culture and tiki artisans. Mr. Tiki will feature more than a dozen custom tiki gods and masks carved by San Diego County artist Bosko Hrnjak. Petra Pavlovits and Peter SteenOlsen of Ironwood Glass have provided a new twist to pendant lights in the form of handblown glass fish – inflated puffers, purple and green coral fish. The twenty-five fish pendants add an immeasurable charm to this stylish tiki bar. Jonathan Hale, Blue Point’s executive chef, will serve as executive chef of Mr. Tiki’s. He’s a particularly good fit since he lived in Hawaii for eight years and was executive chef at A Pacific Café in Maui. Hawaii native Jesse Cruz, who will serve as chef de cuisine, has cooked at 808 in Las Vegas, Roy’s of Hawaii and, most recently, as opening chef at 808 at the Aventine. Christopher Cooke, whose experience comes from his work with Wolfgang Puck Restaurants and Scott’s Seafood Group, will serve as g.m. The restaurant will feature a lounge sushi bar headed by Shinji Okano, a master sushi chef. The lounge will offer a variety of tropical drinks (umbrellas included) and the menu will include items like “Ka-lua Pork Pot Stickers,” “Bao-Bao Buns,” “Hot Sweet ‘n Sour Soup” and “Poke Platters.” *** Pretty much taken straight out of the Press Release on the Mr. Tiki website. Nothing new. _________________ Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Freelance, Ph.D., D.F.S The restaurant design is a collaboration between the Cohns and noted San Diego Designer JLorene Gage. JLorene worked with us on the design for Kemo Sabe, Indigo Grill and Blue Point. All of our designs have incorporated the work of local artists and MISTER TIKI will be no exception. As it turns out, San Diego is a hot bed of Tiki culture and Tiki artisans. MISTER TIKI will feature more than a dozen custom Tiki Gods and masks carved by San Diego County's own Bosko Hrnjak http://www.tikibosko.com/about_bosko.htm. I'm very excited about our All-Star management Team at MISTER TIKI. Jonathan Hale, our Executive Chef at Blue Point will also serve as Executive Chef at MISTER TIKI. Jon lived in Hawaii for 8 years and was Executive Chef at A Pacific Cafe in Maui. Our Chef de Cuisine will be Hawaii native, Jesse Cruz. Jesse was most recently the opening Chef for Jean-Marie Josselin at 808 at the Aventine. He also worked with Jean-Marie at 808 in Vegas as well as Valentino's and Roy's. Our General Manager, Christopher Cooke, has worked with our Group for the past 3 years at various locations. Prior to joining the Cohn Restaurant Group, Chris was formerly a Manager with Wolfgang Puck and Scott's Seafood. A sampling of MISTER TIKI's menu includes BBQ "Polehu" Ribs, "Ka-lua" Pork Potstickers, Trio of "Bao-Bao" Buns, Peking Duck Eggroll, Poke Platter, Hot n' Sour Duck Soup, Crab Crusted Mahi-Mahi, Shrimp Chow Mein and Pineapple Pork "Pago Pago". The TIKI BAR will offer a variety of signature tropical rum drinks (with tacky umbrellas, of course) as well as Mai Tais, Stingers, Zombies and Navy Grogs served in retro Tiki glassware." [ This Message was edited by: bamboo Bob on 2004-03-16 08:51 ] Bamboo abode. Perhaps nothing points up the tiki craze like Oceanic Arts, based in exotic Whittier, Calif. "We're very, very busy, almost too busy," says co-owner Leroy Schmaltz. For 42 years, Schmaltz, a Tiki carver himself, has been providing builders, the entertainment industry, and the travel industry with everything it takes to turn a blank space into a South Seas paradise. Many of his newer clients are looking for bamboo, thatching, and artifacts to create tiki rooms in private homes. Converting a spare room to a hula hangout can easily cost upwards of $10,000 Mister Tiki Mai Tai Lounge - Home of the "Mondo Martiki" MISTER TIKI MAI TAI LOUNGE is a fun, hip spot for dining and sharing. Featuring Pacific Island Cuisine with a Poke & Sushi Bar, exotic cocktails and a fun lounge atmosphere, MISTER TIKI is your late night dining spot. The creative, one-of-a-kind design at Mister Tiki Mai Tai Lounge is a collaboration between the Cohns and noted San Diego designer JLorene Gage. JLorene was the designer for Kemo Sabe, Indigo Grill and Blue Point. All of our designs have incorporated the work of local artists and MISTER TIKI is no exception. San Diego is a hot bed of Tiki culture and Tiki artisans. MISTER TIKI features more than a dozen custom Tiki Gods and masks carved by San Diego County's own Bosko Hrnjak http://www.tikibosko.com/about_bosko.htm MISTER TIKI MAI TAI LOUNGE is a 21 & up restaurant and lounge. Open Nightly at 5:30 PM Located in the Historic Gaslamp Quarter 801 Fifth Avenue San Diego, CA 619-233-1183 |