Recipes inspired by Disneyland's defunct Tahitian Terrace provide tropical delights

October 31, 2:35 PMDisney Theme Parks ExaminerJeff Baham

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Catamaran Salad, as imagined by the staff of Mousetalgia.com.
Photo credit: Mousetalgia.com

Through the 1990s, Disneyland had a polynesian restaurant nestled in the heart of Adventureland. This dinner show, called the Tahitian Terrace, offered wonderful island-themed meals and hula dancers, fire-walkers, and a magical waterfall - all nestled under a gargantuan man-made banyan tree.

The restaurant has since been re-named Aladdin's Oasis, and while the dinner show concept was retained briefly, the area now plays host to a character meet-and-greet. But the Tahitian Terrace has never left the memories of its fans, and the staff of the Mousetalgia podcast recently undertook the challenge of re-creating some of the Terrace's most popular menu offerings.

Enjoy the recipes below at your next tiki party - or just use them to create a tropical mood. Aloha!

Catamaran Salad
Serves 4 adults

Salad
3 c. cooked chicken
3/4 c. pineapple
1 c. chopped celery
1/2 c. roasted, salted almonds
1/3 c. shredded coconut
Salt and pepper
2 fresh pineapples to use as serving dish.
Romaine lettuce

Dressing
1/4 c. plain yogurt
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1/2-3/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1/4-1/2 t. celery seed

1. Season chicken strips with salt and pepper and grill on BBQ or in pan.
2. Slice pineapples in half, length wise, leaving stems attached. Hollow out pineapple, and set aside to use as a serving dish. If stem becomes detached, reattach with toothpicks.
3. Chop chicken into bite size pieces and mix with chopped celery, almonds, coconut and pineapple.
4. Mix dressing ingredients in separate bowl and pour over salad mixture.
5. Fill bottom of each pineapple with shredded lettuce and fill with salad mixture. Garnish with extra chunks of pineapple, almonds and coconut.

Pineapple Ribs and Cantonese Rice
Serves 5-6 adults.

Ribs
Beef ribs (enough to feed your party)
2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/2 c. white vinegar
1/4 t. molasses (to taste)
3/4 c. crushed pineapple

1. Preheat oven to 400. Cook ribs under foil for 30-40 min.
2. In a saucepan, mix brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar and molasses. Simmer on low heat for 40 min.
3. Add 3/4 cup crushed pineapple to sauce mixture and simmer for 5 min.
4. Remove ribs from over and pour sauce over meat. Make sure and cook meat side down to ensure meat is fully covered with sauce. To prevent ribs from burning, place an empty cookie sheet on the lower rack of the oven. This will displace the heat and keep the ribs from burning.
5. Cook the ribs about 40 more minutes, or until they are done.

Cantonese Rice

3 c. cooked white rice
2 cloves of garlic
1 chopped onion
1/4 c. chopped green onion
2 eggs
1-2 T. soy sauce.

1. Cook white rice as indicated on package.
2. Heat wok to high heat and grease with oil.
3. Sauté the garlic and onions in wok.
4. Add 2 eggs and cook until scrambled.
5. Add the rice and mix together.
6. Add soy sauce to taste and continue to cook for 3-5 min.

Serve ribs over a heaping pile of Cantonese rice and enjoy!