Summer barbecues are about as American a pasttime as visiting Disneyland and while we can’t do the latter for now, there’s nothing stopping us from firing up summer favorites! Get ready for Pineapple Polynesian Ribs from the long-retired Tahitian Terrace at Disneyland!

The vintage name for this dish is Ko’aia Haia Kahiki and it’s a perfect throwback to days of Disney past with a sweet and savory recipe that is sure to both satisfy and cook up some Disney nostalgia in the process. Win, win, right?!

This fantastic recipe is brought to us on behalf of author Marcy Carriker Smothers and her fabulous book, Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food.

Recipe makes 4 servings.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups tomato ketchup
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup pineapple juice
  • ¼ cup pineapple, fresh or canned, crushed
  • ¼ cup orange juice, fresh
  • 1 teaspoon orange rind, grated
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon wine vinegar
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 4 pounds pork spareribs or baby backs

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients (except ribs) and blend well.  Allow mixture to stand in refrigerator overnight. Strain before using.
  2. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
  3. Place ribs on a rack in roasting pan or sheet pan.
  4. Bake, basting with sauce often, for 2 to 2 ½ hours – up to 3 hours – or until meat separates easily from the bone.

Pro Tips from Marcy:

  • Wondering what to pair with the ribs? The dish was available at Disneyland from 1962 – 1963 and it was served with “Polynesian vegetables and Cantonese rice.”
  • There is quite a bit of salt in the ketchup and soy sauce; you may not need any salt or rub on the ribs.
  • The Disneyland recipe calls for the ribs to be pre-cut before cooking, but that can dry them out; I recommend roasting the racks intact and slicing just before serving.
  • The leftover sauce freezes nicely.

About the Tahitian Terrace

TT-Dancers-and-Diners-The Tahitian Terrace served tropical fare for nearly 30 years before being replaced with the short-lived Aladdin’s Oasis dinner show. After the location stopped serving up culinary delights, the location sat mostly un-used save for the one off events, character greets, or shows.

The Tropical Hideaway opened last year at the same location bringing food once again to the spot but without the famed entertainment.

About Eat Like Walt

We had the opportunity to review Eat Like Walt when it was first released and enthusiastically exclaimed it to be an absolute must-own for any Disney fan. You can find our review of the book below!

 MORE INFO: REVIEW: Really, ‘EAT LIKE WALT’ is an absolute must-own for the coffee table of every Disney Fan

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