"beverly hilton" news and stories

We posted recently about the new developments over at the Beverly Hilton. The new owners have proposed tearing down parts of the property in order to build new luxury condos. Part of the tear-down strategy includes Trader Vic's, the old-school Hollywood hangout and original creator of the island-inspired Mai Tai.

Recently I was at the Beverly Hilton blogging the Milken Global Economics Conference and had an opportunity to stroll over to Trader Vic's for an after-conference cocktail. I ordered a Mai Tai, which definitely has an old-school Hollywood price of $12.

However much I balked at the ridiculous ticket price, the Mai Tai at Trader Vic's is worth it. There is definitely $12's worth of alcohol in that glass. If for nothing else, it's worth a trip to to the restaurant before it's torn down just to say that you had a Mai Tai where Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra could have sipped the same drink. Or, you can make the same Trader Vic's recipe at home.

Pour 2 oz of 17-year old J. Wray & Nephew Rum over shaved ice. Add juice from one fresh lime, ½ oz Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao, ¼ oz Trader Vic's Rock Candy Syrup, ½ oz French Garnier Orgeat Syrup, then shake vigorously. Add a sprig of fresh mint. The Trader Vic's plastic toothpick with maraschinlo cherry and pineapple wedge is optional.

You might not know exactly where the Beverly Hilton is in Beverly Hills, but you certainly know about the Beverly Hilton if you watch the Golden Globe Awards, which are hosted there every year. The "new" owner, who purchased the hotel from Merv Griffin two years ago, has planned to tear down some existing structures on the hotel's property to build condos, including the old-school Trader Vic's restaurant. Apparently, the legendary Polynesian restaurant, famous as the godfather of the Mai Tai, is one of the hotel "elements that no longer work."