Another notable American passed yesterday as a result of cancer

[CatWoman]

I :loveya: Benihana

Benihana founder dies in New York from cancer

MIAMI — Rocky Aoki, who sought to offer diners a sense of magic and entertainment at his Japanese steakhouse Benihana, has died after complications from cancer. He was 69.

Aoki, whose Benihana empire includes more than 100 restaurants worldwide, died Thursday night in New York from pneumonia, surrounded by his wife and six children, company spokeswoman Nancy Bauer said Friday.

Born Hiroaki Aoki, he worked in the family business, a coffee shop in Japan, and wanted to offer diners "something out of the ordinary," along with their food. Aoki also inherited his father's love for theater, according to the restaurant's Web site.

He held a spot on the Japanese Olympic wrestling team, which eventually brought him to America. He served ice cream by day and studied restaurant management at night, dreaming of opening a restaurant that would blend entertainment and food.

He opened his first restaurant in New York in 1964, naming it Benihana, which means "red flower" — the same name as his parent's coffee shop.

Designed to look like an authentic Japanese farmhouse interior, food was prepared "teppan-yaki" style at the table on a steel grill, where specially trained chefs performed knife tricks while cooking up the restaurant's signature shrimp, steak and chicken dishes.

In 1999, Miami-based Benihana purchased a majority share in Haru, an upscale, New York sushi restaurant, and eventually opened nine others. The company later acquired the RA Sushi restaurants, which bloomed to 19 locations nationally.

The Benihana empire has grown to 5,000 employees.

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/shared-gen/ap/Finance_General/Obit_Aoki.html?imw=Y

[Muttocracy]

1. did they also start selling a food brand too?

I think I remember having Benihana brand frozen shrimp and rice - boiled in a bag maybe? Childhood days before microwave!

[brook]

2. That made me sad too.

I loved going to Benihana in Vancouver. It was a unique theatrical experience - along with great food.
Also admired Aoki as a successful 'dreamer' & adventurer. I think it takes a special person to be a 'dreamer'in this nasty world.

I hope he's on a most remarkable adventure now.

[WillyT]

3. Smooch...

That is all!

:loveya:

[CatWoman]

4. lol

where the hell have YOU been???

:hi:

:loveya:

[WillyT]

5. Took A Long And Well Needed Break !!!

A little vacation is a good thing, no???

Missed you the entire time though!

:bounce::hi::bounce:

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. I have only one experience with Benihana.

My cook was a trainee. His mentor was extremely rude to him, and to US. Our cook was a Mexican national who couldn't speak a word of engrish, and his mentor finally pushed him out of the way (rudely) and cooked for us himself after the trainee accidentally tossed an eggshell onto the plate of someone at our table. His mentor was also a Mexican national.

Secondly, before we were done with our meal, the staff started cleaning the table as we were sitting there, and made it clear that someone else was waiting for our seats and they'd be happy if we'd leave. This was in City of Industry, CA.

There's a restaurant here in Big Bear Lake called "Fuji". One cook. His name is Sammy. Buy him a beer and he'll drink it while he's cooking for you, and he NEVER fails to learn EVERYONE's name at the table. He can toss a shrimp into your mouth behind his back. Funny as hell, and personable to boot. Two teppan tables in the whole place, and when he's done cooking for ONE, he turns and cooks for the OTHER. Killer sushi.

I'll take Fuji over Benihana seven days a week, and twice on Sunday.

RIP Rocky, and my sincere condolences to your family. I'm absolutely positive that your family is consumed with grief, and if there were some way, any way I could console them, I would.

Maybe Rocky didn't know what was going on in every one of his restaurants, but my only experience at Benihana was less than stellar.

[brook]

7. Benihana's are

franchised. I'd guess there's a wide variety of excellence or lack there of. Fuji sounds like
it's run by someone who loves what he does and is good at it. OTOH, the Benihana in Industry sounds
just the opposite.

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. I have no doubt that Rocky wanted the best for every one of his customers.

That's how you make a good business. Franchising means you lack a certain amount of control and responsibility for what happens in business that bear your name.

I did not mean to demean Rocky's memory in any way. In fact, I've never heard anything bad about any of the Benihana's. It's just an experience I had.

The City of Industry isn't the best place in the world in any case, and I'd expect the businesses there to reflect the local status quo.

Fuji is a place where the laughter is nearly constant and usually generated by Sammy's antics at the teppan table. He truly does love what he does and it shows. I believe he is part, if not majority owner.

I'd recommend it, and on the other side of the coin I'm NOT saying Benihana is a bad place. It might have even been a bad day when I went there, who knows?

[CatWoman]

9. I have never, ever once had a Mexican (or any other national) cook

cook for me in Benihana's or any other Japanese restaurant.