Benihana founder dies in New York from cancer

[Bluebear]

Source: yahoo news

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....

The Rocky H. Aoki Foundation has benefited Juvenile Diabetes, the Leukemia Society and the National Foundation for Cancer Research.





Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080712/ap_on_bi_ge/obit_aoki

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Yes, the food and experience are now often derided as "not authentic", but for those of us who went to one of Aoki's restaurants as youngsters, didn't it feel exotic and different! Bravo, Rocky, you were a pioneer to opening the American palate just a little bit . . .even for those of us who now eat sashimi at the nearest sushi bar instead.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Local Benihana has Mexicans for chefs

Not exactly authentic, and WAY overpriced.

I'd rather go to a local teppanyaki restaurant (Shinjuku is really good in Colorado)

Hawkeye-X

[Bluebear]

3. And Mexicans cooking there has what to do with his death?

[aquart]

6. That's what it is now. But what it was then....sigh....

My family's favorite choice for a birthday dinner. Just...special.

[zonkers]

18. It sure was special. In the 70s, it was our b-day dinner go to place too.

As a kid, I loved it, especially when chef would flick a shrimp tail into his pocket. Rocky also used to race boats too. Great life story. A life well lived from my POV.

[VeraAgnes]

15. He appears to of been quite the philanthropist.

He donates to many medical causes and is also an equal opportunity employer from what you are saying... He was a good, kind and compassionate man. He will be a great loss to American.

[Jed Dilligan]

2. Isn't that the place where they have the grill

in the middle of the table? Kind of like an Americanized version of a Korean BBQ?

An old roommate of mine told the classic tale of her father's (a cop and raging alkie) girlfriend puking on the grill before they had even ordered, and a large group of off-duty sheriffs having to leave the place in a hurry.

RIP Rocky--thanks for helping open the way for good Japanese food outside CA and HI. Every time I go east I benefit from your legacy. Food that hasn't been sugared up and coated with cheese is hard to come by in the Heartland.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. "teppanyaki"...

From Wikipedia:

Teppanyaki (teppan'yaki) is a type of Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle to cook food. Although it is viewed in the western world as Japanese cuisine, it is not popular in Japan and many Japanese regard it as western food; some Japanese even feel offended to hear that it is Japanese food.

The word "teppanyaki" is derived from teppan, which means iron plate, and yaki, which means fried or broiled.

In Japan, teppanyaki may refer to any of a number of dishes cooked using a teppan, including okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and monjayaki, frequently with the hot plate located in the center of the diners' table.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teppanyaki

[jpertello]

5. Rocky

Rocky was a good friend of my Dad who passed away almost 20 yeass ago. Rocky was a very nice guy. Always very kind to everyone. He was a real business visionary.

[Cassandra]

10. He was held up as an example, when I was in business...

school, of an entrepreneur who understood that he was better at the start-up of a business than he was at the maintenance phase, so he would sell to others who preferred running what someone else had created. That way he could continue to do what he enjoyed. A wise man.

[VeraAgnes]

16. Thank you for sharing.

I too am sorry for your losses; first your father and now Rocky.:hug:

He was a good soul!

[Kolesar]

7. I live for when I can eat my home grown summer squash...eom

[sendero]

8. There is a Benihana..

... near us and we go every year on my birthday. I really like the place, the food is always fresh and good and its not cheap but its priced fairly IMHO.

Sorry to hear of Mr. Aoki's passing.

[salguine]

9. His last request: To be buried wrapped in a big piece of seaweed, in a casket full of steamed rice.

[shadowknows69]

12. Lol

:thumbsup:

[shadowknows69]

11. Good journey food man

Thanks for the great meals Rocky.

Don't remember what I had but there was a guy juggling shrimp with a knife. What's not to love.

[Lost4words]

13. RIP Rocky!

8643

[tomreedtoon]

14. "Magic" - making your money disappear.

Don't get me wrong; I like teppanyaki. But I've never been able to afford a Benihana. Only the imitations, but the imitations are often very good. And they aren't paying for a corporate image, and the guys who own the imitation places are entrepreneurs, about the last ones we have in America.

[Bluebear]

17. Aoki was an enterpreneur. Also a philanthropist.

I'm sorry you never could afford to eat there but the man did give back to the community as well.