[Rastus]

No article link, because I saw the news on the AP. I love Benihana, and it's not uncommon for me to order "Rocky's Choice."

By the way, his daughter was a supermodel. Devon Aoki. If you're a guy, you might just want to do an image search. ;-)

Have to imagine this has been posted, since nothing gets missed here. But, I couldn't find it with a search. Sorry in advance.

[Fox_Mulder77]

Here's the pic:

[Fox_Mulder77]

And here's "Rocky"

[Army Air Corps]

What was Rocky’s Choice? It has been a veeeeeeery long time since I have seen a Benihana (the place where I live has a couple of similar establishments, but no Benihana).

[Las Vegas Ron]

Bummer. I’ve been to 5 or 6 different B.H.’s The very best by far was on Ventura Blvd in Encino, CA.

[goldstategop]

He will be sadly missed. I once went to Benihana's with my father and the communal Japanese style dining where cooks prepare food in front of you is both entertaining and a culinary delight. If you haven't been in this Japanese steakhouse, you haven't really experienced great food in the company of wonderful people.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[al baby]

He was awesome a bit of a whack job met him a few times in MDR

[al baby]

He was awesome a bit of a whack job met him a few times in MDR

[Reaganez]

Devon was/is a supermodel?

Boy, is that term way overused.

Cindy,Christie and Tyra are supermodels.

[DeaconBenjamin]

Rocky Aoki, the founder of the Benihana Japanese steak house chain, died of acute pneumonia in New York on Thursday, a Benihana official said Friday. He was 69. A former Olympic athlete in wrestling, Aoki arrived in the United States in 1960 on an athletic scholarship. After losing the scholarship due to an injury, he continued to stay in the United States and opened an ice cream shop in New York’s Harlem. His green tea ice cream, with a miniature traditional Japanese umbrella garnished on it, became a wild hit.

He was credited with making Japanese food popular in the United States by starting a steak restaurant, Benihana of Tokyo, in New York in 1964. Serving American-styled teppanyaki, the restaurant chain turned out to be a robust hit, thanks to acrobatic performance by a knife-wielding chef in preparing and serving food. The chain has since grown and spread to Canada, Europe and Asia as well as other cities in the United States. He was also known for operating the suchi chain Haru mainly in New York. Aoki, whose real name is Hiroaki Aoki, was also known as an adventurer, crossing the Pacific aboard a balloon in the early 1980s. In 1980, he was the runner-up in a world powerboat championship.

Rocky Aoki, founder of Benihana steak house chain, dies at 69

[Fox_Mulder77]

Just in case you all didn’t know: Benihana means crimson flower in Japanese. :)

[mkjessup]

That’s a shame about Rocky, every Benihana I’ve been in (and that’s about half a dozen) has been a high quality, memorable dining experience. The food was always excellent, the service was superb, just an all around great time.

Although I always wondered why every chef when tossing the bean sprouts around always made that same joke about ‘Japanese French Fries’, lol

Rest in Peace Rocky, Sarakata.

[blackdog]

Will his funeral be open grilled with knife weilding chefs chopping him up into little pieces?

[PGalt]

Condolences to Rocky Aoki’s family and friends. I’d gone to one of the Benihana restaurants in California once and it was the most unique, enjoyable, fun-filled family dinner I’ve ever had.

[Clemenza]

I was a major fan of the Benihana in Roslyn, NY when I was a child. Last one I visited was located on the intercoastal waterway in Fort Lauderdale when visiting my parents about five years ago.

Is it true that Rocky once owned a gay bar?

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.