Rocky Aoki, Founder of Benihana Chain, Dies at 69
If you were anywhere near the Upper East side of Manhattan in the 70s, you went to Benihana at least once. Probably with a gaggle of girl friends or on a date with some one who didn't have much to talk about. It was the original American hibachi-table experience, a happening place complete with knife juggling, smoking onion-ring volcanos and expensive signature cocktails in unique mugs which you got to take home. Then you could either use them to have your own homemade cocktails or try your best to fight the urge to jam a plant down through that straw hole in the belly.
These are the Benhana mug/buddhas that I keep in my office. Maybe tonight I'll scrub out the dried up roots from the inside and rinse away the plant fertilizer and use one to have a martini in honor of old Rocky. He was quite a character.
I used to see Rocky in his racing boat off Point Pleasant. That thing was fast. Everybody stopped to watch it go by.
Posted by: Bob | July 12, 2008 at 05:29 PM
We have a Benihana here in The Woodlands.
I don't actually like Benihana. It's tasteless. Or the food is.
But, the concept is lovely.
I wish I had one of those mugs.
Posted by: Kim | July 13, 2008 at 06:01 PM