The Benihana Japanese Steakhouse in the Royal Garden Plaza is very close to its 20th birthday, but the Benihana restaurant chain itself is celebrating its 50th birthday.
That being a very significant number Miss Keiko Aoki, the owner, wanted to do something different to mark the half century. “Something different” was to send two Hip-Hop dancers, originally from Osaka, on a world tour to bring the Hip-Hop fun message to all the Benihana outlets.
Hip-Hop teachers Megu (right) and Rebecca (left) bust some moves with 2 stars of the Benihana show.
The two dancers were Hip-Hop teachers Megu and Rebecca (who is now in the US long enough to be considered a New Yorker, and where they met Miss Keiko). Rebecca admitting that they were just in the right place at the right time! So far on the Hip-Hop tour they have been to Romania, Bangkok and now Pattaya (April 17-20), with Dubai being the next stop.
Our chef was very taken with Megu, making a fried rice dish spell “I Love You” complete with a beating heart.
Rebecca says that Hip-Hop is a form of cultural expression and an outlet for originality and creativity. In many ways this mirrors the Benihana Teppanyaki approach to cooking. Rebecca and Megu saying that Teppanyaki cooking is common in Japan, but none with the originality and creativity shown by the chefs in Benihana.
We sat with Rebecca and Megu and were just as entertained as they were watching flying eggs and salt cellars that could wind up sitting atop the chef’s toques. Our chef was very taken with Megu, making a fried rice dish spell “I Love You” complete with a beating heart.
The Benihana Hip-Hoppers wowed the crowd at the main stage of the Royal Garden Plaza, Dicey Reilly’s, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not as well as the Benihana restaurant itself.
John Andrew Manley (2nd left), Marriot Pattaya’s Director of F&B, and Santiago Costa (2nd right), Assistant F&B Manager join the Benihana 50th anniversary fun.
Unfortunately, they have gone to the next city on the world tour, but the showman chefs are still here in our Benihana Japanese Steakhouse.
Benihana Japanese Steakhouse, Royal Garden Plaza Second floor, 12 Noon till 10 p.m., telephone 038 412 120 (booking advised), secure/free parking in the basement of the Royal Garden Plaza (but remember to get your docket stamped by the Benihana people before you return to your car).
