Rocky aoki

Published: August 20, Branson, MuskTrump, Hefner.

He ran a soft-porn magazine, called Muhammad Ali a pal, cycled through romantic interests the way some restaurants run through specials, and relaxed by racing boats and piloting a hot-air balloon. After one of his brushes with death, he awoke in a hospital room with his then-current wife on one side of the bed and his girlfriend at the time on the other. The women had not met previously. The patient lived to tell jokes about how he talked his way out of the situation. Most amazingly, those traits only begin to tell the story of Rocky Aoki, the musician-turned-wrestler-turned-nightclub-impresario who made his money by founding the Benihana teppanyaki chain. If restaurant characters had their own hall of fame, a whole wing could be devoted to the Japanese immigrant who eventually died from lingering after-effects of his thrill-seeking.

Rocky aoki

Rocky Aoki had an amazing life. For one, he dreamt up Benihana, the iconic teppanyaki restaurant where Americans go to celebrate birthdays and chefs flip shrimp tails into their shirt pockets. But the globe-trotting restaurateur also raced boats, cars and hot air balloons. He produced Broadway plays and founded a porn magazine. He fathered seven children with three women; and when he died in , married to a fourth his third wife , he left behind the sort of combustible family dynamics that gave rise to the epic, ongoing battle over his fractured restaurant empire. Much more. Here are another 12 striking details about the incredible Rocky Aoki. Rare is the photo of Aoki above the teppan table. According to his authorized biography, he could prepare only French toast. At Benihana, Aoki hired single, highly trained Japanese chefs. His employees had to complete a three-year apprenticeship program in Japan, as well as a special six-week course in English, American manners and Benihana showmanship to make the cut. Softee truck in Harlem. He had a pure, simple vision: he served three Middle American entrees—chicken, shrimp and steak.

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He was the founder of the Japanese cuisine restaurant chain Benihana , and Genesis magazine. He was also the father of musician Steve Aoki and model and actress Devon Aoki. Aoki and some friends started a rock and roll band called Rowdy Sounds, though Aoki eventually abandoned music for athletics. He would later explain, "I play bass. But I tell you why I change to wrestling : No good on tempo. Aoki attended Keio University , where he competed in track and field , karate , and wrestling before being expelled for fighting.

Published: August 20, Branson, Musk , Trump, Hefner. All playboy entrepreneurs with egos the size of Texas, an instinct to go big, and, of course, an obsession with cold, hard cash. They merely borrowed from one of the original tycoon bad boys; a man one part Chuck Norris legend, and two parts jheri curl. It also launched a bitter legal battle against 6 of his 7 children, that left them without a dime from the Benihana fortune.

Rocky aoki

Rocky Aoki had an amazing life. For one, he dreamt up Benihana, the iconic teppanyaki restaurant where Americans go to celebrate birthdays and chefs flip shrimp tails into their shirt pockets. But the globe-trotting restaurateur also raced boats, cars and hot air balloons. He produced Broadway plays and founded a porn magazine.

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Over the next few decades, he dipped his toe into every market imaginable, from pro sports attempting to purchase the San Francisco Giants to Broadway productions. Former employees say they feared for their lives while working there BY Jessica Mathews. Add demo reel with IMDbPro. Edit page. Rocky capitalized on time in the spotlight, opening new restaurants in Chicago, Honolulu, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Leadership What you might not know about Jacques Pepin. He couldn't cook. Contribute to this page Suggest an edit or add missing content. ISSN Special Reports Buzzworthy Brands. A Deeper Dive. Retrieved July 24, Latest in Features. Sign Up. The latest from Restaurant Business, sent straight to your inbox.

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Read Edit View history. Archived from the original on March 10, Leadership Chili's, Maggiano's parent Brinker makes some executive changes. Produced by Alexander H. Sign up for free. The latest from Restaurant Business, sent straight to your inbox. He won the maiden Moscow-to-Milan car rally, raced a stretch Rolls Royce across America, and set a year record in for piloting the longest hot air balloon flight ever — a 5, mile trek across the Pacific — eventually crash-landing in the mountains of Northern California. Aoki died on July 10, , of pneumonia in New York City. His employees had to complete a three-year apprenticeship program in Japan, as well as a special six-week course in English, American manners and Benihana showmanship to make the cut. He divvied his 50 restaurants between the original Benihana of Tokyo, and a new holding company called Benihana Inc. Peter Romeo has covered the restaurant industry since for a variety of media. Thanks for signing up! From Washington D. Keiko Ono - July 10, his death. But I tell you why I change to wrestling : No good on tempo.