MIAMI Benihana has named Toshiyo Nemoto executive chef of its teppan, or griddle, operations.
Nemoto, a 32-year veteran of the company, has mostly worked as a regional chef for the 85-unit chain. He started at its Honolulu restaurant and also has worked in New York; Bethesda, Md.; San Francisco, and Pennsauken, N.J.
He will work closely with culinary adviser Hiroyuki Sakai and the chain's regional chefs in “developing new menu initiatives and refining cooking procedures,” said Richard C. Stockinger, president and chief executive of parent company Benihana Inc.
Nemoto’s appointment is part of the company’s “renewal program,” which was initiated in October 2009 and is an effort to revitalize the concept with better food, beverages, service, marketing and public relations, the company said.
Benihana has been working with a turnaround firm since the fall, and a report surfaced last week that the casual-dining company had received a buyout offer from an investor. Benihana officials would not comment on the report, and no public filings about a possible deal have been made with securities regulators.
Benihana owns and operates 97 restaurants in the United States, including 63 Benihana teppanyaki, nine Haru sushi and 25 RA Sushi Bar restaurants. The company also franchises 23 Benihana units in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected].