What is the history of TEPPANYAKI?

  • What is the history of teppanyaki cooking? Where and when did it originate? How did it start? I am searching for as much information on teppanyaki as possible. I have already looked at Wikipedia and the common sources of information, so please do not answer with only those links. I am searching for a detailed explanation of Teppanyaki and anything that connects to it. Thanks!


  • Hi! Can you please tell us besides wikipedia what are the "common sources" of information that you have gone to? This would really help us research and also won't waste your time and money. Thanks!


  • Hello teppanyaki-ga! I love Japanese food, so what a great question for me to research! I?ll admit, when we go to our local Japanese restaurant, we bypass the teppanyaki and head straight for the sushi, but now maybe we?ll have to try the teppanyaki! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TEPPANYAKI HISTORY As you probably know, teppanyaki is a word meaning ?iron griddle? (teppan) and ?fry? (yaki). Over 50 years ago, in the port town of Kobe, customers would select whatever fresh ingredients were available that day, and a cook would cook these ingredients in plain view of the customer. There was no flair or ?show??just good cooking. This represented a fusion of two types of Japanese cooking, however: ?robatayaki? (Japanese barbecue, also cooked in front of customers) and sushi restaurants (which have a large fresh ingredients case). http://www.sushiandtofu.com/sushi_and_tofu/food_teppanyakiKingOf_0301.htm In an article, Chef Koji Kanega from the Grand Hyatt Fukuoka, Japan describes teppanyaki and discusses its origins. He says that ultimately this type of cooking started 200 years ago. "Traditionally, these meals were prepared on a small grill by families, now it has developed into a highly refined and beautiful form of expression, characterized by an intricate combination of presentation and knife skills." The article goes on to explain the cooking style and what types of foods you can expect to see during a meal. http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/03/17/stories/2003031700530200.htm In an excerpt from a past issue of ?Nipponia,? an online ?magazine? about life in Japan, it discusses the ancient Japanese custom of eating out of a communal pot while the food is cooking. There are actually other dishes, like shabu-shabu and sukiyaki, that involve preparing food as you are eating it. http://members.tripod.com/runker_room/tiestalk/steakhse.htm Here is a short explanation of teppanyaki: http://www.thecookinginn.com/terms/termst.html#T19 Here is a short excerpt from an article discussing teppanyaki?s origins: ?When and where did it begin? According to Omaha?s Kobe Steakhouse, the ?art of Teppanyaki cooking has been performed since the 1900s.? Benihana declares it to have a 200 year history: ?Traditionally, these meals were prepared on a small grill by families, however it has developed into a highly refined and beautiful form of expression, characterized by an intricate combination of presentation and knife skills.?? http://www.metroland.net/back_issues/vol_26_no03/dining_review.html You said that you?ve already seen the Wikipedia site, so other than including the link I won?t comment further on that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teppanyaki Okay, one more Wikipedia site. This one discusses hibachi-style cooking, a term sometimes used in the U.S. to mean teppanyaki. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibachi - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TEPPANYAKI RESTAURANT Misono Restaurant in Kyoto claims to have invented teppanyaki cooking in its current form in 1945. A number of sites cite Misono?s ?claims,? but I could not find a single source that authoritatively stated that it is the one ?originator? of the teppanyaki-style restaurant. Here is Misono?s site. It is all in Japanese, but you can clearly see their claim to being the ?originator.? http://www.misono.org/home.htm Here is an excerpt from the Frommer?s guide about Misono Restaurant: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/kyoto/D38790.html Directions to the restaurant and other info can be found on this restaurant listing page: http://bento.com/kansai/ka-kyshijo.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TEPPANYAKI IN THE UNITED STATES Benihana is by far the most recognizable teppanyaki-style restaurant in the United States, and possibly the world. Its founder, Yunosuke ?Rocky? Aoki came to the U.S. in the late 1950s, searching for opportunities for success. He had run a full-service restaurant in Tokyo with some success. He had a theatrical background and felt that entertaining diners would pay big dividends. It was out of these thoughts that he conceptualized Benihana as it exists today. I haven?t found any indication that he borrowed this idea from Misono?s restaurant. It seems that he conceptualized it himself. In 1964, he opened the first Benihana restaurant in New York City. Interestingly, he started with four tables and few customers, but six months after opening his doors, a favorable restaurant review sent diners to Benihana in droves and it grew from there. For a more detailed history see this site: http://www.benihana.com/benihana_history.asp To get an idea of what types of foods are served, see their menu at: http://www.benihana.com/menus.asp Rocky Aoki is an interesting individual with varied hobbies. See a ?timeline? about his life here: http://www.benihana.com/timeline.asp - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Top Secret Recipes is a site that clones recipes from famous restaurants. You can get two free Benihana recipes here: http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/recipes.asp Here is a recipe for beef teppanyaki: http://www.winetalker.com/article_293.asp Here is a page with a number of pictures of Japanese cuisine. My husband (who lived in Japan for 2 years) says that he frequented a ?yakiniku? (or ?do-it-yourself? teppanyaki restaurant) and it did seem to be a great place for students to eat. http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/spn/kyoto/gourmet/01.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - So, there it is! What a delicious question! I was amazed at how many teppanyaki restaurants there are around the world. If you search for ?teppanyaki restaurant? you will be treated to literally hundreds of them. Take your pick! I hope you?ve found this information to be useful. If you have need of clarification please let me know I can help. And in the meantime, like they say in Japan: Itadakimasu! (Bon Apetit!) Sincerely, Boquinha-ga Search terms: history teppanyaki origin teppanyaki Rocky Aoki teppanyaki restaurant







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