Roy Yamaguchi

{{Infobox chef

| name = Roy Yamaguchi

| image = US Navy 040503-N-7391W-063 Celebrity Chef Roy Yamaguchi dishes up lunch during a visit to the Pearl Harbor-based guided missile frigate USS Crommelin (FFG 37).jpg

| caption = Roy Yamaguchi during a visit to the Pearl Harbor-based guided missile frigate USS Crommelin in 2004

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1956}}

| birth_place = Tokyo, Japan

| death_date =

| death_place =

| style = Hawaii inspired cuisine

| education = Culinary Institute of America

| ratings =

| restaurants = Roy's Hawaii, Roy's Restaurant, Eating House 1849

| prevrests =

| television =

| awards = James Beard "Best Pacific Northwest Chef"

| website = {{URL|www.royyamaguchi.com}}

}}

Roy Yamaguchi (born 1956) is a Japanese-American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and founder of a collection of restaurants, including 30 Roy's Restaurants in the United States and Guam, the Tavern by Roy Yamaguchi and Eating House 1849. He is one of the founding members of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement.

Biography

Roy Yamaguchi is the chef and founder of a collection of restaurants, including 30 Roy's Restaurants in the United States and Guam, the Tavern by Roy Yamaguchi, and Eating House 1849. He is known for Hawaiian-inspired cuisine, an eclectic blend of California-French-Japanese cooking traditions created with fresh ingredients from the Islands.{{cite book | title = The Palm Springs Diner's Bible: A Restaurant Guide for Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, la Quinta, Bermuda Dunes, Indio, and Desert Hot Springs | author = Peter Osbaldeston | publisher = Pelican Publishing | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=273eCQAAQBAJ&q=%22Wich+Stand%22&pg=PA215 | date = 2009 | page = 116 | isbn = 9781589807747 | access-date = 8 October 2015 | archive-date = 23 July 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230723081148/https://books.google.com/books?id=273eCQAAQBAJ&q=%22Wich+Stand%22&pg=PA215 | url-status = live }} He was honored with the James Beard "Best Pacific Northwest Chef" Award in 1993.{{Citation | author = Katherine Albers | title = Three Golden Gate High School students get cooking lessons from Roy Yamaguchi | newspaper = Naples Daily News | date = 3 April 2007 | url = http://www.naplesnews.com/news/local-news/three_golden_gate_high_school_students_get_cooking | access-date = 8 October 2015 | archive-date = 28 March 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200328094217/http://www.naplesnews.com/news/local-news/three_golden_gate_high_school_students_get_cooking | url-status = dead }}Ladao, Mark (May 25, 2021). [https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/05/25/breaking-news/local-chef-and-co-owner-of-downtown-honolulus-senia-no-longer-affiliated-with-restaurant/ Local chef and co-owner of downtown Honolulu’s Senia no longer affiliated with restaurant] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529205836/https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/05/25/breaking-news/local-chef-and-co-owner-of-downtown-honolulus-senia-no-longer-affiliated-with-restaurant/ |date=2021-05-29 }}. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved May 29, 2021.

Yamaguchi was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. His Hawaiian roots are tied to his paternal grandfather, who owned a tavern in Wailuku, Maui, in the 1940s. He attributes his appreciation for food to his Hawaii-born father and his Okinawa-born mother. Upon graduating from high school, Yamaguchi enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York, where he received his formal culinary training. After graduating in 1976, he accepted positions at California restaurants, including L'Escoffier, L'Ermitage, Le Serene, Michael's, and Le Gourmet in the Sheraton Plaza La Reina.{{Citation | author = David Shaw | title = And then came Roy | newspaper = Los Angeles Times | date = 10 December 2003 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-dec-10-fo-matters10-story.html | access-date = 8 October 2015 | archive-date = 7 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307035909/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/dec/10/food/fo-matters10 | url-status = live }} In 1984, Yamaguchi opened his first restaurant, 385 North, in Hollywood.{{Citation | author = Peggy Daum | title = How the bright young chefs say L.A. | newspaper = The Milwaukee Journal | pages = 12D (54) | date = 13 August 1986 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19860813&id=8VYaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6851,3598587&hl=en | access-date = 8 October 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 1988, he moved to Honolulu to open the first Roy's Restaurant. Since then, he has opened 29 restaurants in the United States and others in Japan, Guam, and Hong Kong. He also teamed with Outback Steakhouse to open a Eurasian-themed restaurant in Florida.{{Citation | title = Outback teams with chef | newspaper = Sarasota Herald Tribune | pages = D1 (94) | date = 11 October 2000 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=20001011&id=wEEgAAAAIBAJ&pg=5194,793459&hl=en | access-date = 8 October 2015 | archive-date = 23 July 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230723081145/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=20001011&id=wEEgAAAAIBAJ&pg=5194,793459&hl=en | url-status = live }}

Yamaguchi is also known as a television personality, hosting six seasons of the PBS series Hawaii Cooks with Roy Yamaguchi.{{cite book | title = Hawaii Cooks: Flavors from Roy's Pacific Rim Kitchen | author = Roy Yamaguchi, Joan Namkoong | publisher = Ten Speed Press | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=E1GFkVQac-YC&q=%22Roy+Yamaguchi%22 | date = 2003 | isbn = 9781580084543 | access-date = 8 October 2015 | archive-date = 23 July 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230723081250/https://books.google.com/books?id=E1GFkVQac-YC&q=%22Roy+Yamaguchi%22 | url-status = live }} He was featured on the Food Network's My Country, My Kitchen, taking him back to his roots in Japan.{{cite web |url= http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/my-country-my-kitchen/2-series/tokyo-with-roy-yamaguchi.html |title= My Country, My Kitchen: Episode MY1B06: Tokyo with Roy Yamaguchi |date= 2015 |access-date= 8 October 2015 |publisher= Television Food Network G.P. |archive-date= 4 March 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200516/http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/my-country-my-kitchen/2-series/tokyo-with-roy-yamaguchi.html |url-status= live }}

In 2004, he launched a "Roy Yamaguchi" brand of cookware that sold on the Home Shopping Network.{{cite web |url=http://www.hsn.com/Roy%60s-Fusion-Stainless-Steel-16-piece-Cookware-Set_p-1561763_xp.aspx |title=Roy's Fusion Stainless Steel 16-piece Cookware Set |date=2004 |access-date=8 October 2015 |publisher=H S N, Inc. |archive-date=22 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222022217/http://www.hsn.com/Roy%60s-Fusion-Stainless-Steel-16-piece-Cookware-Set_p-1561763_xp.aspx |url-status=live }} Partnering with Da Farmer & The Chef in 2007, Yamaguchi has also developed a "Roy Yamaguchi" food product line.{{Citation | title = Dressings, Marinades Roy's Way | newspaper = The Honolulu Advertiser | date = 21 December 2007 | url = http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Nov/21/il/hawaii711210351.html | access-date = 8 October 2015 | archive-date = 4 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050740/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Nov/21/il/hawaii711210351.html | url-status = live }} He has published four cookbooks: Pacific Bounty, Roy's Feasts from Hawaii, Hawaii Cooks: Flavors from Roy's Pacific Rim Kitchen, and Roy's Fish and Seafood.

In addition, Yamaguchi founded and chairs, along with Chef Alan Wong, the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival.{{cite web |url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/maridelreyes/2014/09/02/chef-roy-yamaguchi-honolulu-oahu-hawaii-travel-guide/ |author = Maridel Reyes |title = Chef Roy Yamaguchi's 9 Favorite Honolulu Hot Spots |date = 2 September 2014 |access-date = 8 October 2015 |work = Forbes |archive-date = 24 December 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151224082639/http://www.forbes.com/sites/maridelreyes/2014/09/02/chef-roy-yamaguchi-honolulu-oahu-hawaii-travel-guide/ |url-status = live }} He established the Tom and Warren Matsuda Scholarship Fund, providing scholarships to students to attend the Culinary Institute of the Pacific.{{Citation | author = Betty Shimabukuro | title = Party with a purpose | newspaper = Honolulu Star Bulletin | date = 25 February 2004 | url = http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/02/25/features/index.html | access-date = 8 October 2015 | archive-date = 5 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305131706/http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/02/25/features/index.html | url-status = live }} Founding the Roy's Annual Golf Classic more than 17 years ago, Yamaguchi has been instrumental in raising more than $400,000 for Imua Family Service. Yamaguchi also serves as a trustee and/or member of nonprofit boards, including the U.S. Japan Council, Go For Broke, Culinary Institute of the Pacific, Hawaii Culinary Education Foundation, and Good to Grow.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

Restaurants

In 2000, Yamaguchi sold the interest in the mainland US locations of Roy's Seafood restaurants to Bloomin' Brands, parent of Outback Steakhouse. Yamaguchi retained control and ownership of all Hawaii-based locations and the location at Pebble Beach. In 2015, Bloomin' Brands sold the mainland US Roy's operations to United Ohana for $10,000,000 US (approx. $500,000 per location), citing a lack of strategic focus for development.{{Citation | author = Sean Daly | title = Bloomin' Brands Sells Roy's for Modest $10 Million | newspaper = Tampa Bay Times | date = 25 February 2015 | url = https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/retail/bloomin-brands-sells-roys-for-modest-10-million/2219284/ | access-date = 10 February 2017 | archive-date = 11 February 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075109/http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/retail/bloomin-brands-sells-roys-for-modest-10-million/2219284 | url-status = live }}

United Ohana owned locations, still branded Roy's, are accessible under the roysrestaurant.com domain name. Locations owned by Roy Yamaguchi are accessible under the royshawaii.com domain. Roy maintains six locations in Hawaii: Waikiki, Hawaii Kai, Kaanapali, Waikoloa, Ko Olina, and Turtle Bay.{{Citation | title = Roy's Hawaii - Locations | date = 25 February 2015 | url = http://www.royshawaii.com/ | access-date = 10 February 2017 | archive-date = 11 February 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075003/http://www.royshawaii.com/ | url-status = live }}