As a food blogger, I regularly attend events and am constantly exposed to new restaurants & concepts. It's rare that I find truly "show-stopping" experiences involving food after more than three years of running ATL Adventurer - call me a bit jaded, but I feel like I've seen it all!
I recently had the opportunity to partner with Benihana and participate in their "Be the Chef" Experience - and I'm so excited to share how memorable and unique this experience really is! I was blown away by the food (of course), but also the amazing staff's energy and commitment to sharing the Benihana teppanyaki culture through cooking with their team.
Here are some quick facts about Benihana's Be the Chef Experience:
The experience comes in two parts - first, you'll visit your local Benihana restaurant and learn the art of teppanyaki from one of the in-house master chefs; then, you'll invite friends and family in to cook for them and show off your skills!
Each Be the Chef package includes a training session, Splash ‘N Meadow entrées and vegetable fried rice for guest chef and guests, Benihana hat, Benihana apron, Benihana Teppanyaki Chef certificate and a commemorative photo.
Be The Chef packages start at just $200 for a guest chef and three guests (so about $50 per person). For larger parties, add additional guests for just $50 each or purchase a package for a guest chef and seven guests for just $360 (about $45 per person)
Participants must be at least 18 years old, and must arrange their Be the Chef experience directly with their local Benihana (online reservations aren't accepted)
A little about my personal Be the Chef Experience - I visited my local Benihana in Buckhead (find your closest location here) which has been in Atlanta since the 70s! I loved seeing all of the history, especially the many famous musicians and actors that have visited for their own teppanyaki meals. I started by suiting up with an apron, Benihana belt (which holds your cutting knife!) and iconic Benihana red hat.
I partnered with master chef Chris to learn the ins-and-outs of teppanyaki, from how to clean and prepare the grill, to how to create the famous onion volcano and rice beating heart that continuously wow guests. Chris did a great job of explaining different facets of what makes Benihana unique, from special in-house oils and sauces to preparation techniques that make the food flavorful and delicious.
Check out some photos from my experience with Chef Chris:
Want to learn more about Benihana's Be the Chef Experience? Click here!
This post was written in collaboration with Benihana, but all views & opinions are my own.