Seriously who made the rule that on my mother's birthday we must go to a three Michelin star rated restaurant.

OK... that's pretty much a rule my mother and I have followed almost since my birth. BUT... this year, I have taken it upon myself to shake things up a bit. I managed to convince my mother that this year her birthday should be spent at Benihana.

For reals.

Now before you comment on how selfish I am ... I ask you.. where else would you see such cute pictures?

<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1302" title="luke-at-benihanas" src="http://www.veepveep.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/luke-at-benihanas-225x300.jpg" alt="luke-at-benihanas" width="225" height="300" /><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1303" title="harrison at benihana" src="http://www.veepveep.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/hp-benihana-225x300.jpg" alt="harrison at benihana" width="225" height="300" />

So in a way, I'm providing my mother with a different dining experience from the norm with her cute grandchildren.  (Miss Nat isn't pictured above because she was busy working on the Sudoku puzzles inside the Benihana hat and wouldn't look up for the camera.)

And one thing you don't get at a Michelin star restaurant is entertainment for three children seven and under.

The kids were entertained by Hibachi Chef KAM who not only played with the food before the kids ate it -

<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1304" title="benihana fried rice" src="http://www.veepveep.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/benihanafriedrice-300x225.jpg" alt="benihana fried rice" width="300" height="225" />

But he managed to entertain my grandmother who was entranced with how much he resembled my great grandmother. Seriously. According to my grandmother.

<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1305" title="benihana-chef-kam" src="http://www.veepveep.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/benihana-chef-kam-300x225.jpg" alt="benihana-chef-kam" width="300" height="225" />

But wait... I realized something and then asked my grandmother to clarify her statement -
<blockquote>V: You mean the hostess looks like your mother right grandma?

G: No this man right here cooking for us.</blockquote>
And my mother confirmed.

So there you have it, by going to Benihana yesterday, we may not have dined on <a href="http://www.danielnyc.com" target="_blank">slow baked nova scotia halibut with chanterelles</a> but we did learn my great grandmother looked like a man, baby. A man! And that is why I will never forget my mother's hibachi birthday celebration.