Tokyo Rocks, New York City, by Todd English

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Culinary Direction · Tokyo Rocks, New York City

Todd English

Four-time James Beard Award winner. Restaurateur, author and television host. Founder and creative director of Tokyo Rocks.

Tokyo Rocks, New York City, by Todd English.

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More than 35 years of restaurants, cookbooks and television

Todd English has put his name on restaurants, cookbooks and television for more than 35 years, starting with Olives, which opened in 1989 as a 50-seat storefront in Charlestown, Boston. Since then his concepts have served guests across the United States, at sea, and in cities including Tokyo, Mexico City, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Manila and Bali. Now Todd English is bringing that experience to New York with Tokyo Rocks, a Japanese food hall and entertainment destination.

Background & training

  • Born August 29, 1960, in Amarillo, Texas; raised in Sandy Springs, Georgia, and Branford, Connecticut.
  • Graduated from the Culinary Institute of America (class of 1982).
  • Cooked under Jean-Jacques Rachou at La Côte Basque in New York.
  • Apprenticed in Italy. In 1991 the Los Angeles Times wrote that the apprenticeship "really formed his style."
  • Became executive chef at Michela's in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at age 25 (1985–1988).
  • Opened Olives in 1989, followed by Figs in 1992.
  • Chefs who came through his kitchens include Barbara Lynch and Tiffani Faison.

Awards & honors

Four-time James Beard Award winner.

  • 1991

    James Beard Foundation: Rising Star Chef

  • 1994

    James Beard Foundation: Best Chef, Northeast

  • 1999

    Nation's Restaurant News: Top 50 Tastemakers

  • 2001

    Bon Appétit: Restaurateur of the Year

  • 2001

    People: "50 Most Beautiful"

  • 2004

    James Beard Foundation: Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America

  • 2007, 2010

    James Beard Foundation television awards for Food Trip with Todd English

Restaurants

Today

Current and announced restaurants
RestaurantCityStatus
Todd English's bluezooWalt Disney World Dolphin, Orlando, FLOpen since 2003/04
Todd English's TuscanyMohegan Sun, Uncasville, CTOpen; reopened Jan 7, 2026 after a renovation
The BeastAREA15, Las Vegas, NVOpen (opened 2021)
Todd English Pub & MarketAbu Dhabi International Airport, UAEOpen as of Sep 2024 (opened 2023)
Jade by Todd EnglishBali, IndonesiaOpen per 2024 and 2026 reports
Museum Tower CaféMiami, FLOpen (Jul 2026); Todd English is executive chef
French English (with Chef Olivia Ostrow)Miami; NYC plannedIn development (announced Dec 2025)
Filipino-inspired concept (Resident Branding)Metro Manila, PhilippinesPre-launch (announced 2025)
Proper EnglishBentley Residences, Sunny Isles Beach, FLAnnounced for 2028

Legacy

Selected closed or exited restaurants
RestaurantCityStatus
Olives (original)Charlestown, BostonClosed 2013
FigsBoston areaFounded 1992; current status of each location not found
OlivesNew York (W Union Square)Closed 2015
OlivesBellagio, Las VegasClosed (2018 or 2019)
OlivesTokyo2003 to c. 2006
OlivesWashington, DC; AspenClosed 2009
Kingfish HallFaneuil Hall, BostonClosed 2012
Todd English Food HallThe Plaza, New YorkClosed during the pandemic
Todd English Food HallManila; DubaiManila rebranded in 2019; Dubai closed
Todd English restaurantsCunard shipsEnded 2013 and 2016

Television, books & media

Television

  • Host, Food Trip with Todd English (PBS, 2007–2009, 2 seasons).
  • Won on Iron Chef USA (UPN, 2001). Competed on Iron Chef America (2005).
  • Guest judge, Top Chef (Bravo, 2009 and 2014).
  • Todd English Collection cookware on HSN (from 2005).
  • Lead chef for Delta Air Lines' paid coach menu (2007).

Cookbooks

Seven titles, 1997–2019

  • The Olives Table (1997)
  • The Figs Table (1998)
  • The Olives Dessert Table (2000)
  • Cooking in Everyday English (2011)
  • The Air Fryer Cookbook (2015/16)
  • Todd English's Rustic Pizza (2017)
  • Todd English's Rustic Pasta (2019)

Events: co-founder of the Whitefish Food & Wine festival in Montana, held in 2024 and 2025.

Culinary approach

  • Todd English's cooking took shape in Italy. The 1991 Los Angeles Times profile credits his Italian apprenticeship with forming his style.
  • His signature restaurants are Mediterranean and Italian: Olives, Figs (pizza) and Tuscany. His later cookbooks are titled Rustic Pizza and Rustic Pasta.
  • His food halls apply that thinking at scale: Todd English Food Hall opened at The Plaza in New York and was later licensed to Manila, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Todd English & Tokyo Rocks

  • Todd English is founder and creative director of Tokyo Rocks and the creative force behind the concept.
  • The brand carries his name: "Tokyo Rocks, New York City, by Todd English."
  • The flagship is planned as a 25,000 sq ft destination in SoHo, New York.
  • Day-to-day operations are run by a team led by CEO Brett H. Pojunis.
  • Todd English's earlier Japan connection: Olives Tokyo (2003 to c. 2006).

Be part of Tokyo Rocks

Todd English's next chapter is a Japanese food hall and entertainment destination built for New York. Good Food, Good Music, Good People.

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