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Ronnie Nasuti Joins Tiki’s Grill & Bar as Executive Chef

Former Roy’s Hawaii Kai Executive Chef of 10 Years to Revamp Tiki’s Grill & Bar Menu

Ronnie Nasuti

Ronnie Nasuti

Well-respected culinary star Ronnie Nasuti has joined Tiki’s Grill & Bar in Waikiki as its new Executive Chef (November 6). Since he moved to Hawaii 21 years ago, he has cooked at many of the state’s best restaurants. For 10 years, Nasuti served as the Executive Chef of Roy’s Restaurant in Hawaii Kai. Prior to this, he helped open Roy’s Poipu on Kauai, and worked at Chez Michel’s and Roy’s Park Bistro in Waikiki. He also worked in the kitchen of Kincaid’s.

“We’re so excited to have someone of Ronnie’s talent revamp our lunch, dinner, late night and brunch menus and take us from good to great,” said Tiki’s Grill & Bar owner and general manager Bill Tobin. “Ronnie has the skills to take us to another level. Roy’s just won the Hale Aina awards for the past two years and they give credit to Ronnie for the honor. I’ve known him for 15 years and he is one of the hardest working chefs and he consistently delivers the highest quality,” Tobin continued. “You can tell he loves what he does.”

“Bill just made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” said Nasuti. “I enjoyed working at Roy’s and learned so much from everyone there. I’m excited to create food that local diners enjoy and would give them a reason to return to Tiki’s. Give me a couple of months and I’ll want everyone to try the new menu. I’m committed to cooking with locally grown produce and I’m looking at sourcing as much as possible locally. There are many popular dishes that need to remain, but Bill is letting me use all my creativity here at Tiki’s.”

The 41-year-old Nasuti was born in Franklin, Massachusetts into an Italian-American family and knew from age 13 that he wanted to be a chef. He studied culinary arts and apprenticed in Massachusetts for the organization Les Dames D’escoffier Society, before working in restaurants in Copley Place Hotel in Boston and then moving to Hawaii after a fellow chef recommended it.

The retro South Pacific-style Tiki’s Grill & Bar opened in October 2002 and was popular from the start. Located on the second floor of the ASTON Waikiki Beach Hotel and with breathtaking views of Waikiki Beach and its spectacular sunsets. The 272-seat restaurant serves lunch, dinner, a late night menu and weekend brunches.

Tiki’s Grill & Bar is located at 2570 Kalakaua Avenue. Free validated valet parking is available. For more information, visit www.tikisgrill.com or call (808) 923-TIKI (8454).

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