PRIME 109: Chef de cuisine Joel Aranas presents the Prime 109, a 21-day dry aged cut of prime Black Mountain Angus beef. The steak is sauced with a decadent garlic demi herb confit and beurre blanc. The cut weighs in at a whopping 38 ounces and is listed at a quite reasonable $80 on the menu. Norman M. Taruc/The Guam Daily Post
PORTERHOUSE: The 26-ounce porterhouse cut ($99) of prime-grade Black Mountain Angus beef is dry aged for 40 days before being grilled and served with whipped potatoes and sauced with herb gastronomic. A 16-ounce cut is offered for $70. Norman M. Taruc/The Guam Daily Post
Roy's Restaurant at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa in Tumon is one of 30 in a collection of restaurants by celebrity Japanese-American Roy Yamaguchi. Their Hawaiian and Japanese fusion fare has wowed diners on Guam for years and won them many awards including, most recently, Best Restaurant of 2019 at the Excellence in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Awards.
Chef de cuisine Joel Aranas is a perfectionist when it comes to what they serve – "I'm very strict with the quality of the product" – but also flexible and open to new ideas.
"We say, 'Yes, we can' not 'No, we don't.'"
The dedication to quality mixed with a flair for fun has cemented Roy's as a place where customers know what to expect, and also find new menu items to fall in love with afresh.
KITCHEN TEAM: The kitchen team at Roy's Restaurant includes, from left, Kevin Garcia, chef de partie; Joel Aranas, chef de cuisine; Kim Comia, sous chef; Corina Quintano, cook; and Jose Delica, cook. Norman M. Taruc/The Guam Daily Post
Enter their Dry Aged Prime menu.
Going to Roy's has always been a treat, but now guests can up the ante by choosing one of the five steaks that will take an already great dining experience over the top.
Tender, flavorful beef
Each steak is dry aged, hung in a temperature-controlled room for between 21 and 40 days to make the meat more tender through enzymes naturally breaking down the tissue and the dehydration process intensifying the flavor of the beef.
PRIME TIME: Simply known as the Prime 109, the bone-in, prime-grade ribeye is a whopping 38 ounces prior to being grilled. Norman M. Taruc/The Guam Daily Post
"The longer the days, the more tender," Aranas said, "When you eat it, it just melts in your mouth."
The Prime 109 Rib Bone In is served in a 38-ounce cut, dry primed for 21 days and accompanied with garlic mashed potatoes, mushrooms, a garlic demi herb confit and beurre blanc sauce.
A herb gastronomic mushroom demi sauce is served with the 20-ounce Prime Ribeye, dry primed for 40 days and paired with whipped potatoes.
The sauces, said Aranas, also take a lot of time and effort. The gastronomic sauce is made with rosemary, thyme and a bit of cinnamon, cooked with red wine and finished with garlic and butter. Their demi is reduced for 48 hours before serving.
HALF SHELL STUFFED SCALLOPS: Chef Joel Aranas uses Hokkaido scallops for the dramatically presented Half Shell Stuffed Scallops ($18). The scallop is stuffed with mango salsa, yuzu aoili and finished with beurre blanc sauce. Norman M. Taruc/The Guam Daily Post
Essential ingredients
Time is something he said is necessary to reach the level of quality they aspire to at Roy's. Rushing is not an option.
Passion is another ingredient Aranas brings to all the dishes – another non-negotiable component, he said.
TOP OF THE LINE: Roy's trots out a top-of-the-line prime-grade Black Mountain Aged Angus Beef for the flavorful 10-ounce strip loin ($55). Served "au poivre," the steak is finished with brandied mushroom demi cream sauce. Norman M. Taruc/The Guam Daily Post
"That's what I always tell my staff, 'Make sure you put a lot of passion and love. Pretend you are cooking for your other half, always.' It's important because when you are cooking for your wife or your other half, you put more love into it. You put more effort," he said.
The relaxing ocean views and flattering interiors add to the dining experience.
'What makes the experience'
HAWAIIAN MARTINI: Bartender Valerie Gastilo prepares the Roy's Hawaiian Martini at the restaurant's bar. Norman M. Taruc/The Guam Daily Post
Food and beverage director Matthew Siegel shares Aranas' dedication to quality and stresses their commitment to serving an experience in which diners feel comfortable and welcomed.
"The engagement is really what makes the experience," he said. "If there is no engagement and no feeling of connectivity, you're not going to come back."
MELTING HOT CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE: Listed on the dessert menu for $16.50, the Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle is served with tropical coulis, vanilla gelato and mac-nut crumble. Norman M. Taruc/The Guam Daily Post
For those who have never been to Roy's, take the plunge and find out what all the fuss is about. And for those who have already fallen in love with the restaurant, fall in love all over again with their thoughtful and timeless steak menu.