On May 4th, Graton Resort & Casino debuted the next phase of its transformative expansion, notably introducing a 28,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor dining space called AYA Rooftop Restaurant. Led by award-winning chef Roy Ellamar and VP of culinary operations Jennifer Murphy-Ellamar, the new venue showcases chef Ellamar’s “local to the max” philosophy and live-fire cooking preferences.
A Hawaii native, chef Ellamar grew up surrounded by farmers and fishers who instilled in him a deep respect for responsibly sourced food. After refining his craft in acclaimed kitchens across Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, including L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Bellagio’s Harvest, he launched the critically praised Fine Company in 2021.
At AYA, he has crafted a modern coastal California menu through the lens of his Hawaiian-Filipino heritage, with daily sourcing from the restaurant’s dedicated 40-acre farm. One may visit for dishes such as shiso Salt-Baked Snapper with ginger-ogo salsa and hot oil or a Calamansi Tart featuring an ancient “dinosaur egg” Filipino sea salt shaved tableside…