Michelin chef Hide Yamamoto, who as executive chef of the Ritz Carlton in Washington, D.C., participated in inauguration festivities for three U. S. presidents, has been named executive chef of Vintage Cafe Honolulu.

The Japan-born chef’s appointment was announced today by Takeshi Sekiguchi, founder of the restaurant.

Yamamoto’s illustrious career included serving presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and he also worked at the Italian restaurant Borsalino, Chez Nouz Hama in San Francisco and the Jockey Club in the Ritz Carlton in Washington, D.C.

In 2005, during Yamamoto’s first year at the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, each of the property’s three restaurants earned one Michelin star.

The chef trained under legendary French chef Roger Verge at the National Cookery School in Italy.

Yamamoto follows a list of chefs who helmed Vintage Cave, including Chris Kajioka and Jonathan Mizukami.