Sunday, November 29, 2009

kaiseki ryori

KAISEKI RYOURI is a traditional Japanese multi-course meal prepared from fresh, seasonal ingredient. Some dishes are served hot, while others are served chilled or at room temperature - just the way they're meant to be enjoyed.
The courses are served in turn, to match the pace at which people are eating.
A formal KAISEKI meal starts with a small tray, with three dishes - rice soup and a dish called MUKUZUKE - arranged on it. The MUKOZUKE will typically be a morsel of SASIMI or a preparation seasoned with a vinegar dressing.
The next course is a simmered preparation, known as the NIMONO-WAN, also served in a bowl. This will be followed by the YAKIMONO- a grilled dish, usually consisting of fish or meat.
Using a wide variety of techniques time of year. That is the very essence of KAISEKI RYORI.
This cuisine has it is origins in the 16th century. It developed from the style of food served at tea gatherings by the tea master SEN NO RIKYU. Up until then, the conventional way of serving food to guests had been to layout many dishes all the once. However, RIKYU thought that serving small portions of food, one course at a time, would be the ultimate gesture of hospitality. Because each dish could be enjoyed at its absolute best. This formed the basis of modern day KAISEKI RYOUKI.
Let"s look at one of the clever ways to evoke a sense of the season. Some recipe features tile fish, which are in season during the winter. However , ingredients associated with other seasons are also included in the winter meal. Some are MATUTAKE mushrooms, a typical autumn delicacy. An ingredient from the season that"s just passed is called NAGORI. And some are arrowhead bulbs. Which are typically associated with spring. An ingredient used ahead of its season is called HASIRI. Serving NAGORI and HASIRI ingredients along with those in season is a delightful way to enjoy the changing of the seasons.
Recently, there has been growing interest in KAISEKI RYOURI around the world. Top french chefs have been visiting Japan to discover its secrets. Meanwhile, a new genre of food is emerging in Japan, a fusion of traditional KAISEKI and more modern, western ideas. Alothough KAISEKI RYOURI is a lucid reflection of the Japanese aesthetic, it's not static; it continues to evolve from day to day.

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