What is kaiseki? Traditional Japanese haute cuisine
What is kaiseki
It grew out of the light meal served before the tea ceremony. Over time it became a formal multi-course dinner in which each dish reflects the season, the region and the culture.
How it is structured
A kaiseki usually begins with an appetiser (sakizuke), followed by a clear soup, sashimi, a simmered dish, a grilled dish, a fried dish, rice with pickles and miso soup, and ends with seasonal fruit or a sweet.
It grew out of the light meal served before the tea ceremony.
Difference from omakase
In kaiseki the sequence follows a precise tradition; in omakase the chef freely decides the menu, with more room to improvise and reinterpret. Both share the idea of putting yourself in the chef’s hands.
What kaiseki teaches contemporary cooking
Respect for produce, seasonality, presentation and the rhythm of courses are principles reflected in many current Japanese tasting menus.
Experience Teppei Nii’s cuisine
Japanese-Mediterranean tasting menu in the heart of Eixample, Barcelona.