kaiseki ryori

is expected to reflect and express the flavor of natural things.

Unsurprisingly, therefore, kaiseki dishes are expected to reflect and express the flavor of natural things. Nature enters into the kaiseki by minute attention to the types of plates used as well as the types of foods, which are to fit each season. Brightly colored plates and bowls are used in summer, more somber colors in winter. In the fall, there are various evocations of the season, such as decorations of red maple leaves, flying geese, or chrysanthemums, which flower in October. Spring utensils feature plum blossoms or some fresh greenery. There are even differences in the shape of utensils: summer bowls and dishes tend to be airy, open-mouthed, and often flat, while winter plates are more solid, with thick vertical walls and often lids.

kaiseki ryori, n.Definitions

kaiseki ryori