Kaiseki

Kaiseki (懐石) was a light meal served at a Japanese tea ceremony but is now also used for a style of light meal, a tasting menu, served in a Japanese restaurant. Kaiseki is popularly served in a ryotei (料亭) and a kappou (割烹) restaurant.

Origin

Kaiseki (懐石) originally meant Onjaku, a rock or a konnyaku heated by an open fire that was wrapped by clothes to warm oneself. Two theory exist as to how kaiseki became associated with food. One theory claims that a poor Zen Buddhist monk who had nothing edible to offer to a guest offered his onjaku to the guest to at least give him warmth. Another theory claims that it is taken from a teaching of 被褐懐玉 in Tao Te Ching by Lao Zi and substituted 玉 with 石.

Related Topics:
Konnyaku - Zen - Buddhist - Tao Te Ching - Lao Zi

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