You know it's bad when some restaurants even use the names kaiseki and omakase interchangeably. Besides expectations around decorum and both dining styles being Japanese, we can contrast the ceremonial world of kaiseki against the more playful and personalized omakase approach for a long time. But let's start off with one similarity β they're both way more than sushi. I would never say "more than just sushi" because sushi is a culinary galaxy all of its own , but sushi is only a small part of omakase and kaiseki.
While we're dismantling any preconceptions, let's remember that Chef Shota Nakajima says "Kaiseki is actually a type of omakase most of the time, but not all omakase menus are kaiseki. Nakajima explains that, "kaiseki menus often fall under the omakase umbrella because they involve a chef deciding the progression and dishes. Not all omakase menus follow the rigid structure of kaiseki. Then itadakimasu! If you look closely, the names omakase and kaiseki share rich stories about each dining style.
Omakase translates literally to "as you like it," while kaiseki means "stones in the bosom" in English. The first name is straightforward β at first glance, it's another way of requesting a chef surprise you. In English, we might say "dealer's choice" to convey that we trust a professional's expertise. Yet the historical context surrounding omakase's advent only enriches the phrase.
The omakase dining style began as early as but gained mainstream popularity in the s thanks to an economic boom in Japan. Nouveau riche had money to burn but lacked the background to know much about which species of fish was in season.
Not eating after noon was emphasized in early Buddhist precepts as a healthy way to live, so fasting or partial fasting was emphasized in the Zen tradition for monks and nuns.
