The Art of Japanese cuisine: Presentation 101

I came across a post by Valerie of Globetrotter Diaries, a very interesting (GORGEOUS photography!) food blog. The post, The Art of Japanese Cuisine: Presentation 101, deconstruct visual presentations in Japanese cuisine.

Here is an excerpt. Please visit Valerie’s blog to read more:

“The Secret Ingredient

In traditional Japanese cuisine, visual presentation is as much a part of the dining experience as the taste of the food itself, so beauty is always an essential ingredient in any Japanese meal.  The Japanese firmly believe that you eat with your eyes first.  Presentation is truly an art form and great attention is paid to everything from the arrangement of the food and garnishes to the dishes upon which each component of the meal is served.  Nothing is accidental as every choice is made with the intention of enhancing the dining experience.

Balance and Harmony

An aerial view of a typical Japanese dish will show you a calculated asymmetry in the placement of the food framed in the backdrop of a beautiful dish, creating a peaceful yet striking balance and harmony, soothing in its quiet starkness but inviting with its lively colors and sharp angles.  There is a strong emphasis on invoking the sensual experience of eating not just in the way of taste, touch and smell, but also sight.  Gorgeous Japanese presentation is a true feast for the eyes and when the chef’s artistry is at its best, the meal becomes a work of art that’s almost too beautiful to sink your chopsticks into.

Almost.

But the purpose of the presentation is to share something of yourself through the food you prepare.  And as with any art form, there is no right or wrong way to create, so let your instinct guide you as you arrange your dish.  In Japanese food presentation, minimalism is generally the word of the day…” (Read more)

And while we’re talking about The Art of Japanese cuisine, I wanted to point out that I’ve seen the movie “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”, a documentary on Jiro Ono, the master of sushi of Michelin fame. Here is the trailer: