When I think of the philosophy of kaiseki, I think of hospitality, surprise and a special gesture of warmth,” smiles Jeff Okada Ramsey. I have just asked him to tell me about kaiseki, as we sit at the bar of his newly opened restaurant, Kintsugi, at The Gardens Mall. Other than the fact it is a style of dining comprised of a selection of courses, my knowledge of kaiseki is admittedly lacking.
“Kaiseki began purely as a Japanese tea ceremony. Once, someone decided to bring a snack as a gift. The next time, the other person brought a snack, and the tradition grew from there.” Today, kaiseki is considered an elaborate cultural phenomenon, which travellers flock to Japan to experience.
