• click here to return to the homepage •
or 
Home > Categories > Books > Recipes and Cuisine > Kaiseki: The Exquisite Cuisine of Kyoto's Kikunoi Restaurant review
The specialised cuisine served at Kyoto's famed Kikunoi restaurant is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate, and Kaiseki, by owner/chef Yoshihiro Murata, is at once a cookbook and a work of art. This sumptuously illustrated volume features, in seasonal format, the style of cooking that began as tea ceremony accompaniment and developed into the highest form of Japanese cookery.
Kaiseki celebrates the natural ingredients of each season with a spectacular presentation. After a front section explaining the history and components of Kaiseki's cuisine, Murata introduces his establishment's impressive menu.
Approximately 20 dishes from each season, chosen by Chef Murata, have been lovingly and carefully photographed to convey the experience of being an honoured guest at his restaurant.
The Last House in the Galaxy
Name Dropping? A No-Nonsense Guide to the Use of Names
Missing Toby
Mortal Engines : 7 : Scrivener's Moon
Room on the Broom
At the Beach
Hide and Seek Dinosaurs
Stan Stinky
Ricky Ricotta #2: The Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury
Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox
Our Love Grows
Sorcery Ascendant 1 - A Crucible of Souls
Torty And The SoldierProduct reviews...
Review by: tucker (Karl)
Dated: 10th of December, 2006
At first glance, it would appear this is not a book for cooks or chefs, since it contains no real recipes amongst all of the stunning colour photographs. It's a book for the culinary philosophers... It's inspiration... it's appreciation... it's a reference book... it's not at all what I expected... it's ART.
However, upon completeing the mouth-watering read of the 150+ pages of food philosophy, complimented with some stunning scenery shots of Japanese scenery and culture, as well as some slighty disturbing images of the food in it's 'natural state', you find all the recipes tucked away in black and white at the back of the book, 25 pages worth, sandwiched in between the bulk of the book and the comprehensive glossary and index.
Though I admit to being a little disappointed with sterile nature of the instructions on how to prepare some of the dishes, particularly July's Buta Kaku-ni (Simmered Pork Cubes), because they were tucked away in the back, away from the inspiring photos and crammed in with all the others, I admit that including them up front would have required removing some of the more beautiful 'mood' pictures that make the majority of the book a work of art in and of itself.
Overall, despite the jarring layout that mildly offends my Western design esthetics, I have to say this is a kingly book amongst books when it comes to expressing some of the Eastern culture ideals relating to food. This is no generic cookbook, with it's structured recipes sterile commentary... this book brings new life to the food, giving you the background, the heart and soul of the creator, it brings you the environment, and thus context of the food. I especially loved the way the book was arranged by seasons, highlighting how the ingredients wax and wane throughout the year. Absolutely stunning stuff, worth a place on any gourmand's bookshelf. it's just a crying shame I don't fancy much in the way of Japanese food, or I'd personally have found it more appealing.
Random listing from 'Books'...
Deep in the forest in the dark of the night flew a tiny little bug with a tiny little light.
Children's fiction, illustrated.
All trademarks, images and copyrights on this site are owned by their respective companies.
KIWIreviews is an independent entity, part of the Knock Out News Group. This is a free public forum presenting user opinions on selected products, and as such the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of kiwireviews.nz and are protected under New Zealand law by the "Honest Opinion" clause of the Defamation Act of 1992. KIWIreviews accepts no liability for statements made on this site, on the premise that they have been submitted as the true and honest opinions of the individual posters. In most cases, prices and dates stated are approximate and should be considered as only guidelines.
"Before you criticise someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes... That way, when you criticise them, you're a mile away, and you have their shoes."
anonymous
