Cha-Kaiseki cooking classes

Cha-kaiseki is a formal cuisine that is served at tea ceremonies. Although it sounds almost the same as the kaiseki meals introduced in Ibuki’s Travel section, cha-kaiseki is different.

A kaiseki meal served at a Japanese inn, or ryokan, consists of a wide array of beautiful dishes suitable for a party; cha-kaiseki sticks to a simple formula called “Ichijyu sansai (一汁三菜)”; rice, soup, sashimi, a main dish and a grilled dish.

The purpose of this meal is to feed guests before the tea ceremony until they are 80% full, which means the portions are fairly small. In Japan, this simplicity often implies certain elegance (just think of the simplicity of sushi, for example). Because cha-kaiseki comes in simple, small portions, the emphasis is on using seasonal ingredients, displaying the food in an attractive way and selecting aesthetically pleasing lacquer ware and china ware to appeal to the diner. In Seattle, we are lucky enough to have a place where we can learn about this style of cuisine and even eat it.

At Hiroko Sugiyama Culinary Atelier in Sammamish, Chef Hiroko Sugiyama hosts cha-kaiseki cooking classes several times a year. Her specialty is European-style cooking, but Hiroko was inspired by her lifelong study of tea ceremony to begin teaching cha-kaiseki in 2002. She is extremely particular about the quality of ingredients, many of which she gets directly from Japan. Participants appreciate her creative and delicious recipes. Hiroko also teaches Japanese-style table manners, how to set the table and use certain kitchen gadgets and offers serving ideas to her students. Her cha-kaiseki classes allow students to gain a deeper understanding of fine Japanese cooking and to enjoy the delicate and exquisite tastes.

Hiroko Sugiyama Culinary Atelier
(425) 836-4635
22207 NE 31st St, Sammamish
http://hirokosdolly.com