Experience a new taste
You may know about sushi and tempura but there is so much more to Japanese food. However, people are often nervous about trying a new cuisine which they know little about. So that’s where Omotenashi Dining comes in.
Omotenashi Dining prepares authentic Japanese food and serves dinner or lunch parties in the comfort of your own home. Seasonality and freshness are key to Japanese food and as such, only fresh ingredients are used and the menus are designed to evoke the current season.
What makes Japanese food unique is its characteristic savouriness called umami (pronounced u-ma-me), a taste which simply can not be categorised into any one of the four basic tastes of sweet, sour, salt and bitter. The stock called dashi, widely used in Japanese cooking, is full of this umami deriving from unique ingredients which I can show you on the day.
You can also try some Japanese beverages served to you as welcome drinks. These can include sake, Japanese rice wine; umeshu, a plum wine; or shochu, a distilled beverage with an earthy flavour.
Experience a complete service
In Japanese cuisine, significance is placed on how the food looks as well as how it tastes, so dishes are presented in a way which is pleasing to the eye. To achieve this I will bring all the items needed for setting the table and serving the food, including Japanese serving dishes and utensils. I will also serve the meal and explain the dishes as well as clear away and wash up. All you need to do is provide the table and chairs and, of course, the guests!
Experience a different culture
During the meal you will be introduced to some aspects of Japanese culture. I have considerable experience of explaining Japanese society and culture to people from outside Japan. As an exchange student studying in America I gave talks on Japan and I have also worked with foreigners in Tokyo who are curious to understand why Japanese people behave in certain ways. So I have accumulated some insights as to what aspects of Japan may come across as peculiar which I believe you will find informative and entertaining! At the end of the evening you would not only have experienced authentic Japanese food, but also gained some understanding of Japanese society and its people!
Some comments from my customers:
“Many thanks for a wonderful evening. It was not only a lovely meal but a real experience.”
“This was one of the most memorable dining experiences.”
“The evening was delightful in every sense – for the eye and taste. I can appreciate how much hard work went into all the preparations. It revived lots of lovely memories for me too of my recent trip to Japan.”
“Thank you so much for our lovely evening – it was a great success. Everyone said how much they enjoyed it.”
“I haven’t been so excited about trying new food for such a long time. I want to do it again with my friends.”
“It has been a true journey through taste.”
