This is also true of omakase in the United States and elsewhere. Traditionally, sushi bars in Japan didn't even have menus.' Sushi connoisseurs seldom order off a menu. In his book The Story of Sushi, academic and writer Trevor Corson says, ' what the sophisticated customer says to the chef when settling down at the sushi bar. The truth of omakase lies in the word itself-directly translated, it means 'I leave it up to you.'
While kaiseki is a highly ritualized meal with a specific ebb and flow, omakase changes with each occasion, with the chef making decisions about what to cook mid-course.
In many ways, omakase is a spiritual companion and counterpoint to kaiseki, the elaborate multi-course Japanese meal built around seasonality, quality ingredients and simple preparations. Few formal dining experiences are as revered or as intimidating as omakase, a form of Japanese dining in which guests leave themselves in the hands of a chef and receive a meal which is seasonal, elegant, artistic and uses the finest ingredients available.
