There is no doubt that plates are one of the centerpieces of a Japanese table service and that they serve to highlight the different dishes of a meal. But do you know how to combine different Japanese dishes with the color, shape and material of the plates?
Although we Westerners also attach importance to the aesthetics of our tableware. It is really only in large restaurants where we will find table service that differs depending on the dish that is served. This is not the case in Japan where cooks systematically take care to match the plates with the dish that is presented.
Presentation of Japanese plates
Japanese plates such as we know them today are the culmination of know-how that dates back several hundred years. Over the years, star chefs and seasoned potters have worked hand in hand to create plates that today evoke elegance and refinement.
It is above all their diversity of shapes , colors, patterns and materials that Japanese plates have built their reputation and cultural wealth. But a very special feature has also contributed to making them a real science in their own right of Japanese tableware. It’s the fact of never being the same from one season to the next. Indeed, the same dish will not be presented on a similar plate if it is served in autumn than if it is served in winter. For example, while plates with floral motifs will be relevant for the spring season, koi carp and butterflies will be more relevant in summer.
Even today, Japanese porcelain seems not suffer from the effects of fashion since, 400 years later, it continues to appear as the Holy Grail of Japanese tableware for collectors and fans of Japanese porcelain. This tableware isImari porcelain. But it is not the only one to have made its way into the annals of Japanese plates since those withsashiko patterns still continue to be appreciated and used, although its first traces date back even before the year 750. All this to say that Japanese plates have always inspired and influenced many styles around the world and that the end of its glory is certainly not expected tomorrow!
How to choose your first Japanese plates?
Given that Japanese tableware is characterized by its immense number of patterns, colors, shapes and materials, it is indeed fair to ask where to start when building your first Japanese table service? To do this, we must start by understanding why the plates are different from one dish to another, and why we are not content to simply serve all the dishes with a single table service. ?
The answer to this question is quite simple. Japanese plates highlight the dishes by playing on the principle of contrast which naturally brings color and personality to the feast it presents. This is why sashimi or sushi will generally be presented on square plates and more Western dishes like pasta will be presented on square plates.
To choose your Japanese plates, place So you have the following question? What Japanese dish will I cook and present most often? Naturally only you are eligible to answer this question. But if, like most of us, it was above all sushi and sashimi that led you to take an interest in Japanese cuisine, we would advise you to opt for square or rectangular plates in order to highlight value your little dishes with raw fish! 🍣
