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Health & Fitness

Kajitsu...Japanese Haute Cuisine

The name “Kajitsu,” meaning “fine day” or “day of celebration” in Japanese, was chosen by the owners of this fine restaurant in hopes that special occasions would be celebrated there. The name couldn’t have been more perfect for me, since my recent birthday celebration at Kajitsu with my husband, Jeff, was certainly the highlight of a very “fine day.” 

Kajitsu, located at 125 E. 39th Street in New York City, specializes in Shojin cuisine, a type of vegetarian cooking which originated in Zen Buddhism. Although Shojin cuisine does not use meat or fish, it’s regarded as the foundation of all Japanese cuisine, especially “kaiseki” which is the Japanese version of haute cuisine. The dinner at Kajitsu is presented as a multi-course meal in which fresh, seasonal vegetables are prepared in ways to enhance the flavor of each component, with the finished dishes beautifully arranged on plates. This is typical of shojin cuisine, which is still prepared in Buddhist temples throughout Japan. 

The dishware used in the restaurant is unique, imperfect and stunning, and was specially selected for the restaurant. They include pieces created by master Japanese potters over 200 years ago, as well as works by modern ceramic artists. Since the unique color and quality of these pieces cannot be reproduced, the dishes are carefully repaired if they are chipped or damaged. This is indicative of Kajitsu’s deep respect for the work of the old masters, and for the shojin tradition of frugality and respect. 

To read more about this exquisite restaurant, and to see photos, go to: http://veganamericanprincess.com/kajitsu-a-restaurant-for-a-fine-day/#sthash.q0EAWIVD.dpuf

Debby Sunshine
Vegan American Princess
Voted #2 for Top 25 Vegan Blogs on Skinny Scoop!

Twitter: @debbysunshine1
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