Rikyu, the great tea master of the sixteenth century, believed that beauty has its most powerful effect when it arises from suggestion and restraint. He said, "A house should be just enough to protect you from rain, and food just enough to stop your hunger." In the same spirit, a Kaiseki meal should be simple in preparation and presentation, cooked with your heart, and planned for the pleasure of your guests.
— Bettina Vitell, The World in a Bowl of Tea