Japanese cuisine is renowned for the beauty of its presentation. Among the key elements in this style of presentation are mukimono—the decorative garnishes and carvings that add the final flourish to a dish. It might be a carrot round in the shape of a plum blossom. Or a scattering of cherry blossoms plucked from a radish. Perhaps a swallow, a butterfly, a ginkgo leaf or a cluster of pine needles. Whatever the motif, it will have been created to delight the eye and the palate with its shape, color, and taste. In The Decorative Art of Japanese Food Carving, internationally-acclaimed chef Hiroshi Nagashima offers 60 edible garnishes and food carvings for home, party or professional use. Some are designed to be set on top of the food. Others are fashioned to hold the food…and sometimes, they simply are the food. Each is introduced in full color, with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, sample food arrangements, further ideas and secret, insider tips for successful presentation. Most are simple enough for the amateur chef to master, although a few are quite challenging and require much practice. Nagashima’s instructions rely on household utensils found in a typical American kitchen—from knives to peelers to cookie cutters—and use familiar, easily-attainable ingredients. The Decorative Art of Japanese Food Carving is more than a practical handbook, however. It is also an inspiration book, filled with creative suggestions and inventive ideas to enhance and transform the way we cook.

This is the definitive guide for fruit carving for all occasions. All the techniques are illustrated with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step photos. From the basics to the impressive works at advanced level, this book includes more than 60 carving works for all special occasions like birthday, wedding, and more.

Washoku, or Japanese cuisine, can look even more attractive when completed with delicately trimmed vegetable pieces. This book, by spotlighting basics and pretty shaping, introduces more than fifty techniques with step-by-step procedures and large pictures. The master chef shows every step carefully until an ordinary vegetable and fruit turn into beautiful creations. Let the author unveil secrets to liven up any party table displays with your specialized knife techniques to surprise your guests.

Recommends useful utensils and techniques, and shows each step in making savory, fruit, and sweet garnishes

Japanese cuisine.

The art of fruit and vegetable carving has its roots in Asia, but today the creation of edible decorations is popular worldwide. Learn to create remarkable decorations for the table and garnishes for glasses and plates. Many tips, 440 color photos, patterns, and practical, step-by-step directions guide you through little works of art that are easy to produce. Carve a flower, shape a fish, a bell, the sun and moon. You will be adding light touches to your meals from here forward.