Omakase

Omakase

Omakase (お任せ^?) is a Japanese phrase that means "I'll leave it to you" (from Japanese 任す, entrust).

The expression is used at sushi restaurants to leave the selection to the chef. It differs from ordering à la carte.^[1] The chef will generally present a series of plates, beginning with the lightest fare and proceeding to heaviest, richest dishes.^[2] The phrase is not exclusive to service of raw fish with rice, and can incorporate grilling and simmering as well.^[3] Customers ordering omakase style expect the chef to be innovative and surprising in the selection of dishes, and the meal can be likened to an artistic performance by the chef.^[4] Ordering omakase can be a gamble; however, the customer typically receives the highest quality fish the restaurant currently has in stock at a price cheaper than if it was ordered à la carte^{[citation needed]}. From the restaurant's perspective, a large number of customers ordering omakase can help in planning for food costs.^[5]

References

1. ^ Corson, Trevor (2007). The Zen of Fish. New York, NY: HarperCollins. pp. 318–319. ISBN 978-0-06-088350-8. 
2. ^ Corson, p. 77.
3. ^ Corson, pp. 98, 113.
4. ^ Corson, pp. 102, 288.
5. ^ Issenberg, Sasha (2007). The Sushi Economy: Globalization and the Making of a Modern Delicacy. New York, NY: Gotham Books. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-592-40294-6.