What is a Zen Lunch?

Refreshing Fish @ Suzunami in Roppongi Hills

Yesterday I ate at Suzunami – a zen lunch place. My friend said that this was a place to get good fish, nutrition, and feel better afterwards. Suzunami specializes in cooking one type of fish extremely well. They also have a variety of other dishes to eat with the fish such as the Japanese pickles and tororo.

But later I learned that is only what makes it half special. Suzunami specializes in Zen cooking.  The food, marinade, and ambience create an atmosphere of relaxation and inner focus. The nutrition balance quickly affects one’s outlook and energy levels. The quantity served is just right. I left there feeling like a new person. I want to learn more about this thing called Zen cooking.

The Zen Monastic Standards states, “If the six flavours (bitter, sour, sweet, hot, mild, salty) are not in harmony and three virtues (light (kyonan), clean (joketsu), dignified (nyoho) are lacking, then the tenzo is not truly serving the community.”

http://www.suzunami.co.jp/shop/shop_honten.html

http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1307/A130701/13037342/

鈴波は、豊かな自然の恵みから、厳選された旬の魚介をその味と鮮度をそこなうことなく、こだわりの酒粕・味醂粕で漬け込む新しい味を創り出しました。膳処では、その鈴波の商品を最も美味しい状態で皆様に召し上がっていただきたくご用意したスペース。魚介味醂粕漬、赤だし、お漬け物、小鉢、お米にいたるまで原材料から吟味したものばかりをご用意致しております。バリエーション豊かな御膳を是非一度ご賞味ください。

Oniwa: Zen Lunch Buffet by Shinjuku Station

After Sunday Yoga a group of us went here on way to Shinjuku station. I had eaten at this building before Yakiniku and eyes the Dancing Crab but this place is the spot to eat. They serve a lunch buffet full of vegetables, soups, and Japanese food for only Y1500.  The ambiance is very pleasant like one is in a garden with flowing waters. It made the experience even more refreshing.

3-37-12 Shunjuku Nowa Building 7F

https://gurunavi.com/en/g141100/rst/?__ngt__=TT0c5c89c87001ac1e4a0e02n42WRelHmfo3ctkkBy6F-Q