In the grounds of the Zen Buddhist Temple of the heavenly dragon (Tenryuji) in Arashiyama I had a very special dining experience. Their vegetarian restaurant Shigetsu had the most artistically presented and tasty collection of dishes for their set lunch menu.
The one thing that most impressed me though, was the care taken to make the humble soybean the centrepiece of the dish. It had been carefully half peeled with a delicate curve to the cutaway section of skin.
I took a photo, which I hope will inspire the reader to do lunch at Shigetsu if the chance presents itself.
See how to present a soybean, and enjoy a Zen vegetarian lunch.
