茶の湯で茶を出す前に供する簡単な料理。懐石とは、温めた石を懐に抱いて腹を温めるものと同じくらいに、空腹をしのぐという意味。懐石料理ともいいます。
Cha-kaiseki
This is a simple lunch served to guests before serving tea. The characters for the term kaiseki refer to the warmed stones that Buddhist monks used to put next to their stomachs to ward off hunger, and connote a frugal meal. Today this tea-lunch style is commonly known as kaiseki-ryouri.
