In its gloomy darkness, the kimono-clad owner sits sternly by the charcoal brazier, warming sake, rarely speaking and deciding what he will allow his literary customers to eat.

ECONOMIST: Geography of cool: Tokyo

Lifting the cover of a lacquer bowl might reveal a clear broth with a tiny cube of silken tofu and shreds of chive and citron, followed by a charcoal brazier bearing a small grilled fish, after which an arrangement of candy-coloured dumplings and local wild vegetables might appear on a dish of rustic stoneware.

BBC: Kaiseki-ryori: Japanese haute cuisine

Instead of a butane burner or brazier filled with charcoal, you can use a more convenient (and much easier to find) electric frying pan or wok.

NPR: Friends, Family and a Feast: A Hot Pot How-To