As interesting as this is, Japanese kaiseki, while having some aspects in common and influencing some chefs, is not really the origin of modern fine dining. Fr

As interesting as this is, Japanese kaiseki, while having some aspects in common and influencing some chefs, is not really the origin of modern fine dining. French fine dining comes from the aristocratic courts of Europe, and if you go to one of the old temples of gastronomy in France, it's easier to see the influence. You start with hors d'œuvres, then move to entrées (appetizers), then typically you'll have fish and/or meats, often cooked on the bone then carved tableside. Then you move on to cheese/dessert carts. That's fine dining. Anyhow, the more modern style of many plated courses is largely a result of the wave of fine dining that came out of Spain, where chefs started serving many tapas in succession. And when the Spanish and French influences mixed, voilà, you have where we are today. However that's not to say there's nothing similar in other cultures. Kaiseki is of course similar (however also differs in many ways) to Western fine dining. Dim Sum is quite similar to tapas, yet different. Sushi is also similar to tapas in many ways. Anyhow, while there are similarities between lots of cultures' dining styles, the origin of Western fine dining is without a doubt French fine dining + Spanish tapas.