Oishinbo: Japanese Cuisine, Vol. 1: A la Carte (1)

The best selling and most beloved food manga of all time! As part of the celebrations for its 100th anniversary the publishers of the Tzai News have commissioned the creation of the "Ultimate Menu " a model meal embodying the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine. This all-important task has been entrusted to journalist Yamaoka Shir an inveterate cynic who possesses no initiative--but also an incredibly refined palate and an encyclopedic knowledge of food. Japanese Cuisine introduces us to the fundamental ingredients--rice sashimi green tea and dashi (cooking stock)--that constitute the soul of the Japanese kitchen. In each story we learn about the proper preparation and presentation of different dishes as well as their history and cultural significance. The result is a moveable feast of a book as informative as it is engaging.