As I've been wrapping up my 2008 Readers' Polls, my "must review" list grows longer and longer. Let's just say there's a LOT of good stuff out now or coming soon, so I'll try my best to play catch-up over the next few weeks.
Oishinbo ala Carte from VIZ Signature / VIZ Media landed on my list of the most anticipated manga of 2009 almost as soon as it was announced last summer at Anime Expo. Once I got the first volume in the mail earlier this month, I couldn't wait to devour it. Why? Well, it hits a certain sweet spot for me, because Oishinbo brings together two things that I love: great manga and great food.
When I'm not reading piles of manga, I'm usually watching the Food Network or episodes of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations for the umpteenth time. Oishinbo comes from that same kind of foodie sensibility where an awesome meal is worth traveling thousands of miles to savor, and it's perfectly reasonable to worth shell out good money just for the opportunity to sample exotic flavors and exquisitely prepared dishes.
But what sets Oishinbo apart from other cooking manga is how it portrays food and cooking. In the gastronomic world of Oishinbo, Japanese food is more than just something to eat -- it is the creation of culture that values aesthetics, integrity and perfection achieved through hard work. No detail is too small, no amount of effort is too great when it means the difference between cooking something that's merely edible and creating something that tastes utterly sublime.
There's also a lot more cooking in Oishinbo than just food -- there's also some family drama, a dash of slice-of-life office humor and even a little bit of politics stirred in there too. Check out my review of Oishinbo ala Carte: Japanese Cuisine, and see if this gourmet graphic novel is to your taste, or if it should be sent back to the kitchen.
Also, check out more of the coming attractions for 2009 from VIZ Media in this new manga preview gallery.
Image credit: © Tetsu KARIYA, Akira HANASAKI / Shogakukan Inc.
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