Nom-Nom November: Food and Cooking Manga
Food is such an important and integral part of any society that it is no wonder so many stories revolve around the preparation, enjoyment, and even the design of food. Families can be ripped apart fighting over a recipe, or a child’s desire to go into pastry instead of sushi. People gladly dedicate their lives to perfecting a single recipe or finding the perfect meal. The world of food is one of limitless possibilities, joys, and defeats. That’s what makes each and every story so delicious!
Even stories not focused on food may have moments where a meal changes a character's mood or state of mind. Food is so essential to our well-being that it makes sense to include it in the narrative.
This #NomNomNovember we're revisiting the drama and recipes of our favorite food-related manga. In the spirit of giving, we have gathered them here for you to feast at your leisure. (All summaries adapted from the publisher.)
Bon appétit! Buen provecho! Guten appetit! Douzo meshiagare! Enjoy!
Food-Related Manga
Delicious in Dungeon
By Ryoko Kui, translation by Taylor Engel, lettering by Abigail Blackman
When young adventurer Laios and his company are attacked and soundly thrashed by a dragon deep in a dungeon, the party loses all its money and provisions… and a member! They're eager to go back and save her, but there is just one problem: If they set out with no food or coin to speak of, they're sure to starve on the way! But Laios comes up with a brilliant idea: "Let's eat the monsters!"
Slimes, basilisks, and even dragons… none are safe from the appetites of these dungeon-crawling gourmands!
Drifting Dragons
By Taku Kuwabara; translation: Adam Hirsch; lettering, Thea Willis.
Take to the skies with the scrappy crew of the airship Quin Zaza, as they hunt the fantastical giants that rule the skies of their world... DRAGONS! The daily routine aboard an airborne draking vessel springs to vivid life in this exquisitely crafted tale in the tradition of the lush, transporting fantasy of Hayao Miyazaki. Part travelogue, part imaginary cookbook, and part otherworldly slice of life, Drifting Dragons tells the stories of the Quin Zaza and the colorful band of misfits that makes up her crew.
The Drops of God
Story by Tadashi Agi, art by Shu Okimoto, translation by Kate Robinson
Shizuku Kanzaki is the son of recently deceased, world-renowned wine critic Yutaka Kanzaki. To take ownership of his father's legacy, an extensive wine collection featuring some of the most rare labels of the last 30 years, he must find 13 wines known as the "Twelve Apostles" plus the heaven-sent "Drops of God" his father described in his will. Despite being an only child, Shizuku is not alone in this unique wine hunt. He has a competitor: Issei Tomine, a renowned young wine critic, was recently adopted into the Kanzaki family and is also vying for this most rare of prizes.
Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma
Story by Yuto Tsukuda, art by Shun Saeki, translation by Adrienne Beck
When Soma Yukihira's father enrolls him in a classy culinary school, Soma must learn if he can make the grade in such a prestigious environment.
Note: While this series is primarily a comedy, there is a running gag where the characters lose their clothes every time they taste delicious food. As is typical with shonen manga, female characters are often presented in a sexualized manner, which means this series is not appropriate for younger readers.
Giant Spider and Me: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale
Story and art by Kikori Morino, translation by Adrienne Beck, adaptation by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane, lettering and retouch by Jennifer Sharupa
A young girl named Nagi and a giant spider make an unusual pair in this post-apocalyptic story. Living in the mountains is lonely and they've managed to find each other. Join them in their strangely sweet domestic bliss as they spend their days sharing tea and throwing picnics, proving that love (and delicious food) can bring together even the most unlikely of friends.
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits
Art by Waco Ioka, original story by Midori Yuma, character design by Laruha, English translation and adaptation by Tomo Kimura, touch-up art & lettering by Joanna Estep
Faced with the choice of being married to a strange spirit or being made into dinner, Aoi Tsubaki decides to create a third option for herself!
Aoi inherited her grandfather’s ability to see spirits—and his massive debt to them! Now she’s been kidnapped and taken to Kakuriyo, the spirit world, to make good on his bill. Her options: marry the head of the inn her grandfather trashed or get eaten by ayakashi. But Aoi isn’t the type to let spirits push her around, and she’s determined to redeem her grandfather’s IOU on her own terms!
Kitchen Princess Omnibus
By Natsumi Ando, story by Miyuki Kobayashi, translated by Satsuki Yamashita, adapted by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, lettered by North Market Street Graphics
Najika is a great cook and likes to make meals for the people she loves. But something is missing from her life. When she was a child, she met a boy who touched her heart—and now she's determined to find him. The only clue Najika has is a silver spoon that leads her to the prestigious Seika Academy. Attending Seika will be a challenge. Every kid at the school has a special talent, and the girls in Najika's class think she doesn't deserve to be there. But Sora and Daichi, two popular brothers who barely speak to each other, recognize Najika's cooking for what it is—magical. Is either boy Najika's mysterious prince?
Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles
By Naru Narumi ; translated by Ayumi Kato Blystone.
Ms. Koizumi loves ramen noodles... and Yu likes Ms. Koizumi! But she soon discovers the only way to get closer to this cool, mysterious transfer student is to become her pupil on the path of the one thing Ms. Koizumi really cares about... and you know what that is, don't you...?
Mixed Vegetables
Story and art by Ayumi Komura, English translation by JN Productions, English adaptation by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic
Hanayu Ashitaba is the daughter of the celebrated Patisserie Ashitaba, but all she wants is to be a sushi chef. Hayato Hyuga is the son of the prestigious Sushi Hyuga, and all he wants is to be a pastry chef. It's love and leftovers in the Oikawa High School Cooking Department.
Oishinbo, a la carte, Japanese Cuisine
Story by Tetsu Kariya, art by Akira Hanasaki
As part of the celebrations for its 100th anniversary, the publishers of the Tōzai News have commissioned the creation of the "Ultimate Menu," a model meal embodying the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine.
Our Dining Table
Story and art by Mita Ori; translation, Amber Tamosaitis; adaptation, Marykate Jasper; lettering, Laura Heo.
Eating around other people is a struggle for salaryman Yutaka, despite his talent for cooking. All that changes when he meets Minoru and Tane -- two brothers, many years apart in age -- who ask him to teach them how to make his delicious food! It's not long before Yutaka finds himself falling hard for the meals they share together -- and falling in love!
Ristorante Paradiso
Story and art by Natsume Ono; [translation, Joe Yamazaki]
At the age of 21, Nicoletta travels to Rome to find her mother, Olga, who abandoned her long ago. Nicoletta finds her at Casetta dell'Orso, a charming little restaurant owned by Olga's husband. The staff of bespectacled gentlemen welcomes Nicoletta warmly, but Olga's reception is not so pleasant. Olga has never told her husband that she ever had children--and he must never know. In exchange for Nicoletta's playing "the daughter of an old friend," Olga offers Nicoletta a place to live and an apprenticeship at the restaurant. Nicoletta fits in well among the unique personalities at Casetta dell'Orso. She gets along particularly well with the kindly headwaiter, Claudio, a divorced man who, after years, has still never taken off his wedding ring. As Nicoletta's feelings for Claudio become complicated, she finds a sympathetic ear in Olga, leading the estranged pair to form a friendship neither expected. But as they grow closer, the pressure exerted by the secret they share becomes too much to bear.
Gente: The People of Ristorante Paradiso
By Natsume Ono; [translation, Joe Yamazaki].
In this volume, Claudio reminisces about when he was a young, insecure waiter just getting his feet wet. Vanna gets to the bottom of why Teo's stubborn lack of ambition prevents him from living up to his full potential in the kitchen. A woman running a streak of bad luck finds cheer when Gabriella introduces her to the magical ambiance of Casetta dell'Orso. And finally, a mysterious young woman arrives with an important message for Lorenzo.
Sweetness & Lightning
By Gido Amagakure; translation: Adam Lensenmayer.
Having lost his wife, math teacher Kouhei Inuzuka is doing his best to raise his young daughter Tsumugi as a single father. He's pretty bad at cooking and doesn't have a huge appetite to begin with, but chance brings his little family and one of his students, Kotori Iida, together for homemade adventures. With those three cooks in the kitchen, it's no wonder this dinner table drama is so delicious.
Today's Menu for the Emiya Family
Art by: TAa; original story: Type-Moon; translator: Ko Ransom.
TYPE-MOON's Fate/ series is renowned for its unique take on the fantasy genre. But in Today's Menu for the Emiya Family, instead of experiencing the fantasy and lore of Fate/, we are invited into the Emiya family home to dine with Shiro, Saber, Rin, Taiga and more.
So enough talking (and fighting)―Emiya, what's for dinner?!
Each chapter is followed by an actual recipe from food consultant Makoto Tadano.
Note: It is a spin-off of Type-Moon's Fate/stay night series.
What Did You Eat Yesterday?
By Fumi Yoshinaga, translation by Maya Rosewood
Part comic and part cookbook, a hard-working middle-aged gay couple in Tokyo come to enjoy the finer moments of life through food. After long days at work, Shiro and Kenji will always have down time together by the dinner table, where they can discuss their feelings and enjoy delicately prepared home cooked meals. Not only is food incorporated into the narrative, but the frames actually take readers through the process of preparing meals in great detail, with recipes listed at the end of the chapters.
