{"product_id":"oishinbo-vegetables-vol-5-a-la-carte-9781421521435","title":"Oishinbo: Vegetables, Vol. 5: a la Carte","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe best selling and most beloved food manga of all time!\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs part of the celebrations for its 100th anniversary, the publishers of the \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTōzai News\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e 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 Shirō, an inveterate cynic who possesses no initiative--but also an incredibly refined palate and an encyclopedic knowledge of food. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eWeekly Time\u003c\/i\u003e magazine sets up a series of culinary battles between the \u003ci\u003eTōzai News\u003c\/i\u003e's \"Ultimate Menu,\" represented by Yamaoka, and the \u003ci\u003eTeito Times\u003c\/i\u003e's \"Supreme Menu,\" represented by Kaibara Yūzan, Yamaoka's father and nemesis. The ingredient this time is vegetables, specifically cabbages and turnips. Who will win the Vegetable Showdown? Later, Yamaoka and Kurita help Tomii's son get over his hatred of eggplant, and patch a rift between lovers using the power of asparagus.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eManga writer and essayist extraordinaire Tetsu Kariya graduated from prestigious Tokyo University. Kariya was employed with a major advertising agency before making his debut as a manga writer in 1974 when he teamed up with legendary manga artist Ryoichi Ikegami to create \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eOtoko Gumi\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e (Male Gang). The worlds of food and manga were forever changed in 1983 when Kariya, together with artist Akira Hanasaki, created the immensely popular and critically acclaimed \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOishinbo\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Viz Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50630402408722,"sku":"9781421521435","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_4728c4ed-8379-4b5c-8115-7ff3ba5f80ba.jpg?v=1732750988","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/oishinbo-vegetables-vol-5-a-la-carte-9781421521435","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}