12 comics for food lovers

2023-05-28T10:52:23.650Z

Highlights: The world of illustrated books has grown so exponentially that it is now a worldwide boom. This has also been experienced in publications on culinary topics. From sake, to ramen, through sushi, rice or izakaya (Japanese taverns). More than 100 copies sold worldwide and with it, the addiction of many to get the complete collection. The success was such that Netflix took it to film fiction such as Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories. The Midnight Cantina, by Yaro Abe, is a manga set in the neighborhood of Shinjuku, in Tokyo.

The illustrated book has grown so exponentially that it is now a worldwide boom. This has also been lived in the publications of culinary themes

Interior of the book 'Korean cuisine illustrated' (Col & Col Ediciones). Luna Kyung (author) and AhnJi (illustrator)

The book is a metaverse that does not require virtual reality glasses. If the written word is joined by drawing, animation and storyboarding, then the result will be a world beyond that moves between the reality of storytelling and the fantasy of the image. Therefore, if the metaverse were tangible, it would be in the form of a comic, manga or illustrated book.

It is believed that the first comic artist was an American back in the early nineteenth century, a certain Thomas Rowlandson who gave life to Doctor Syntax, a story of adventurers. However, the first comic published was The Yellow Kid (1896). At the beginning of the twentieth century the first manga in history was born and in the decade of the twenties manga aimed at children proliferated. From then until today, the world of illustrated books has grown so exponentially that it is now a worldwide boom. This has also been experienced in publications on culinary topics.

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In Spain we have grown up with fictional characters like Carpanta, always looking for a sandwich, or Mafalda fleeing from eternal meals in front of her hated soup. However, over the years, the graphic story has attracted the attention of chefs, essayists, vintners, travelers or gastronomes to such an extent that, today, talking about culinary comics is shouting the new trend of gastronomy books.

Among everything that has been published and what has just arrived in bookstores, here are 12 essentials:

Through the Oishinbo series we have learned about the tradition and food culture of Japan. It arrived in our bookstores in 1983 with the seal of Norma Editorial with the invitation to collect each of the editions, passages to the ways of eating, cooking and living in the Japanese country. From sake, to ramen, through sushi, rice or izakaya (Japanese taverns). More than 100 copies sold worldwide and with it, the addiction of many to get the complete collection.

Cover of 'La cantina de medianoche', by Yaro Abe (Astiberri Ediciones).

Interior of the manga La cantina de medianoche (Astiberri Ediciones). Yaro Abe

Speaking of Japanese taverns, last year we began to receive in bookstores another new saga, which tells the story of a small and gloomy canteen: The Midnight Cantina, by Yaro Abe. A manga set in the neighborhood of Shinjuku, in Tokyo, that if you have traveled there you will know of its shaded streets crowded with fumes to griddle kitchens and fermented soybeans. A gourmet maze full of people, sitting at narrow bars, eating until the wee hours of the morning. There, in one of those places of two by two, is where the stories of this manga take place: in an unnamed tavern that opens from twelve at night until seven in the morning and whose tiny bar passes all kinds of night characters, each more curious. Sake, miso soup, ramen... Each dish and its guests are the leitmotif in which this universe moves. This collectible was a revolution in Japan, a success of translation by the Astiberri publishing house and unleashed a passionate fever for what happens in the darkness of that somewhat rogue restaurant. The success was such that Netflix took it to film fiction such as Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories.

Cover of the comic 'Ramen!', by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan (Dome Books).

Interior of the comic Ramen! (Dome Books). Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan

From the dark, chatty characters who rub shoulders at the bar of LaCantina de Medianoche, to the lonely and nostalgic gourmet of manga author Taniguchi and writer Masayuki Kusumi. From both emerged the 19 chapters of that character who, for work issues, wandered through the neighborhoods of Tokyo discovering the life and cuisine of each point of the city. This is what El gourmet solitario is about and also, later, the Paseos del gourmet solitario, both books brought to Spain by the Astiberri publishing house. Beautiful stories where silence and calm live while we discover a Japan of deep-rooted traditions and magic in the kitchen.

Cover of 'El gourmet solitario', by Masayuki Kusumi (script) and Jiro Taniguchi (drawings), by Astiberri Ediciones.

Interior of the manga El gourmet solitario (Astiberri Ediciones). Screenplay: Masayuki Kusumi. Drawings: Jiro Taniguchi

Interior of the manga Paseos de un gourmet solitario (Astiberri Ediciones). Screenplay: Masayuki Kusumi. Drawings: Jiro Taniguchi

Perhaps in this search for authenticity, to show life and tradition as they are, illustrated cookbooks take refuge. "A picture is worth a thousand words" publishers have come to think when the bet is to take books that show tradition and modernity, surprise and anecdotes, almost without words, just with the sketch of a clear and precise drawing. "Just by looking at it, you know how you have to cook." These are The Korean Illustrated Cuisine and The Illustrated Japanese Cuisine, two new publications that come from the hand of the Col & Col publishing house. Both books not only teach us the most classic recipe book of Korea or Japan but also give us drawing by drawing a graphic travel dream.

Cover of the book 'La cocina japonesa ilustrada' (Col&Col Ediciones).

Interior of the book La cocina japonesa ilustrada (Editorial Col&Col). Luna Kyung (author) and AhnJi (illustrator)

In this line of illustrated recipe books, very original, fun and practical the recipe book Martín Berasategui and David de Jorge: Adventures, misadventures and recipes of a 7 Michelin stars, from the Debate publishing house. Beautiful book in which through 46 recipes a review of tradition is given with a great sense of humor. The illustrations are by Javirroyo, who by the way had already illustrated some time ago the book La Tortilla de Patatas (ed. Debate) again together with David de Jorge.

Cover of 'Martín Berasategui and David de Jorge: Adventures, misadventures and recipes of a 7 Michelin stars and the chef who pilots that TV program called "Robin Food", illustrated by Javirroyo (Ediciones Debate).

Javirroyo

Also the books Ramen and Dumplings, both edited by Cúpula and written and drawn by chef Hugh Amano and illustrator, Sarah Becan, are a real revelation. Whoever wants to immerse themselves in the Asian universe and know how wontons or buuza a momo (a type of dumpling) are made, just open the pages of these beautiful books and start cooking and having a great time.

Cover of the comic 'Dumplings!', by Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan (Dome Books).

Interior of the comic Dumplings! (Dome Books). Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan

The metaverse of beer inhabits the book The Comic History of Beer. Its authors, Mike Smith and Jonathan Hennessy say "we drink without knowing what the history of the drink is". Hence the origin of this book that immerses us in the long life of beer, reveals the techniques of elaboration and gives us the funniest anecdotes of the oldest fermented drink in the world.

Cover of 'The comic history of beer', by Jonathan Hennessey (Main Editions).

And from beer to wine, in The Ignorant. Story of a cross initiation, edited by Dome in black and white, reveals the story of a comic author, Étienne Davodeau, and a winegrower, Richard Leroy of how both, and their desire to share passions and disciplines: comics and passion for wine. As a whole, the book is a beauty.

Cover of 'The Ignorant', by Étienne Davodeau (Editions La Cúpula).

Interior of the book 'Los ignorantes', (Ediciones La Cúpula). Etienne Davodeau

How does a Michelin Guide inspector live? How do you act when you go to a restaurant? What are starred chefs really like? To answer these and many other questions about the world of inspectors, we must immerse ourselves in The taste of Emma, a lover of the kitchen who ends up becoming an inspector. The comic is a delight edited by Tokiota Kodansha. In relation to star chefs and the manga world, a recommendation to buy, save and not lend (in case they do not return it): Mibu-El Bulli, by Nahomi Tanaka and Dai Ochiai, edited by Norma. A little gem that narrates the adventure of Ferrán Adrià and his team in Japan, specifically in one of the most exclusive restaurants in the world, Mibu. The comic is not only a beauty, but it tells us a true story that marked a milestone in world gastronomy: the fusion and understanding between Western haute cuisine and Eastern haute cuisine. That said, for collectors looking for the paper pages of the intangible universe.

Sara Cucala is a writer, filmmaker and journalist specialized in gastronomy. Creator of one of the first gastronomy and travel blogs, she has written numerous books, coordinated the culinary contents of TVE's afternoon magazine and directed several films and documentaries. She is the founder and co-owner of the gastronomic bookstore and cooking school A Punto.

Source: elparis

All news articles on 2023-05-28

12 comics for food lovers

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