Oishinbo

Synopsis

The growing economic power of Japan has meant that Japanese people can afford more luxuries, so Koizumi requests that Yamaoka and Kurita write an article about the international restaurants appearing in Japan. He suggests they collaborate with the critic Mr. Sakurada, however, Sakurada feels that the exercise is pointless. He suggests that Yamaoka and Kurita eat in foreign restaurants to see if they still think the Ultimate Menu has a purpose. The pair dine at a couple of restaurants and observe that the Japanese patrons are more interested in displays of wealth than the quality of the food, however they still want to proceed with the article. Sakurada stubbornly refuses and complains to President Ohara about Yamaoka's behavior. To placate Sakurada, Yamaoka takes him to breakfast at a temple in the forest where they eat the traditional breakfast of porridge, takuan and goma tofu. Sakurada is so impressed by the simple but delicious breakfast that he agrees to work with Yamaoka. Ohara is so pleased with Yamaoka and Kurita that he offers to take them to an extravagant and expensive international restaurant, horrifying the two gastronomic journalists.

(Source: Wikipedia)