Oishii Kankei

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

One of the major reasons I love reading this series over and over again is for its refreshing concept and provocative (at the time it was published) message that girls can be major players in the food industry.Our main character, Momoe is very much like a shounen hero-she overcomes trials that will either make or break her, and befriends damaged individuals most would give up on.
However, being a young and beautiful woman presents a unique challenge; because of her appearances, can she overcome sexism and be treated as a chef, before being treated as a woman? This tackles a very real, but rarely spoken ... of issue in society. Many times it is mentioned that a woman ought to know her place, and act conservatively. This very lovable main character gives those close minded people reason to doubt their moral framework as she reinvents what it means to be a woman, and figures out herself during the process. She hates herself, she loves herself, she struggles internally through most of the series in a very human and relatable way.
Love and romance is on the back-burner, this is a series directed towards the modern woman who knows she can only rely on herself, and grows as a person as a result.
I especially love how open minded the author was to tackle issues of mental health, co-dependance and other unhealthy behaviors without reserve. She treats the female characters of the series act as imperfect individuals; they are not pure, flawless, or all together that innocent. Virginity is not placed on a pedestal, nor should it be. I think this series is a hidden gem; it is mature, provocative and inspiring. I hope whoever reads it enjoys it as much as I have.

(final thoughts)

The art work might be off putting due to its old school shoujo style, but I personally loved it. The overall art and attention to fashion added to the refinement of this series. The characters are as vast and mysterious as the ocean-not to mention deep. These characters will grow on you, and they as individuals will also change and improve throughout the series. I truly do treasure this series, and I hope many of you will also give it a chance.

Thank you for reading,
A.Z

Oishii Kankei a wonderful storyline?! you live with the main character momoe her ups and downs in cooking, love well all of her life to growing from a rich spoiled daughter to an independent pretty chef!? you will cry and laugh?!

You could feel some essence of real-life in the story!? she does not get what she wants from the start but works hard for it and gets it in the end?!

There are a mixed personalities however all are lovable and will become dear to you?! everytime i read it the recipes they make are soo delicious you just want to enter the story and ... eat it all up :P

Please read it!? it would be worth the time and effort!?

such a beautiful lifestory?! you will definitely love it :P

SPOILERS. Do not read this unless you’ve finished the manga, and are dissatisfied with the last 20 chapters.
Okay, here’s the jam. The first 30 or so chapters were pretty good. The characters were fleshing out in a reasonable way. The plot was interesting, and wholesome. The pacing was good. Honestly, just based off the first 30 chapters, I would have rated this manga an easy 8.5/10. And then somewhere around chapter 50 or so, things started going haywire.
Kenji and Kanako’s relationship took a drastic nosedive. Momoe became a judgmental, guiltless, homewrecker. Kanako went dunzo. Oda… remained, well, almost the same – unambitious, random. It was ... like the characters stopped growing organically, and were suddenly being made to do random things for the sake of “plot” and the impending end of the manga. So I decided to write out this alternate version after chapter 30 onwards, hopefully it gives other readers like me, peace.

After the “Bonsai scene” where Chiyo-baa cuts off both branches from the Bonsai, Momoe takes some time off to reflect on what the best course would be for her. She decides to use her savings to go to Paris and take a professional course at Maison Bleu – she cuts off both branches i.e., boys. She decides that she does not want to be a “puppy” and always rely on Oda or Takahashi for her growth. If she has to choose either one of them, she has to be good enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. She confides in her mom, who gives her the “savings” her dad had left for her. Chiyo-baa ridicules her for making such an absurd choice, but she stands her ground. Later, behind the scenes, Chiyo-baa calls up an old student of hers at Maison Bleu, and tells him that a child with endless potential will be coming soon, and to teach her well. In Paris, Momoe moves into a 3bhk that she shares with 2-3 other girls her age + Miki. Miki scoffs when Momoe tells her that she wants to join Maison Bleu, despite having no idea about the admissions process etc. In true Momoe fashion, when she goes to the School the next day, she is “mysteriously” granted admission, though she has to stay back overtime to catch up with the rest of the class. This leads to her being ostracized and ridiculed by the rest of the students there etc., but she later wins them over.

Meanwhile in Japan, Oda and Kanako go forward with their Sel Dor restaurant. They love each other, but their relationship is beginning to get strained because they both want vastly different things. Oda wants a small eatery and Kanako wants Oda to ascend up the pro-chef ladder. Amour is flourishing and there are clips of celebrity chef Takahashi. The two sometimes think of Momoe. Around 1.5y in, Kanako takes up the job with Hasumi, having found a replacement who can assist Oda in Sel Dor. Hasumi is ambitious and straight forward, traits which Kanako admires. They become good professional partners. It is clear that there is romantic potential there, but they do not pursue it. Kanako is successful in acquiring Le Petit Rabbit. The chef who used to work there, goes back to his hometown to open his own restaurant.
Timelapse of 2 years (showing Momoe mastering various difficult techniques, etc.).

Momoe returns to Japan. She has grown into a beautiful woman, mature and elegant, albeit with her signature innocence. This would be around chapter 40. Having mastered the technical aspect of cooking, Momoe finds something amiss. She still does not know what type of restaurant she wants to open. She feels like a professional, but without a soul. She finds herself walking to an old Sushi bar that her father used to frequent. There she sees an old man who looks like her father. (She experiences the same things she did in the manga in the random old man and son arc). Working at the dingy restaurant (I’ll call it Restaurant X) where people used to drink, she realizes that the chefs at this restaurant are actually amazingly skilled in Japanese cuisine. Despite starting as a waiter, she ends up catching the eye of the head chef there. He takes her in. There, she learns from him, that a true chef cooks to make the customer happy. That cooking is not only about technique, but heart as well.

Back to Oda, he is feeling dissatisfied and unhappy with his work. Sel dor is great, but not what he wanted. He finds out that Kanako was the one behind the Petit Rabbit takeover. In his restaurant, he hears two old guests talk about how the “consommé” (lol) in Sel Dor reminded them of the consommé at restaurant X. Feeling curious, he heads there with Kanako. They order the consommé. Kanako is impressed by it, but is shocked to see Oda’s reaction. Oda reacts to the food emotionally, there’s something nostalgic and heartbreaking about it. He asks to meet with the chef, only to find out that she’s left. When he asks for her name, he is stunned to find out that it is Momoe. Kanako is left unsettled by this development.

After Momoe leaves restaurant X, she makes up her mind to work at a great restaurant until she can save enough money to open up her own place – a cozy, warm restaurant, not unlike the type that Oda desires. While strolling through the city, she chances upon Takahashi, who almost crashes his car when he catches sight of her. He begs her to join his restaurant, unaware of how much she’s grown. Though he finds something different and mature about her – almost as if the little girl from 2 years back had grown into a fine woman.

Momoe joins Amour. The cast there are shocked by the improvement in her cooking skills (sorry had to add some satisfying moments lol). Takahashi, who had invited her out of childish impulse, finds it hard to treat Momoe like a kid. Where did the carefree child go? He finds himself wondering. At the same time, he finds himself conflicted. A thought strikes his mind one day “If it were with Momoe, I wouldn’t mind slowing down”. He does not realize that he has begun to fall in love with her, or maybe always had been. The chefs at the restaurant notice that Takahashi has begun to act differently with women.
Meanwhile, Oda and Kanako decide to break up. What started as a loving relationship has turned into one lined with resentment and bitterness. Oda cannot stand the way Kanako sees cooking as a robotic act almost. Kanako has begun to lose feelings for the listless man she sees before him. Since Sel Dor, Oda hasn’t done anything to further his “career”. Deep down inside, they are both aware of how unhappy they have begun to feel. Out of respect for their childhood friendship, they decide to part ways before things turn worse.

After selling Sel Dor to Hasumi, Oda goes hunting for a place to open his restaurant. He finds a homely property in a busy street that he falls in love with at first sight.
Unbeknownst to him, Momoe has also been eyeing the same property. It’s been 1.5y since Momoe returned and she has decided to rent a property and go independent. Momoe has already spoken to the landlord about the property, but unable to afford the rent, she’s begged him to keep it on hold.
The landlord conveys the same to Oda, when Oda expresses his desire to rent the property. The landlord also conveys the news of a potential buyer to Momoe. “Why don’t you both meet up and discuss?” He advises them both. The interested parties agree to meet at a little restaurant across the street, on the advise of the landlord.

Momoe arrives early, and is surprised to meet Oda there. Without going into details, she finds out about his break up from a few months back. “Then what about Sel Dor?” she enquires. “It’s been sold, and I’m looking for a new place.” “What a coincidence! Me too!”, Momoe replies, “In fact the place I’m looking for is just-“. She stops abruptly and looks at Oda. “across the road?” he completes her sentence. They argue like old times over the place. "No fair Oda san, I was here first. You’ve had your go with Sel Dor, now it’s my turn.” Momoe finds herself acting childish with Oda. ”Aren’t you my student? Haven’t you heard of respect for your elders?” Oda responds equally childishly to Momoe’s complaints. They burst out laughing, it feels like old times again. “Just like old times huh?” Oda finds himself muttering. “Pardon?”, Momoe says. “I really enjoyed the consommé you made in Restaurant X…”, Oda says quietly. “You know about that?!”, Momoe exclaims, embarrassed and surprised. There was a time when a compliment like that would have made her heart burst with joy… “Momoe, why don’t we rent it together?”, Oda suddenly says. Momoe’s eyes widen with shock. It’s been a night full of surprises. Somehow, an old familiar happiness wells up inside her. “Okay.” She agrees, “but I want to name it.”, she says. “What do you want to name it?” Oda asks. “Le Petit Chateau.”, Momoe responds instantly. Oda bursts out laughing, “Childish and imaginative. Just like you.” he says. “Shut up Oda!” Momoe retorts, blushing. Oda stops laughing, a smile on his lips – “Okay.”, he says.

Okay, I got carried away. Anyway, they open up a place and fall in love while working together (Sorry Takahashi). Hasumi and Kanako get together (in a healthy way). Kanako’s mom doesn’t get better, but Kanako learns to live her own life. Hasumi genuinely loves her. Chiyo-baa feels smug about Oda x Momoe. “I knew it a long time back”. She tells herself. Fin.