Cooking Master Boy

Synopsis

Set in 19th-century China under the Qing Dynasty, this story unfolds during a time when the Emperor's power had waned and the nation teetered on the brink of upheaval. It takes place in a fictional period known as "The Era of the Cooking Wars," when master chefs of diverse culinary schools pushed their skills to the limit, all vying for the title of the finest cook in all of China. In this world, the culinary arts are taken deadly seriously: offending a high-ranking chef or treating cooking with disrespect can land someone in prison, while pretending to be a top-tier chef is considered an act of authority usurpation. Chefs battle one another for honor, influence, and even political power—but the stakes are just as high as the rewards, and failure can cost them everything. China is divided into four great regions: Beijing, Szechuan, Shanghai, and Guangdong. The story opens in Szechuan, the homeland of Mao, a young prodigy whose mother, Pai—known throughout the land as the "Fairy of Cuisine"—has just passed away. In the wake of her death, Mao rises to become a Super Chef, aiming to claim the position of Master Chef at his mother's restaurant. Yet before he takes over her kitchen, he sets out on a journey across China, eager to master the many diverse styles of cooking and to one day become a legendary chef in his own right, just like his mother. Along the way, he crosses paths with loyal friends and formidable rivals, all eager to test their skills against him in the culinary arena.