Light and relaxing reading. That is how I describe Today's Menu at the Emiya Household. It is also funny, but the comedy is a runner-up. The goal here is low-key warm fuzzies.
This story is a spin-off of Type Moon's Fate Stay Night storylines. It is based on the idea that the Fifth Holy Grail War somehow ended with the vast majority of the cast surviving. Now they live peaceful and quiet lives in Fuyuki city. As part of this quiet life, Shiro Emiya spends a lot more time cooking than fighting. His household consists of the main cast, other masters and servants, who drop by to help cook or bring ingredients. Saber is the only person actually living with him.
The volume is episodic. Each chapter starts with a particular event framework, and then Shiro (or someone else, but mostly Shiro) cooks a dish. He explains in brief how to cook the dish, and then his "household" enjoys the delicious result with him. At the end of the chapter is a full recipe for the dish in question.
It really is relaxing. I read a chapter of this before going to sleep. Every now and then is a light chuckle, such as Shiro's response to Lancer selling fish, the incapacitating effect of the kotatsu, and Archer's general behavior where Shirou is involved (spoilers).
The food, of course, looks fantastic. Even in black and white, it looks good.
I picked up this volume at Barnes and Noble because I finished watching the anime. I wanted more. It surprised me how much fun a cooking manga could be (and not a super-competitive one like Food Wars). This volume here clearly provided the bulk of the material for the first and (as of this review,) currently the only season. It's a faithful adaptation. If you only want unfamiliar storylines, you should start with volumes 2 or 3.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "Today's Menu at the Emiya Household - volume one" an A+
Click here for my previous book review: A Tale of the Eternal Stones: Firestone
Brian Wilkerson is a independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).
His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.
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