Fighting Foodons

Fighting Foodons, known in Japan as Bistro Recipe (格闘料理伝説ビストロレシピ, Kakutō Ryōri Densetsu Bisutoro Reshipi), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Naoto Tsushima, serialized in Comic BonBon in 1998. It was adapted into an anime television series that aired on NHK-BS2 satellite channel from December 11, 2001, to June 25, 2002. The story revolves around a culinarily confused king asking his chefs which would be stronger, tofu surprise or stuffed duck. A mysterious chef presents him with magical cards called Meal Tickets, which turn food into monsters called Fighting Foodons. From then on, regular food recipes are turned into Foodons when the art of culinary combat is concocted. The protagonist, a young apprentice chef named Chase, believes he has what it takes to become an Elite Master Chef like his father, Chef Jack. Along with his friends, family, and Foodons, Chase battles the evil Glutton Empire and their leader King Gorge, striving to change the world. Besides the anime and manga, the series also spawned two Game Boy Color games in 1999, as well as a WonderSwan game. In the United States, the anime was dubbed by 4Kids Entertainment in cooperation with Enoki Films and aired on FoxBox in 2002.