Mixed Vegetables

, also known as Mix Vegetable, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ayumi Komura. It was serialized in Japan by Shueisha in the "shōjo" manga magazine "Margaret" from 25 October 2005 to 22 November 2007, and collected in eight bound volumes. It is licensed in English in North America by Viz Media.
"Mixed Vegetables" is about the relationship between the daughter of a pastry chef who wants to become a sushi chef and the son of sushi chef who wants to become a pâtissier.
Plot.
The plot revolves around Hanayu Ashitaba, a chef in training. Hanayu is the daughter of the celebrated pastry shop, Patisserie Ashitaba, but all she wants to do is become a sushi chef. Hayato Hyuga is the son of the prestigious Sushi Hyuga, but he wants to be a pastry chef. They go to Oiwaka High School together. Hanayu knows she will break her parent's heart if she does not continue the bakery and become a pastry chef, but thinks if she marries Hayato, they will understand her decision.
Manga.
"Mixed Vegetables" is written and illustrated by Ayumi Komura. It was serialized in Japan by Shueisha in the biweekly "shōjo" (aimed at teenage girls) manga magazine "Margaret" starting with issue 10 of 2005 on 25 October, and running until issue 18 of 2007 on 22 November. The 54 untitled chapters, called "menus", were collected into eight "tankōbon" volumes. The series is licensed in English in North America by Viz Media, who has published all eight volumes.
Reception.
Deb Aoki of About.com calls the series a "textbook (or rather, cookbook) example of the standard recipe for shojo manga romantic comedy." She dislikes Hanayu's character as well, calling her "selfish and dense." Carlo Santos of Anime News Network gives the first volume a B− for what he calls a dragging plot, but with a "A different sort of couple in a different sort of setting, with a lively sense of humor". Leroy Douresseaux of Comic Book Bin says that while the first volume isn't "standout material," the art and setting are "a recipe for a happy, romantic dish." Douresseaux gives volume 3 of the series an A for being "Beautifully drawn and heartfelt in its storytelling." He gives the following volume an A−. Holly Ellingwood of Active Anime says the characters are "likeable" and calls it an enjoyable read. Ellingwood calls the second volume a "tossed salad of emotions."