France's leading chef throws himself into a quest seeking the flavor that has confounded his life since he was defeated by a Japanese chef's bowl of noodles as a young man.

Gabriel Carvin [Gerard Depardieu], France's most famous chef, finally receives his third star. It should be a time of celebration. But Gabriel has never been happy, and doesn't really know why. Devoted to his kitchen, he drinks too much, his wife [Sandrine Bonnaire] is sleeping with another man [Antoine Dulery], and he has little to no relationship with his two sons, Jean [Bastien Bouillon] and Nino [Rod Paradot]. When his best friend [Pierre Richard] attempts hypnosis, Gabriel, to his great surprise, recalls his loss in competition to a Japanese chef [Kyozo Nagatsuka] in 1978 who defeated him with a bowl of noodles. Now this culinary genius must discover for himself why his immense skills were surpassed back then, and in the process maybe also learn why this renowned man has made such a huge mess of his life.—Umami-no Tabi Limited