Lupin the Third Part II Season 1 Episode 96 Lupin's Gourmet World

Lupin the Third Part 2 is a Japanese anime series that first aired in 1977, and its second part lasted from 1977 to 1980. The series revolves around the adventures of the renowned thief Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of the fictional gentleman burglar Arsène Lupin, created by the French writer Maurice Leblanc.

Season 1 episode 96 of Lupin the Third Part 2 is titled "Lupin's Gourmet World." The episode opens with Lupin, Daisuke, and Goemon arriving in Paris, where Lupin announces his intention to steal the world's most exclusive restaurant, Chez Nina. Lupin reveals that he has heard that the restaurant is looking for a new chef and that the audition is today. The trio heads to Chez Nina, where they witness a chef auditioning for the resident chef position by preparing a dish of truffles and foie gras, which he then sets alight.

Lupin and his companions attract the attention of the restaurant's maitre d', who grants them entry to the audition. Lupin decides to challenge the chef by preparing a dish of his own, using only the ingredients he finds in the restaurant's kitchen.

During the cooking competition, Lupin's dish, a sautéed dish of river fish, mushrooms, and olive oil, wows the judges, including the proprietor of the restaurant, Chef Nina herself. Lupin is offered the position of resident chef, but he declines, stating that he only wanted to prove that his culinary skills are as good as his thievery skills.

As Lupin and his companions leave the restaurant, the maitre d' hunts them down and reveals that he knew who Lupin was all along, and he wants Lupin to steal something for him. The maitre d' explains that Chez Nina is a front for a group of international smugglers known as Black Gold, and they need Lupin's skills to steal a document that Black Gold needs to operate. Lupin agrees, and the race is on to steal the document before Black Gold can get it.

To infiltrate the Black Gold smuggling operation, Lupin and his team don disguises and pose as chefs, with Lupin as the head chef. They earn the trust of the Black Gold members and learn of their scheme to smuggle emeralds out of the country by hiding them inside chocolate-covered truffles. Lupin and his team steal the emeralds and the document, but they are chased by the Black Gold members.

In a thrilling chase through the streets of Paris, Lupin and his team use their skills to evade the Black Gold members and escape with the emeralds and document. Lupin delivers the emeralds to the maitre d', who uses them to fund the restaurant and his new life as a restauranteur.

In the end, Lupin and his team enjoy a meal at Chez Nina, where they are served a dish prepared by Lupin, and he declares that he is the true king of gourmet. The episode ends with Lupin and his companions driving off into the sunset, ready for their next adventure.

Overall, "Lupin's Gourmet World" is a fun and entertaining episode of Lupin the Third Part 2. The episode showcases Lupin's culinary skills and his ability to use them to further his thievery schemes. The episode also features exciting action and a thrilling chase scene through the streets of Paris. Fans of the series will enjoy this episode, and it serves as a good introduction to the character of Arsène Lupin III for newcomers to the series.