Pictures: GTA V - Shanghai Restaurant Wars (UPDATE)

A gang of ten restaurants has banded together to publish a coupon book called "Springlicious". There are lots of deals in there, but we're more interested in the mad awesome pictures that illustrate the campaign of violence and intimidation that gave rise to the new Cuisine Alliance.

The story, as I see it, starts with undisputed restaurant don Eduardo Vargas happy as Buddha with his fat piece of the Shanghai restaurant pie. Then, his satisfaction is gradually eaten away by the subtle whisperings of Kelley Lee.

Beqipaoed Lee has risen to the top of Vargas's harem and plans to grow the already indomitable empire by blowing on the embers' of Vargas's paranoia. Full of fear and rage, the don sets out to conquer rivals and violently test the loyalty of his chefs.

Here's Balthazar manager Rowdee Munio-Villanueva going Reservoir Dogs on her chef, Peter.

Below, Kelley Lee acts surprised as her business partner Raffe Ibrahamian overwhelms Cantina Agave chef Frank with his flexibility and Steven Seagal ponytail.

In the final pic, Vargas doesn't just roll up his sleeves - he even liberates his navel for extra ventilation. It's gonna take a lot of work kicking other restaurants' asses and keeping "money man" Marco and Rudy "the knife" under control. There, you just clocked GTA V - Shanghai Restaurant Wars.

The shoot was managed by Vargas Group's Angwara Bowens (closest to the camera in the first pic), and the concept was hers and Kelley Lee's. Pics were taken by Sixsixty Studio's Tobias Chu. Someone from HBO call these guys up. They've created the new Sopranos.

The participating restaurants are Azul, Casa 13, Balthazar, Bistro Burger, Brasa Chicken, Osteria, Closed Door, Cantina Agave, Boxing Cat Brewery and Iiiit Cafe. (Note the absence of Vargas Grill - it's been sold to Taiwanese American Austin Hu, who plans to reopen the restaurant as "Madison" in April.) Six of these - Azul, Casa 13, Balthazar, Bistro Burger, Brasa Chicken and Osteria - are offering RMB 88 lunches, including a drink, on weekdays from March until May. There are also loads of freebie desserts and buy one get one free vouchers. That sort of stuff. You can pick up the booklets from participating restaurants.

(UPDATE)

Photographer Charlie Xia just sent in this dramatic recreation of how Kelley and Raffe at Cantina Agave recovered the missing bottle of tequila. Shanghai restaurateurs aint nothing to fork with. Thanks Charlie!