(Restaurant chatter)
Buon appetito.
You've sure come a long way, Takumi.
And with Isami here, Aldini's future is in very good hands.
Takumi... You wanna go out on a date?
You're as cute as always, Takumi.
Why don't you play with an older girl?
Oh honey.
We need to go somewhere and make each other feel good...
Mwah.
Si, grazie.
I do appreciate all the sentiments,
but there is something that I must do.
[UNCLE] So uh... are you really okay with letting them both go, brother?
[FATHER] I am.
Now, I may be a bit biased,
but they have both grown into excellent chefs.
But Takumi seems...
to have grown a cold place in his heart.
You're sending us to cooking school?!
Uncle, this really doesn't make any sense.
Why would we need to go there?
We have been proving ourselves at Aldini for eight years now.
[UNCLE] Well, you would benefit greatly by going.
That school is respected the world over.
Just leave everything to my brother...
Your father will make all your travel arrangements.
Come back once you've managed to sharpen your skills.
Transferring into the second year of culinary school...
What do you think about this?
I'll just go wherever you go, brother.
[FATHER] After a few more years, Takumi may very well surpass me...
but he cannot see the goal that lies ahead of him.
What he needs is to face a competitive rival.
There's no way I can lose to a chef my own age.
I've already fought so hard in the kitchens.
I'm a professional chef.
[SOMA] Now sure, my transfer was kinda unexpected,
but I still don't plan on losing to a bunch of wannabes
who've never stood in front of a customer before.
I mean, come on, am I right?
Anyway, since I'm here and everything.
I might as well take the top spot.
HM!
(Opening Song)
Mezzaluna!
Tritare!
Okay!
[TAKUMI] Tre...
Due...
Uno...
[BOTH in Italian] Fine!
[HINAKO] This salsa verde duck
was infused with Japanese elements in a measured and creative way.
A flawless combination of Japanese technique and imagination.
Takumi Aldini, Isami Aldini,
you both pass!
Grazie!
[SCHOOLGIRL] That was way too fast!
[SCHOOLBOY 1] And they still had time to dress the duck!
[SCHOOLBOY 2] That didn't even take an hour!
Well then, Soma Yukihira.
It would seem you haven't made much progress yet.
You have a long way to go to measure up.
Oh yes, right.
You had mentioned a challenge earlier, didn't you?
Very well.
If I'm to expect a dish as scrumptious as the previous one,
I will gladly make an exception, and weigh in on which one is better.
Did you hear that, Soma?!
Yeah! You're not gonna hear me object!
The loser will be forced to grovel.
You'll grovel in front of your opponent and say
"I am a loser and a dog!" three times for all to hear.
If you're putting your restaurants' reputations on the line,
we need something of this magnitude. [BOTH] Uhh...
Ah! But my sweet little dumpling, YOU won't have to grovel,
only the silly boys will.
You have some lovely fingers.
She is seriously creeping me out!
Let's go! You think you can make something better?
Give it your best shot!
These guys came up with the idea to use duck completely on the fly...
Plus, they gathered a range of ingredients to complement its flavor.
Makes me wonder...
What's the best dish I could make in a situation like this?
[HINAKO] Use the ingredients here to make a dish emphasizing traditional Japanese cooking.
There were a few chickens and rabbits out there, too.
Hehehe.
Megumi! Yes?!
I wanna use these ingredients as garnish.
Could ya get 'em for me?
You know what these are, right?
I think so...
Yes, don't worry about a thing.
I used to forage for a lot of greens back home.
Great! I am counting on you!
What're you gonna be doing, Soma?
There's something I'm gonna need to find.
I'm headed outside.
Oh! But first...
Chef Hinako?
I can use absolutely anything
within the fenced boundaries correct?
Yes. Well...
As long as it's within the permitted area, use what you like.
Perfect.
In that case a key ingredient in what
we are gonna prepare for you is...
Heh!
is this!
Ah!
Wha...
Uh... But that's my snack!
I was just eating that!
Huh? Rice crackers?!
Looks like we'll be going back outside again.
Oh. Could you hold these for me? Thanks.
Uh? What makes you think I- Eck!
[SOMA] All right! Let's go, Megumi!
O-okay!
So what am I supposed to eat now?
Soma Yukihira...
Just what are you planning?
Um! Huh!
Okay. I've gotten everything on my end.
(Clucking)
Ow! Grr!
If these chickens are out in force, then...
There!
These are MINE!
Perfectly warm, freshly laid eggs!
(Hinako sighs)
This doesn't taste good.
Make it again.
(Collective sigh)
[ALL] We're so not gonna pass this!
We have worked so hard on this dish but only a few teams have passed so far.
I don't think we have a chance.
[SCHOOLBOY 1] Hinako Inui...
Member of Tohtsuki Academy's 80th graduating class.
When she was still a student, they called her the "Empress of the Mist."
She was a fearsome chef.
The Empress of the Mist?!
Don't understand it, but it sounds cool.
Why do they call her something like that?
I guess this is all that I can expect.
It's been an endless stream of dish after dish of broiled fish with the same texture.
I'd like to eat something a bit more substantial.
[SCHOOLBOY] That's easy for her to say.
We're stuck out here in the middle of freakin' nowhere!
[SCHOOLGIRL]Just what is she telling us to make?!
Oh! You can redo your dishes as many times as you like until the time runs out.
[SCHOOLBOY 1] AHH! We need to make it again!
[SCHOOLBOY 2] Are you nuts? There's not enough time!
It's a good thing we decided to use duck for our dish, huh?
Soma isn't back yet. That idiot's going to run out of time.
You need to stop worrying about him.
If he doesn't make it, you'll win by default, so it all works out.
What I want is to have an epic cooking battle!
I don't want to win by some default!
Okay...
Why would he want me to hold onto this?
How is he going to use it in his dish?
(Panting) Huh? There you are!
Yeah? What?
Hey! You only have 15 minutes left, dumbass!
Are you trying to lose and get kicked out
right off the freakin' bat?!
You're crushing their rice crackers, man.
Hm?
Ah! I'm sorry! I wasn't trying to ruin
your your ingredients! I promise, man!
Yeah, don't worry about it.
You saved me some work. Thank you.
Also, 15 minutes is plenty of time.
What the...?
If a restaurant keeps customers waiting,
then they pick up and go somewhere else.
Here we go, Megumi!
Yeah!
I saved him some work?
Hehe.
I need to prep these wild greens.
First, I'll need to slice the bottom ends off the pepper buds.
Careful... Careful...
When you're done with that, could you separate the yolks from the whites?
'Kay!
Huh?! A fried dish?
Yup, we'll fry the fish we caught.
Yeah okay, I guess...
but we don't have any flour or cornstarch...
Nothing to act as a breading.
How do you plan on deep-frying it?
The fish has a lot of moisture,
so without any breading it's not going to fry up properly.
Actually, we do have some.
We've got an excellent breading!
Uh...
Freshwater fish...
Eggs...
Rice crackers...
Ah! I've got it!
Soma is going to take the rice crackers...
and crush them to use as a breading!
All right! We're done!
Chef Hinako...
Please have some before it gets cold.
Great. This looks good.
Oh! My rice crackers were used to make an excellent fried dish!
(Gasps)
Now this has such a wonderful texture!
It's so crispy.
And the fish is nice and warm!
The coating protected the char, concentrating its flavor.
[BOTH] Uhh...
[HINAKO] The flavor of the rice crackers themselves
gives the coating another layer of complexity.
And on the side, we have a light and fluffy sauce using eggs and pepper buds.
[SCHOOLBOY 1] He used eggs as a base?
And it looks like he added salad oil to the yolks. And then whisked it up.
[SCHOOLBOY 2] Oh yeah. So that's his sauce?
Then he added to the eggs,
salt and shaved pepper buds, the young sansho leaves.
That gave it a refreshing sensation,
tempering the oil and creating a refined flavor.
The creaminess of the sauce glistening between bites of the crispy coating
really rouses the appetite.
The treatment of the fried vegetables was skillful as well.
providing a vibrant counterpoint to the char.
(Giggle)
I've assigned this challenge several times,
and while deep-frying is one thing,
I've never had a student give me a breaded dish.
(Blowing)
(Crunch echoes)
And it works.
The rice crackers bound with a seasonal freshwater fish.
It's like a warm embrace with a majestic mermaid, brimming with fiery emotion.
[MERMAID] Ohh!
(Aquatic whimpers)
Yes!
Oooh!
OOOHHH!
I'm going to drown...
in crispy rice-crackery love!
MMmm!
Soma, how did you come up with something like this?
We have okaki-age that's used in Japanese cooking, right.
We pound down the rice crackers, then use it as a coating to fry the ingredients,
giving the dish an unexpected texture and flavor.
I've made it back home and it always satisfies.
So you came up with the idea to use kaki no tane in the same way.
Yep, that's right. It's called: "Yukihira-style okaki-age..."
Oh! Or now I guess:
"Yukihira-style O-kaki no Tane-age Char!"
You just thought of that right now, didn't you?!
Mm...
Had it all planned out! You're making crap up as you go along!
[SOMA] Everything went according to plan.
[HINAKO] Aldini has a broad perspective on things.
(Arguing continues) He didn't overlook duck as a possible ingredient.
On the other hand, Soma was exceptionally creative.
He made something no one else here even considered as an option.
Even with time and conditional constraints,
he set out to cook his own dish his own way.
That resolve is the mark of a professional chef.
Soma Yukihira,
Megumi Tadokoro,
you have passed!
You're welcome, Ma'am!
Hmph!
ay, class, that's enough.
Today's cooking challenge is over.
(Sighs of relief)
Thank goodness!
[SCHOOLGIRL] (Crying) No! Not yet!
I'm screwed...
[TAKUMI] Chef Hinako... Huh?
Are you going to tell us who won the battle?
Uh...
Very well.
The winner is...
[HINAKO] The one with an idea that no one thought of,
BY creating a perfectly textured char...
HM?!
Uh...
No, no, wait. Please give me a minute.
HUH?!
Okay, I have decided!
The person who didn't overlook the opportunity
to use duck in his dish...
and took great care in his work...
(Gasp)
Wait, maybe I need to think on it some more.
GUUHH!
(Laugh)
What is this lady doing?
She's weird?
(Ringing) Uh, what?
Oh, who wants me?
I'm in the middle of a very important-
[KOJIRO] What are you doing, Hinako?! OH!
Is there a problem?
Your group should've been back a long time ago!
You need to hurry up and get over here,
this is absolutely ridiculous!
Oh! I-I'm so sorry, Kojiro!
This class is dismissed!
Everyone needs to hurry back to the hotel, okay?!
Huh?!
What about your judgment?
Gah!
Oh, that's right.
My final say is...
I'll take it under consideration!
[HINAKO] Okay, back to the bus ASAP!
Uuhh...
How can she do that to us?!
She ran off before giving a verdict!
This is not even close to being over!
Mark my words:
Soma, one day we WILL settle who is the best chef!
Yeah, maybe, but how do you plan to get the-
In a Food War.
One day, I'll submit my challenge.
And you will accept your fate.
[TAKUMI] When that time comes... I will pound you.
Until then, you should hone your skills to the utmost perfection.
Next time I see you, it is on!
[HINAKO] Those in back go ahead and move up. Okay, off we go!
(Awkward grunts)
Well, whattya know... Should we do it now?
Shut up! Don't talk to me!
(Stifling laughter) [SOMA] Come on! I'm right here!
Do it, already!
[TAKUMI] I said don't to talk to me!
I used my skills and my knowledge to the fullest in today's challenge.
When the inspiration for that dish hit me,
I was sure that I'd win.
For him to be in the same league with me...
Dammit! There was no clear judgment,
so why do I feel like I've lost?
I cannot let things end like this.
One day I WILL beat you, Soma Yukihira!
[SOMA] Takumi from Trattoria Aldini...
So there's someone the same age as me whose come this far.
If I'd just stayed at Yukihira,
I never would've known.
[YUKI] Megumi! Soma!
You made it! (Vibrant laugh)
[MEGUMI] Hi, Yuuki. Hi, Ryoko. Heard anything about the others?
Shun is over there trying to find out right now.
[SHUN] Understood. Thank you.
Looks like we all made it through.
Everyone from Kyokusei survived.
Thank goodness!
So, uh...
(Zenji groaning) am I right to say that Zenji made it?
Apparently he was running around like a mad man in the mountains.
Nice!
Our group had a similar challenge.
Gosh, that was unbelievably exhausting.
I'm so tired, I can barely move!
Whatever are you saying, my young ladies?
[BOTH] Hm?
It's time for us to enjoy our reward!
What reward? Huh?
[YUKI] Dinner...
a hot bath...
and our fancy rooms!
I'm sure they'll be luxurious,
utterly gorgeous and comfy!
And you know, I will enjoy them like it's the last day on Earth!
[BOTH] FLEX, BABY!
Uh!
[SEKIMORI] You'll have some free time once you're done
making dinner for these gentlemen.
Who the heck are all these muscle heads?!
They're members of the Upper Arm University's Bodybuilding Club,
which is holding a training camp down the road.
[SEKIMORI] The football and wrestling clubs will also be joining us.
FLEX!
[SEKIMORI] Tonight's meal will be a steak dinner.
You'll need to make 50 servings each for this challenge.
[SCHOOLBOY 1] Fifty servings each?!
[SCHOOLGIRL] WHAT?! Starting right now?!
[SCHOOLBOY 2] That's friggin' ridiculous!
Chef Sekimori, what about OUR dinner?
Once you've made fifty plates,
you are allowed to go ahead and cook your own dinner.
Wait what? We have to do what?
I thought someone would cook for us.
That's not going to happen.
AHHHH!
[SEKIMORI] While you're here,
you'll be in charge of making your own meals.
That would be breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Please keep that in mind.
[RYOKO] Ah! I can hear the sound of Yuki's soul dying inside.
[SEKIMORI] Oh, one more thing:
Anyone who is unable to complete their dishes in an hour,
will be summarily expelled from the academy.
(Shocked gasps and screams)
Good luck.
HAH?!
(Screaming) (Dishes clattering)
Hey, you are NOT cutting ahead of me!
Well you're just standing there!
This, this, and this:
It's not enough. Make it again. U-uhhh...
[ATHLETES] More! MORE! Where's the food at?!
Bring me ten more bowls!
I can't raise my arms!
We still have 30 dishes left...
I can't take it!
It won't end. It just won't end!
Hey, Zenji, you okay?
(Fluttered breaths)
This training camp really is pure evil.
(Hissing and snarling) Feed us!
They are demons sent from hell!
[SEKIMORI] Soma Yukihira, you've completed fifty servings.
You pass.
You're welcome!
That was fast!
(Isami humming)
Crap! I fell behind!
Soma Yukihira! Mine will taste better than yours! Probably!
You! Use your hands instead of your mouth!
Yes, sir.
Later! I'll be in Zenji's room.
But I was thinking of going to bed early tonight, you dumb butt-munch!
Get a move on, dork!
Yahh! Yes sir!
He still wants to hang out tonight?
(Ending Song Begins) That Soma...
He's one tough cookie!
I told everyone that I'd be in Zenji's room...
but if I'm the first one to get there...
There're won't be anything for me to do.
Hm?
A public bath?
Aw yeah! If I'm the only one who's ready,
then I'll probably have the whole place to myself right now!
ｶI'm gonna go grab me a robe and some undies!ｶ
HAHAHAHA!
(Erina hum to ending song)
(Humming continues)
(Soma grunts to ending song)
Ahh...
(Grunting and singing overlap)
[ERINA and SOMA] UH!
Oh, sorry!
Huh?
(Light moan)
(Gasp)
Uggh...
Hmm...
Hm.