It's heavenly!
This dish maximizes the seasonal ingredients of spring!
How could he put together such a delicate dish in so little time?!
He's head and shoulders above all the other students in this dorm!
Allow me to re-introduce myself:
Totsuki Elite Ten Council
I'm one of the Totsuki Elite Ten...
Seven
The seventh seat...
Isshiki Satoshi.
Seven: Isshiki Satoshi
You're... one of the Elite Ten?!
Now...
I'd like to try your cooking next, Soma-kun.
I wonder what dish you'll make.
Show me what narrative you'll create on your plate.
I guess I kind of get why Dad sent me here now.
Hang onto your seat!
The Ice Queen and the Spring Storm
Isshiki-senpai's dish:
Spanish mackerel with Chinese pepper and a puree.
Does your family run a traditional Japanese restaurant, by any chance?
Why do you think that?
Spanish mackerel grilled with Chinese pepper is a common Japanese dish,
but it can't be made this well by just any establishment.
The mackerel is grilled to delicate perfection.
It's paired with a surprising puree featuring spring cabbage.
But its mild smooth sweetness is a perfect complement to the mackerel.
Spanish mackerel is in season in spring,
and the spring cabbage heighten each other's flavors in this pairing.
It's so festive,
it's as if I'm basking in spring sunshine.
Spanish mackerel...
All right!
I can use another dish on Yukihira's secret menu. Item number 20!
Yukihira?
It's the diner my family runs.
I'll use the same ingredient.
I'll serve you Yukihira's popular menu item,
with the same spring theme as yours.
I guess I passed out.
Oops, I drank too much rice juice.
Huh?
Yukihira's cooking?
Is he still hungry?
It's apparently a cook-off.
Oh, hey, Ibusaki. You were awake?
Wait!
A cook-off between them?
Why?
No idea.
But Isshiki-senpai started it.
Are we going to let Senpai's attire pass without comment?
We shouldn't interfere in a cook-off.
Yeah...
All done!
Yukihira's secret menu item number 20, revised!
It's tea over a mackerel rice ball!
It's typically made with salmon,
but I changed the dish to accommodate mackerel.
I made enough for everyone, so you can all dig in.
Wow, thanks.
What'd you pour over the rice?
It's salted kelp tea.
Its mild saltiness and depth of flavor are a perfect way to wrap up the feast.
Aw, how can my appetite say no when served something like this?
Yeah.
But this is all too pedestrian...
It practically screams that it's a dish served in an diner for the masses.
But perhaps...
All right, then!
Digging in!
Thanks for the food!
Delicious!
The mackerel is really juicy,
and the skin's brittle texture is superb!
The umami just gushes out with every bite.
You can't get this mouthfeel from just grilling the fish.
How did he—
Poêlé.
This mackerel has been cooked using the poêlé method.
Po...
...ê...
...lé...
Wait, why are you acting all surprised?
Huh? I was just wondering what this poêlé thing is.
Poêlé is a cooking method in French cuisine,
a type of sauté.
Poêlé
It's a method where you pour olive oil and the like over the ingredients from above
in order to ensure even browning.
Tell me, Soma-kun.
How did you come to know a French cooking method?
Uh, I just learned this from my dad.
He said it's the best way to make fish crispy.
You can eat it all crunchy with rice,
or enjoy a slightly different texture altogether
by softening it a little in salted kelp tea.
Your father learned how to cook French cuisine?
Oh, I'm not really sure.
I think he went around cooking in a lot of different countries.
I see.
I never thought he'd make rice ball ingredients using a French technique.
His cooking isn't bound by culinary traditions or genres. How liberated!
The poêlé method is suited for ingredients with a thick skin.
Salmon and Spanish mackerel are a perfect fit.
Soma-kun determined its potential in an instant
and rearranged the menu.
The radiant rice is like pristine white snow...
...through which the Spanish mackerel bursts,
as though it symbolizes the vitality of spring itself.
He has expressed the very moment spring begins in this dish.
S...
Sprouting!
Glad you liked it!
How beautiful...
It was a beautiful thaw, Soma-kun.
Yours was, too, Senpai.
I felt a refreshing spring breeze for sure.
Thanks for a good match.
Huh?
What the hell's going on?
Exhibit A: A classmate shaking hands with a half-naked man shedding tears.
Marui?
Marui.
Marui!
He's out cold.
Yeah...
Okay!
Dismissed!
We'll be sure to clean up before going home next time, Marui.
Yeah, next time.
We swear.
Still, I wonder why Isshiki-senpai brought on a food match.
Who knows?
He's temperamental.
You can't waste time wondering what a weirdo like him might be thinking.
I'm tired.
Okay. G'night, Megumi.
Okay, night.
Soma-kun, with this welcome party, you're now officially a member of Polar Star.
If you have any questions,
you're welcome to ask me.
Okay, then how can you get into the Elite Ten?
Oh, that's right.
You're going for the top spot in this academy, right?
Is there a specific reason why you're so determined?
Well, I'm kind of in the middle of a fight with my dad.
I have to pull off something that major if I'm going to get any respect from him.
Although our match just now was a draw...
If I win against you now,
will I become the seventh best at Totsuki?
Wonderful!
I admire your ambition, Soma-kun!
Okay.
I'm super impressed by you right now!
It's how students who live at Polar Star should be.
R-Right.
But I'm going to call it a night.
It's getting late.
Let's get some rest, Soma-kun.
Well, I guess.
You said you'll become number one at Totsuki.
Your words will carry real weight from now on.
Uh, I'm Yukihira Soma.
To be honest,
this academy's just a stepping stone for me!
I'm gonna take the number one spot!
You will come to understand
that at this academy, cooking is literally everything.
Chief of Administration Kageura Hisanao Dear Director, This document reports the results of the recent Shokugeki. Note Start Date and Time: March 26th, 4:02PM Eighth Cooking Wing
Dear Director, This document reports the results of the recent Shokugeki.
Shokugeki
The main ingredient will be the egg.
Make one dish.
I'll only allow those whose creations impress my palate
to transfer into the academy.
Hand over the dish!
Disgusting!
I'll say one thing!
I haven't accepted you!
Neither you, nor your cooking!
Taking the number one spot?
Don't make me laugh.
Everyone who's been a student since junior high
has been learning cutting-edge gastronomy!
I can already tell that an outsider transfer student like you
wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell of beating them!
Sakaki Ryoko Room 112
It's going to ferment!
Oh, Usako...
Yoshino Yuki Room 116
Heavy!
Tadokoro Megumi Room 301
Morning, everyone.
Charm for Academic Success
They've trashed the place yet again!
I'll be sure to tell them off more I usually do!
Marui Zenji Room 205
Hey.
Mornin'.
Dining Hall
What?
What's wrong?
Yesterday, I had to table this,
but let's put the Elite Ten's seventh seat on the line!
It's time for a cook-off, Isshiki-senpai!
Huh?
Food! Food!
I'm starving.
When's breakfast, Fumio-san?
Shut your traps!
Sit and wait!
Sorry, Soma-kun.
I should've explained better.
Huh?
About challenges here at Totsuki Academy...
Dosukoi!
Our Chanko Hot Pot Research Society
has been in existence since the founding of this academy.
It has a long and glorious history!
Godabayashi Kiyoshi High School Division, 2nd Year 76th President of the Chanko Hot Pot Research Society
Chanko Research Society
And what do you propose to build by razing our club room, Nakiri-kun?
Why, a cooking wing for my personal use.
The fifth wing has become cramped,
so I need a sixth—
Unacceptable!
That building is chock full of history,
and the passion our predecessors sank into their pursuit of food!
You seek to trample that into the mud?
How dare you call yourself a chef?
Protect the Chanko Let Us Have Chanko
Yeah!
Anti-Razing
Don't let this atrocity happen!
Don't Give in to Power!
Erina-sama.
Is this "passion" you speak of
what you call copying your predecessors' recipes
and wasting your budget?
Over the past few years, your group has accomplished little.
A research society that only sings the praises of their past glory
is of little use to Totsuki.
You abuse your power!
I can no longer turn a blind eye!
If I win, I demand that you leave the Elite Ten!
I demand combat, Nakiri Erina!
Then if I win, I will proceed with the construction as planned.
I accept your challenge, Godabayashi-senpai.
There is an established policy at this academy
to settle disputes among students.
There are several rules.
Should you wish to challenge me for my seventh seat,
you must wager something that is equal in value.
A wager equal in value to the seventh seat?
If we're talking the seventh seat...
Not even your expulsion would be enough.
What?
Seriously?!
Indeed, the Elite Ten is worth that much.
Director Totsuki Elite Ten Council Administration Public Relations International/Foreign Research (Nakiri International) Tourism (Totsuki Resort) Affiliation Production (Management and Distribution of Ingredients Educational Institution Totsuki Teahouse
After all, they are the highest decision-making body in the entire academy.
Totsuki
Not even instructors can oppose what the Elite Ten Council has decided.
In the past, this dorm used to produce several Elite Ten members every year.
It was the golden age of Polar Star.
In comparison, you lot are pathetic!
Not that talk again, Fumio-san.
Well, so anyway,
I can accept your challenge,
but I would not want you to leave the academy.
In conclusion, there can be no cook-off.
Seriously?
I even woke up at five today to get myself revved up.
Well, I can't believe you're even going for the seventh seat.
You're too reckless!
I think he's just stupid.
Besides, you can't just do whatever you want.
There are three things you need for an official cook-off.
First, an adjudicator to certify that it is a formal challenge.
Second, an odd number of judges.
Third, an agreement between the contestants about the conditions of the challenge.
All must be met for the formal challenge to be valid.
I see.
Sounds like a huge bother.
But on the flip side,
as long as you can meet those three conditions,
you can challenge anyone in the academy.
"All who oppose you
shall be struck down through your cooking."
Totsuki's traditional cooking duel is called...
SHOKU
GEKI
SHOKUGEKI
...Shokugeki.
Shokugeki
The judges have cast their votes!
Nakiri Erina
Godabayashi Kiyoshi
This Shokugeki's winner
is Nakiri Erina!
I-Impossible...
I lost 3-0...
Chanko Research Society
But our Chanko Society...
Just how did my lobster fall short?!
There were 27 shortcomings in your dish, Senpai.
First, the lobster:
you blanched it two seconds too long.
Second, the oysters produced a slight off-flavor that tainted your entire hot pot.
Stop!
As for your vegetables...
Stop!
Then how was your cooking?!
How could it be any better than mine when I've spent days perfecting it—
Ready!
How is it, Senpai?
How is my raviole de langoustine?
The steamed raviolis are light
and bursting with the plump flavor of freshwater prawns...
This supple elasticity
is reminiscent of being overwhelmed by the strength of a yokozuna.
Her cooking's flavor is in an entirely different league...
It's heavenly!
Heavenly
It's me.
Yes.
Please begin.
Nakiri Erina
Godabayashi Kiyoshi
What are you—
N-No!
Please stop!
Chanko Research Society
Cruel and diabolic...
Chanko Hot Pot Research Society
This...
...is what it means to carry the blood of the Demon Lord of Food.
Good day.
Shokugeki, huh.
Man, and here I wanted to challenge Nakiri, too.
Th-There's no way you can win!
I'm looking forward to his future.
Isshiki Satoshi Room 206 Elite Ten, Seventh Seat
He will surely rack up a good cook-off record.
After all, he scored a draw against me. Me, the seventh seat.
Wouldn't you agree, Ibusaki-kun?
Yeah, right.
Ibusaki Shun Room 208
You weren't even serious.
You didn't even serve him your specialty.
You were playing it way too safe with that dish.
I don't know what you're talking about.
I believe I gave it my very best effort.
Heh.
You've got layers, Senpai.
Soma-kun...
When I ate your cooking, I had a premonition
that you will pull the trigger, as a rookie,
to cause a whole new era of Shokugeki to bloom at this academy.
That was most impressive, Erina-sama.
With him as my opponent, it's not worth any praise.
It was far below my expectations.
Totsuki deserves nothing less than perfection.
Bring me the list of our next targets.
What?
Er, yes.
Here it is.
Erina-sama.
May I take on the next target?
I do not believe it necessary for you to personally deal with trash.
Please allow me the honor.
You're right.
That may be interesting.
However, I'm sure you understand the consequences if you should fail.
I am called the Meat Master.
I will secure a perfect victory worthy of that name.
End
Preview
Next time on Food Wars,
Ah...
the—oh, it's already the sixth dish:
Menu The Meat Invader
"The Meat Invader."
Wonderful!
What a shameless hussy you are.
Erina-sama...
Do you want it?
I do.