It's that time of year again.
Have the students been notified?
They will be notified by the end of the day.
There will be those who rise and those who fall at the academy,
and this will be where their paths begin to diverge.
The Concerto of Inspiration and Imagination
Polar Star Dormitory
Training Camp Training Guide
Let's make a lot of memories!
Don't forget anything!
Camp training?
The time has finally come.
What's this?
You had something like this in elementary school and junior high, didn't you?
It's like a camp where we all go and stay for a couple nights.
Huh, didn't know this school did stuff like that.
Why are you shaking, Tadokoro?
This camp represents the first circle of hell
for new high school students.
All first-years will be tasked with grueling cooking projects
every day in a remote location in the mountains.
If we don't earn a passing score,
we face immediate expulsion.
Training Camp Training Guide
Let's make a lot of memories!
Don't forget anything!
They claim it's an opportunity for friendship and kinship,
but in reality...
Training Camp Training Guide
Let's make a lot of traumatic memories!
Incompetents should quit while they're ahead!
...it's a merciless weeder training camp!
This is what Totsuki's education by competition looks like.
The director spoke of the one percent,
but this is where the selection process really begins.
Isshiki-senpai, didn't you also go to this camp last year?
Yes, of course.
Even in my time, dozens got sent home
and expelled every day.
Expelled?
The number of students even dipped below half
of what they started off with in one camp some years ago.
Half?
Megumi?!
I'm grateful that we could be together until now, guys...
Megumi!
Okay, so we can take cards and shogi,
but no handheld gaming devices...
Man, they don't give us any time for taking a bath!
Hey, Yukihira!
How can you be so carefree and planning your trip already?
Megumi's practically on her deathbed here!
So half the class will make it, right?
We just have to make sure that all of us are in that half.
I'm also quite certain
that everyone in Polar Star will come back smiling!
I'll make it back here!
I sure will!
Of course.
Death Flags
You're right.
We're all so determined!
We Polar Stars strike fear into the hearts of men!
We do?
Let's dominate this camp!
That's the spirit.
Fumio-san and I will mind the place.
Jiggle
Give it your best shot.
Okay!
Yeah!
Got it!
I'm on fire!
That concludes the overview.
Training Camp Training Guide
Don't forget anything!
Please don't forget anything.
You'll depart in three days.
Everyone is to assemble at 6:00 AM.
I see.
Thank you, Hisako.
Day of Camp
My stomach hurts.
I'm kind of getting jaded.
A'ight!
Let's go!
Off to the camp of friendship and team-building straight outta hell!
Nothing's gonna surprise me anymore!
Wow!
Th-This is our "camp" site?
Guess this school isn't full of rich guys for nothing.
They even run a big-ass hotel.
All the hotels and inns around here are part of Totsuki.
Heh, doesn't surprise me.
They manage a dozen or so
accommodations as part of the Totsuki Resort brand,
and graduates often end up working in the resorts' culinary division.
I've heard it costs upwards of 80,000 yen per night at these places.
That's like a month's rent!
Doesn't surprise me!
You're totally surprised, Soma-kun.
Wait, so we can stay here tonight!
Wow, this is super-exciting!
That's if we can survive today's task...
Boo!
Ibusaki, you're such a downer.
I'm just a realist.
See?
We have to go to an assembly as soon as we drop off our bags.
Yeah, yeah.
It's too quiet...
It's hard to believe nearly a thousand students are here.
That's right...
What's about to start is the camp of hell.
How many of us will survive?
Hey, it's Nikumi!
Y-Yukihira!
Been a while, Nikumi!
You're totally relaxed, huh.
Hey, Yukihira-kun!
Why're you calling her by a nickname?
Huh? But she's fine with it.
Right, Nikumi?
Of course not!
What?
I bet you're happy!
The transfer student...
Yukihira Soma...
Be careful, Yukihira.
Huh? About what?
Good morning, students!
I will now give a summary of the camp.
You're scheduled to stay here for 5 nights and 6 days.
In that time, you'll split off into several groups
and take on daily cooking tasks.
Students whose instructors' evaluations fall below a certain baseline will be failed,
sent back to the academy,
then expelled.
As for how your tasks will be evaluated,
we have invited guest lecturers.
Guests?
They're Totsuki alumni who have graciously agreed to join us,
despite their busy schedule.
Totsuki alumni?
That means...
...they're geniuses who managed to remain in the 90th percentile!
Hmm, you over there.
Nine rows back,
the boy with a scar on his eyebrow.
Oh, sorry,
I mean the one next to you.
Yeah, you.
You're expelled.
You can go home now.
What?!
Your hair product has a citrus scent.
It interferes with aroma of food.
We do need to pay attention to our sense of style.
Shinomiya Kojiro Chef at French restaurant SHINO'S
If the chefs have no sense of style,
their dishes will lose their appeal.
But you should choose an unscented hair product from now on.
Wait!
I'm getting expelled just for that?!
Just that can be enough to lose your customers.
Are you trying to destroy my restaurant?
Farewell, student.
Who's that?
It's Chef Shinomiya!
He's the first Japanese national to win the French Pluspol award!
Not to mention...
Mizuhara Fuyumi Italian restaurant, Ristorante F
There's also Chef Mizuhara from F,
Sekimori Hitoshi Sushi restaurant, Ginza Hinowa
and Head Chef Sekimori from the sushi restaurant, Ginza Hinowa!
Wow!
They're all people featured in magazines every month!
Girl who's innocent like a white clover!
Donato Gotoda Auberge, Tesoro
He's Donato Gotoda of the auberge, Tesoro!
You may be the reason for my existence.
Why don't we talk through the night till dawn at my auberge?
Um, what?
Um, excuse me!
Let go of her hand, Chef Gotoda.
Hinako.
Inui Hinako Japanese restaurant, Kirinoya
Inui Hinako of the Japanese restaurant, Kirinoya!
I'm sorry that you had such a frightening experience.
You're very cute, by the way.
I'm sure you'd be very good to eat...
Hinako.
Chapelle-sensei's glaring at us.
Let's go.
Oh.
Please come by my restaurant sometime!
Pssssh...
Oh! That's...
That's the man who was the first in his graduating class
after scoring the highest score in Totsuki's history in the graduation exam!
He turned down 800 or so offers from high-caliber
restaurants around the world
to take his current position as the
Dojima Gin Totsuki Resort Head Chef and Company Director
Head Chef and Company Director of Totsuki Resort!
Dojima Gin!
This is incredible.
All the star chefs leading Japan's culinary world
are lined up in front of me!
Welcome to my Totsuki Resort.
Each of the alumni who have gathered here today
are chefs who own their own restaurants.
For the next six days of the training camp,
we will treat you as we would our own staff.
Do you understand what that entails?
Those of you who cannot perform to our expectations...
...will be fired!
That means expulsion.
As you may have already seen,
you may be dismissed at the drop of a hat depending on these lecturers.
I wish you all the best of luck.
Now proceed to your groups.
We're all split up, but I wish you all the best!
I'm with you again?!
You've got something to say about that?!
Later!
Yeah!
Oh, don't forget we're having a card game in Marui's room!
You don't all have to come to my room during camp!
Wanna drink?
Sure.
Group F Training Site
It seems you're all here.
In my class, you'll be working in pairs.
You'll be in the same pairs as in your first practicum of the semester.
Please go to your workstations.
Trot Trot Trot...
Thank goodness! I'll be with you, Soma-kun!
Yup, let's give this a whirl.
Yukihira Soma, is it?
Yeah, so?
Since you've been grinding your foot into mine for over 10 seconds,
I guess I can assume it's intentional?
Of course.
I was wondering when I'd get to mess with you during camp,
but I didn't think I'd be lucky enough to get close to you in our first task.
I'll crush you, just like I did your shoe!
Wha?
U-Um, we already know it's going to be an intense camp.
W-We shouldn't be fighting on top of that...
I can finally crush you!
That makes me happy, Yukihira Soma.
I see.
Well, congratulations...
I get your point, so remove your foot already!
Okay, everyone!
I'll be sitting right here,
so feel free to ask me any questions you might have.
Excuse me, Chef Inui,
but we haven't received any instructions yet.
Oh, is that right?
Let me see...
Hmm, my task for you is...
Use the ingredients here
to make a dish that could serve as a main dish in Japanese cuisine.
Ingredients here? But...
There's nothing here.
Of course there is!
We're in glorious nature, right next to a clear stream!
There are ingredients galore!
There are spices, condiments, and oil,
not to mention cooking utensils.
You are welcome to use other tools, such as fishing poles.
We are on private property,
Current Location
Forest
River
which is encircled by a fence.
If you cross that fence, you will be disqualified.
Secure your ingredients from this limited space and prepare them.
You will pass if you create a dish that I find satisfactory.
You have two hours.
You may begin.
Huh? It's begun?!
You have to speak up!
We have to figure out what we can fish up first!
Sweetfish!
We can just grill it with salt!
But are they even in season right now?
Whatever! We only have two hours!
Hurry!
It's face-off time, Yukihira!
Oh, yeah? A face-off?
Let's decide who's the better chef.
Chef Inui, I'd like you to make the call.
Please exercise your rigorous judgment
and decide whose cooking has the better taste!
Um, what?
That has nothing to do with my task, so I would prefer not to.
Oh, well, I suppose.
Hey, what're you gonna do?
Smirk
Because you got on your high horse,
you're making everyone uncomfortable.
That's really lame, bro!
Shut up! Don't laugh, too!
"Bro"?! They're brothers?!
They look nothing alike!
I-In any case, I cannot lose to you!
I will make a dish that tops yours!
Got it, Yukihira?!
C'mon, let's go!
What's up with him?
Oh, Soma-kun!
We should go, too!
Good luck!
Everyone develops tunnel vision when placed in an unfamiliar situation.
Damn it! I'm not getting any bites!
Quiet, idiot! You're scaring the fish away!
Okay! I can make this into a meunière...
But we don't have flour!
I told you to look for something like bamboo shoots!
Bamboo Shoot
I looked, but I couldn't find anything!
Their thinking slows to a crawl,
and they misjudge their options.
This task is merely a small warm-up exercise.
Any chef who is daunted by something like this
isn't needed at Totsuki.
We need to finish fishing ASAP and get cooking!
What should we cook, Soma-kun?
If we get char or rainbow trout, maybe we can grill it with salt?
Or maybe braise it?
We have to think of the accompaniments, too!
We'll have to find mountain vegetables or something!
But everyone else would be thinking the same way, y'know?
I want to go for a bit of a twist.
We don't have time for that!
We have to finish our dish!
Well, yeah, but...
Got it!
Yay!
We managed to get the fish, at least!
Yup.
We just have to figure out how to prepare 'em.
Please exercise your rigorous judgment!
Shut up!
Shut up, okay?
You guys are using fish, too?
Man, everyone's going for fish because of the Japanese cuisine theme.
Isn't that narrow-minded?
Get off your high horse.
What'd you guys choose?
Can you tell what it is?
It's duck!
What?! Duck?!
We didn't just find duck!
There were chickens and rabbits, too!
We wondered why no one else was looking around!
Damn it!
I had no idea there were ingredients other than river fish.
But it's not like we've ever dressed that kind of meat.
Hey, out of the way!
Step away, Yukihira.
Isami!
Okay!
He's separating the breast and thigh meat with such precision.
Despite the speed,
he's not damaging the innards at all.
What agile knife work...
Yes? Did you have a question?
O-Oh, I was just admiring your skills.
Really?
But my brother can finish this three times faster than me.
There's no break in the work flow between any steps...
His moves are efficient and smooth...
Just who is he?
Well, I had no doubt that he'd be at least this good.
He had hands that looked like they knew an actual kitchen.
Forno accendere.
Fire, ignite.
Forgive my belated introduction.
My name is Takumi Aldini.
Takumi Aldini First-Year, High School
This is my younger twin...
Isami Aldini First-Year, High School
Isami Aldini.
We were working in our family's trattoria in Italy.
"Trattoria"?
In Italian, it means a restaurant for the masses.
Yukihira Diner
I'm the same as you, Yukihira.
I'm also a chef who's been protecting his restaurant on the front lines.
I remember what you said at the opening ceremony.
I don't plan on losing to folks who've never actually served customers.
You identified yourself as a professional.
As a fellow professional, I cannot lose to you.
Let's show the world who's the better chef: Aldini or Yukihira!
Great!
Come at me!
What?!
Very well.
What the?!
A mezzaluna...
Half Moon
A double-handed knife used in Italy that means "half-moon."
Let's go!
Tritare!
He has complete mastery over that strange knife!
The ingredients are rapidly turning into paste!
The duck's almost done.
We'll finish the salsa at the same time!
Got it!
I'm ready!
All right!
What?!
Tre...
Due...
Uno...
Fine!
Done!
You're the first ones up.
Nimbleness is one of Italian cuisine's charms, after all!
They're way too fast!
They had to dress the duck, too!
I can't believe they didn't even take an hour!
Grilled duck with herbs
and a green sauce.
Buon appetito!
Enjoy!
Well then,
I will have a taste.
The fragrant, wild flavor of the duck
is heightened by the astringent sauce!
The masculinity and class of this dish is like a heavy bass
resounding deep in the recesses of my stomach.
It is as if...
...the duck is singing an aria.
I wouldn't mind being embraced
by a duck like this!
Hey!
That green sauce!
Isn't it salsa verde?!
Isn't that a staple in Italian cuisine,
made from chopped anchovies and flat-leaf parsley?
What're they thinking?
The theme's Japanese cuisine!
They're gonna get failed for sure!
No, this sauce is not using anchovies,
but uruka, salted sweetfish offal.
Uruka is traditionally made over the course of a week or more,
but this one is instant, isn't it?
Yes.
We boiled the rinsed sweetfish guts in sake,
then seasoned it with mirin, soy sauce, and salt.
It allowed us to make an instant-yet-rich uruka,
with just the right amount of bitterness.
How is that possible?
That wasn't their only improvisation.
Instead of parsley, they chopped in perilla and chives
to produce the vibrant green color and astringent flavor.
They also subbed in yuzu pepper paste instead of garlic,
which is rarely used in Japanese cuisine,
in order to bring the dish closer to Japanese cuisine.
Japanese
That's right!
This is Japanese-style salsa verde,
using instant uruka as the base!
They created a Japanese version of an Italian sauce?
Damn it!
I'm getting hungry just listening to them talk.
How'd they manage to combine that many ingredients
out here in the mountains?
Unlike Japan,
Italy has a longtime tradition of a meat-based cuisine.
In their homeland of Tuscany,
meat such as duck, rabbit, and boar are served when in season.
They must've learned how to dress duck while living there.
The breast has been basted with a sauce made
from soy sauce, mustard, black pepper, and honey,
then grilled to aromatic perfection.
It pairs well with the sauce.
You've introduced core elements of Japanese cuisine
into both the duck and the salsa verde,
and pulled it all together into an exquisite Japanese dish.
Takumi Aldini and Isami Aldini,
you have passed my test.
Grazie!
He used his wits to create an exceptional dish,
despite the limitations imposed upon us.
He reminds me...
...of Soma-kun.
Ah! Merveilleuse!
How marvelous!
Nakiri Erina, you have passed my test!
To Be Continued
Good day.
Preview
Next time on Food Wars,
the ninth dish:
Menu The Batter to Adorn the Mountains
"The Batter to Adorn the Mountains."
Grazie!
Grazie.
Mutter Mutter
I'm gonna step on you!
Bro, you're being lame.