3 Years Ago in Florence, Italy
Buon appetito.
You've gotten even better than before, Takumi.
With Isami at your side, Aldini is in good hands.
Takumi, will you go out with me?
Looking good as usual, Takumi.
Come play with me.
Takumi, want to know how to have a good time?
Si. Grazie.
I appreciate the thought,
but there's something I have to do.
Are you sure you can afford to let both of them go, Bro?
Yeah. Even I can see that they're great chefs.
Isami Aldini Age 13
But there's a part of Takumi that lacks passion.
Takumi Aldini Age 13
A culinary school in Japan?
I don't get it, Uncle.
Why should we go there now?
We've been working here in Aldini for eight years already.
Well, there's no harm in trying it out.
The school's top-notch and world-famous.
You can leave the restaurant in my brother's—your father's—hands.
Go hone your skills to your heart's content.
Transferring in the second year of junior high...
What do you think, Isami?
I'll go if you do!
Takumi, you'll surpass me in a few years.
But he doesn't have a goal beyond that point.
What he needs right now is a worthy rival.
There's no way I can lose to chefs my age.
I'm a professional who's been fighting on the front lines.
I wasn't expecting to transfer here,
but I don't plan on losing to folks who've never actually served customers.
Anyway, what I'm getting at is....
Basically, now that I'm here,
I'm gonna take the number one spot!
Mezzaluna.
Tritare!
Tre...
Duo...
Uno...
Fine!
You've introduced core elements of Japanese cuisine
into both the duck and the salsa verde,
pulling it all together into an exquisite Japanese dish.
Takumi Aldini and Isami Aldini,
you have passed my test.
Grazie!
The Breading to Adorn the Mountains
They're way too fast!
They had to dress the duck, too!
I can't believe they didn't even take an hour!
Well, Yukihira Soma?
You don't seem to have made much headway.
What are you going to prepare for us?
I see.
You two were saying that you're competing with each other.
Very well!
If I can expect a dish that will be on par with what I just tasted,
I will make an exception
and judge which of your dishes is better.
Did you hear that, Yukihira?
Sure! Let's do this!
Good. If you lose, you will kneel.
Huh?
Loser
Fufufu...
Kneel before the victor
and say "I am a loser" three times.
Fufufu...
If you are going to stake the reputation of your restaurants on this match,
the consequences need to be appropriate.
Oh, but you don't have to kneel,
Tadokoro Megumi-san.
You have such beautiful hands.
Shiver
Sh-She's kind of scary...
Anyway, I dare you to make a dish that can surpass ours!
These two had no assumptions coming in.
They selected duck,
and managed to assemble an impressive list of ingredients that'd enhance the duck.
Think...
What's the best possible dish I can make, here and now?
Use the ingredients here
to make a dish that could serve as a main dish in Japanese cuisine.
There were chickens and rabbits, too!
Tadokoro!
Yes?
I want to use these ingredients as the accompaniment.
I want you to go gather them.
Think you can find them?
Um... Yeah!
I think I'll be fine!
I used to go looking for mountain vegetables a lot back home!
Great!
I'm counting on you, Tadokoro!
What are you going to be doing, Soma-kun?
I have to track something down, too,
so I'm going out again.
Oh, before that...
Inui-senpai.
You said we can use anything we can find here, right?
What?
Oh, yes.
Anything, if it's within the fence's boundaries.
Then the key ingredient for our dish will be...
...this!
Huh?
Th...
That's...!
Kaki-no-Tane
My tea snack!
K-Kaki-no-tane?
So anyway, we'll be going out again.
Oh, can you hang onto this for me?
Huh?
Why me?
Dash Dash Dash Dash
All right!
Let's go, Tadokoro!
O-Okay!
Uh.
Boo
My Kaki-no-tane...
Yukihira...
Kaki-no-Tane
What do you have up your sleeve?
I've got everything on my end!
Ow!
Oww!
Damn you!
If there are chickens running around, that means...
There!
Yeah!
Freshly-laid eggs!
It doesn't taste good.
Try again.
Are we ever gonna pass?
So many have tried already, but only a few pairs have passed.
What should we do?
Inui Hinako...
An alumnae of Totsuki's 80th graduating class.
During her time, she was called the Empress of Mist
and was feared by all...
The Empress of Mist?
No idea what that's referring to, but it sounds impressive.
Who named her?
At any event, I must say...
...there've been so many grilled fish.
Everything has the same texture.
I'm in the mood for something with more bite.
Easy enough for her to say,
but we're in the middle of nowhere.
What're we supposed to make?
Oh, you are all welcome to keep making new dishes before time's up!
Sh-Shit! Let's try again!
It's no use!
There's no time left!
I'm glad we passed, Bro.
Why isn't Yukihira back yet?
He'll run out of time!
You should calm down.
If he runs out of time,
you'll win by default. What's so bad about that?
I want a heated battle!
I won't accept winning by default!
Besides...
Kaki-no-Tane
This thing he just handed to me...
How does he intend to use this in his dish?
Yukihira!
You're late!
You only have 15 minutes left!
Are you trying to get disqualified without even facing me?!
Bro, you crushed it.
Oh, sorry!
I-It's not what it looks like, Yukihira!
Yeah, don't worry about it.
You saved me some time.
Thanks.
Besides,
we have a whole 15 minutes.
What?
If I let customers wait 15 minutes at my diner,
they'd all leave.
Let's do this, Tadokoro!
Okay!
Saved him... time?
Prepare the mountain vegetables...
First, trim the Devil's walking sticks
Be thorough...
Thorough...
Once you're done, separate the yolks from the whites!
Okay!
Huh?
We're going to make a deep-fried dish?
Yup, fried river fish.
But there's no flour or potato starch...
There's nothing to use as batter.
Are you going to fry the fish without batter?
But the moisture content of river fish is too high.
It's not suited for frying without batter.
But we do have great breading!
River fish...
Chicken eggs...
Kaki-no-tane...
I get it now!
Yukihira's going to use the Kaki-no-tane...
...as breading by crushing them!
All right!
It's done!
Here you go, Inui-senpai.
Please have it before it grows cold.
All right, I'll have a taste.
Oh, my.
My Kaki-no-tane have become such a lovely deep-fried dish!
What wonderful texture!
So crunchy!
Yet inside, the fish is so tender!
Protected by the breading,
the fish's umami has been concentrated within!
And thanks to the flavor of the Kaki-no-tane themselves,
the breading has its own assertive flavor.
The accompanying sauce is light as air, made from tamago-no-moto and kinome!
Tamago-no-moto...
That's made by adding vegetable oil to egg yolks and beating them, right?
I see. They made a sauce from it.
By mixing chopped kinome, the shoots of the Japanese pepper tree,
into the tamago-no-moto with salt,
he created a refreshing flavor
that cuts the oiliness of the fried fish
and makes the dish more refined.
The creaminess that you can taste
between the crunchiness of the breading whets the appetite.
The accompaniment made from fried mountain vegetables is excellent, as well.
The visual contrast with the char is superb.
I've assigned this task many times in the past,
but none of the students have ever accomplished a deep-fried dish with breading.
The Kaki-no-tane are embracing the char at the peak of its season.
It is like a passionate embrace of love toward an elegant mermaid...
Oh, I can't...
I'm drowning in my love of Kaki-no-tane!
Where'd you come up with this idea, Soma-kun?
You know how there's a dish called okaki-age in Japanese cuisine?
It's a deep-fried dish made using crushed okaki crackers as the breading.
Its purpose is to improve the texture
or to introduce a surprising flavor.
I've made that at home before.
So that inspired you to adapt the recipe for Kaki-no-tane?
That's right!
I'm calling it the Yukihira-style Char Okaki-A—
Yukihira-style Char O-Kaki-Age!
Kaki-no-Tane
Yukihira-style Char O-Kaki-Age
You just thought of that now, didn't you?!
It's all according to plan!
You just went with the flow!
I haven't strayed from my path!
Aldini-kun kept an open mind
That was just chance.
It was blind luck!
and did not overlook duck as an possible ingredient.
You were just damn lucky!
It's actually a menu item that's pretty common at Yukihira, too.
On the other hand, Yukihira-kun drew on his rare creativity
to make a dish no one here could've expected.
Despite the constraints of time and circumstance, they both rose to the occasion
and tried to make a dish that they could call their own!
That is the mindset of a true professional!
Yukihira Soma and Tadokoro Megumi,
you have passed my test.
Glad you liked it!
Uh... Napolitan?
No!
Okay, time's up!
The assignment is now complete.
Thank goodness...
I'm finished...
Shit!
Chef Inui!
Please make your decision.
Very well.
The victor is...
...the one who crafted a splendid texture for the char,
using an idea no one else had...
No, wait a moment, please.
All right, I've made my decision!
The one who did not overlook duck as a possibility,
despite being put in an unfamiliar situation,
and surpassed others with his choice of ingredients...
Well, but wait...
What're they doing?
A comedy skit?
Ugh!
Oh, what is it?
I'm in the middle of something important—
What're you up to, Hinako?!
Your group of students should've been back a long time ago!
Just get your ass back here, you idiot!
S-Sorry, Shinomiya-senpai!
E-E-Everyone, we'll be rushing back to the hotel!
Hey!
What's your decision, Inui-senpai?!
Eek!
Oh, right!
I'll...
...have to revisit that!
Dash
All right, on the bus, everyone!
She just kept us in suspense!
She ran away from making a decision!
I'm not letting this go!
Listen up, Yukihira!
We'll settle this someday!
Sure, but how?
Eventually, I'll challenge you to a Shokugeki.
Don't run away from it.
You have to accept.
And that's when I will crush you!
You'd do well to hone your skills before then as best you can.
Until we meet again, Yukihira Soma.
Sit down from the back row first!
Let's go!
Hey, I guess we met again.
Shut up!
Don't talk to me!
What's wrong?
Aren't you gonna crush me?
I told you, don't talk to me!
The test was one that allowed me to take full advantage
of the knowledge and techniques I've cultivated over the years.
When I had the inspiration for my dish,
I was convinced I would win.
But he held his own...
Shit.
It's not like she decided who won.
Why do I feel like I've lost?
This isn't over.
I will get you.
Takumi of Trattoria Aldini, huh?
There's someone my age who's this good.
If I'd stayed holed up in Yukihira,
I never would've known about him...
Megumi!
Yukihira!
You made it!
Yuki-chan, Ryoko-chan!
What about the others?
Ibusaki-kun's checking on them right now.
Got it. Well done.
All the Polar Star members made it through day one!
Whew!
Can you really say Marui made it?
He was running around in the mountains the whole time, apparently.
Oh, guess his test was similar to ours, then.
Man, I'm tired.
I can barely move.
Don't be ridiculous, ladies!
We're about to reap our rewards!
Rewards?
Dinner, bath, and hotel room!
I bet they'll all be extravagant and sumptuous!
I'm going to experience all of it to the hilt!
BUFF
Those of you who finish serving them dinner will be allowed to have free time.
Who are these people?!
Jowan University bodybuilder club members who're staying nearby.
The American football club and wrestling club members
will presently arrive, as well.
BUFF
Our dinner today consists of a steak set.
50 Servings
Each of you will make fifty servings.
Fifty servings each?!
Now?!
You've got to be kidding me!
But, Sekimori-senpai!
What about our dinner?
Once you finish making 50 servings, you can make your own.
Make our own?
But what about...
What about an extravagant dinner for us?
There will be no such thing.
I will also have you know that during your training camp,
all breakfast and dinner meals will be prepared by yourselves.
Snap Crackle Pop
Oh...
I can hear Yuki's heart breaking.
Lastly,
if you cannot finish serving our guests dinner within the next 60 minutes,
you will be expelled on the spot.
Begin!
Hey, don't cut in line!
It's because you're too slow!
This, this, and this. The portions aren't large enough.
Start over.
Seconds.
Seconds!
Not full yet.
Need ten more bowls!
Worn out...
I can't lift my arms...
I still have 30 servings left...
I hate this.
I'm not done yet!
Not done!
Hey, Marui...
Are you okay?
This camp is hell, after all...
Food!
Food! Food!
It's Hell on Earth, all right!
Yukihira Soma, 50 servings, complete!
50 Servings Complete
You pass the test!
Thanks!
He's so fast!
Shit!
I fell behind!
45 Servings
But just wait, Yukihira!
Mine will taste better!
I think.
You, there!
Move your hands, not your mouth!
Yes, sir.
Well, I'll be in Marui's room.
Don't be!
I want to turn in early tonight...
Hey!
Hurry up, four-eyes!
He still wants to play?
Yukihira's so tough...
I said I'd be in Marui's room,
but it's not like there's anything for me to do by myself.
Large Communal Bath
I wonder if anything's on TV.
Oh, the communal bath.
Oh, right.
I'll just take my bath before everyone else!
Maybe I'll have the bath all to myself now!
I gotta go get my yukata and underwear!
Bath Female
Bath Male
Large Communal Bath
Oops, sorry.
Caution! Don't stay in the bath too long.
To Be Continued
Preview
Next time on Food Wars,
the tenth dish will be served:
Menu The Heavenly Recette
"The Heavenly Recette."
It's delicious...
Fate is the spice of life...