I'm on my rewatch and just got through the episode of Megumi vs. Momo. One thing I noticed about the judging of this dish is that the judges never mention the flavor profile. They gush over the appearance of the dish and the aroma, but they never mention what it tastes like (apples... duh) or how she elevates it to new dimensions. It honestly reminds me of the dishes made in the "Fifth Plate," where they never go in-depth on how the dishes work and what makes them great.

To my understanding, Megumi lost not because Momo was better, but because Megumi's dish was worse. I know that doesn't make sense, but it does in my head lol

What I mean is that there's a version of Megumi's dorayaki that probably surpasses Momo's superficial dish, but Megumi made specific blunders that worked against its flavor profile and stood out more negatively to the judges. If she hadn't made any mistakes with its flavors (I think she should have used cinnamon), she would have won. Because, if Nao Sadatsuka is any indication, the actual taste of the dish matters more than the presentation and smell.

I'm genuinely surprised that neither of them incorporated cinnamon into their dishes. And even more surprised that they didn't go in-depth with Momo's dish... like maybe she used a jam filling, or it was sprinkled with something special? There was just... bite... yummy... moving on.

Erina, during her match against Momo, says Megumi fail short of a 10 because she was aiming for a 12. So I think it's definitely the case that Megumi would have won if her flavors were more there.

I mention in another post how I ship Soma and Rindo. Him holding down the family restaurant, her seeing and tasting the world. She brings things back to her stable home where someone understands and appreciates her wildness. Together they elevate and fusion dishes that they'd otherwise never experience without their personal touches.

Another weird romantic flex- I like pairing Erina and Hayama. She stays on at Totsuki as headmaster, and still performs her consulting as the God Tongue. But Hayama has also stayed as an instructor and is constantly challenging her description of "perfect" dishes with new combinations of spices and seasonings. Romantically Erina extends opportunity first seeing the value in what he brings as a chef while also recognizing that he is quite attractive- he has to be convinced because Jun will NOT marry her legal ward, he will always be that kid to her so he might as well take the pretty lady offering him all the funding he could ever dream of. He is a less extreme or infuriating personality to her, and marrying a boy literally plucked from the streets to become a global authority on flavor augmentation would be a thorn in her father's eye, even if he is more tolerable after his arcs. Hayama's mastery constantly clashes and blends with what Erina can conjure to create unique global class dishes. He is a global advisor on his specialty research to whom many of Totsuki's alumni collaborate with to elevate their dishes

Likewise on that principle, Mimasaka is a world renowned consultant on menu improvement. He takes his time to Perfect and Flash trace the chefs he is helping to give them the methods, ingredients, and ideas to take what they normally prepare to a new level. He is never great at creating his own unique recipes, but he can take anyone else's and improve them.

I would love to see Megumi and Hisako run a health spa inn together as business partners. Emphasizing the restorative effects of Hisako's medicinal cooking with Megumi's homestyle comforting cooking. A place to relax, recover, nourish. And a place for burnt out chefs to recover their love of food while they regain some control over their strung out nerves.

The Aldini brothers return home and enjoy running the family restaurant, but Takumi has a constant itch to see what his former classmates are doing and have concocted. He still actively travels to visit them and challenge them to food wars to show that he has continued to grow past his schooling.

Alice continues her study in cutting edge technological gastronomy, and keeps her tiger on his leash while he runs his own seafood restaurant- lauded as one of the harshest kitchens to work in. Keep up or get out. Predictable and a bit boring, but that really is much of their dynamic and I really can't see them splitting up as a duo whether there is a romantic aspect or not. Other classmates collaborate with her research while, much like Takumi, any Totsuki student who comes near Alice for her expertise is forced into a food war by her pet.

Eizan never really turns over a new leaf, he's still a master of market manipulation and ingredient stacking to create unique effects from dish to dish. He is one of the world's most renowned and successful consultants (often cooperating with Erina, Hayama, and Subaru for their input on improving the businesses he consults and invests in) leading to a life of luxury, but never allowing businesses he influences to gouge customers out of giving their business, or dropping the quality they are buying. Its his name attached to those businesses, and they will NOT be known as inaccessible or insufficient.

Kuga's lost opportunity to surpass Tsukasa leads to a constant drive for global recognition for his cooking, and the strictest standards for anyone who works for him to flawlessly recreate his recipes every plate. He pushes his brand of Szechuan cooking to its limits and beyond in pursuit of recognition as one of the best in the world- Endeavor to Tsukasa's All Might. And in vein of that comparison- is infamous for a dish he called Prominence Burn for which waivers must be signed before ordering.

Tsukasa however rapidly burns out of cooking, he loses all fire for pursuing the heights of cooking and invention, mush in the way Joichiro did. He'll finish his program, but chooses to put down his grater and find a different path in life and only uses his cooking to satisfy himself- the person who most appreciates how much he puts into his dishes.

This question has probably been asked a million times, but for some reason I can never find it. The main question I want to ask is what manga is similar to Shokugeki? In particular, a main character like Souma, who is upbeat and confident. One of my favorite aspects of this story is the constant leveling-up/progression that I can't seem to find in other series. It's almost shonen-like of the ranking system and going up on the ladder that I am severely missing. The combination of those two is what I'm really looking for.

Release Date May-2027

Specifications Pre-painted Complete Figure

Scale: 1/3

Size: Approx. H605mm

Material: Plastic

[Set Contents]

Main figure

Base

Details Sculptor: Kyoichi Kawamura

Paintwork: Bread-Loving Housewife

From "Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma" comes a big 1/3 scale figure of Erina Nakiri! Her bold pose with her back angled and embarrassed expression further bring out her charm. The figure also features cloth fishnet tights for a realistic look and feel.

Source https://x.com/Syunsaeki/status/1571390710347345921/photo/1

Gonna watch this after 6 years!!

They are fucking wholesome. TamakoxJoichiro is my favourite couple from this anime. If only Tamako lived longer 💔

So, i’ve seen images of that character across my feed every now and then, i loveeee her design, but im unsure if she herself would be worth getting into the series for. Is she worth it?

I know Season 5 ended years ago, and I know it probably sounds childish to still be lingering on a finished anime like this. But I just need to vent, because every now and then the disappointment hits me all over again

.

​Food Wars! wasn't just another show to me. Back when Season 3 was coming out, I was only 15 years old and going through one of the hardest periods of my life. I was living in a hostel environment at school when I got into a big fight with my peers, and almost everyone completely isolated and froze me out. When you're 15 and stuck in a hostel, you can't escape it—I felt trapped, miserable, and alone every single day.

​Finding Food Wars! back then was my ultimate comfort. Soma’s relentless optimism, the warmth of the Polaris Dorm, the hype, and that amazing soundtrack gave me a safe haven. It held me up when I had no support system around me, and it genuinely helped me survive a really dark time in my youth.

​Right now, I’m sitting here listening to the OSTs—especially Chronos (Season 4 OP)—and honestly just crying. Hearing those songs brings back all the warmth and strength the show gave 15-year-old me back then, mixed with the bittersweet heartbreak of where the story went in that final season.

​I know some people say "just pretend Season 4 was the true ending," but because Season 5 is official canon, I can't just erase it from my mind. It feels like watching a place that once protected you get completely neglected.

​I know I should probably just move on, but I wanted to put this out there to a community that might understand. Does anyone else still carry this kind of heartbreak for a show that meant the world to them? How do you cope with loving a journey so deeply while hating how it ended?

I was bored so I made a list of characters that I believe would get really far in tōtsuki if they were to be in the shokugeki no soma universe + what I think their cooking style would be

1. Teruteru Hanamura(Danganronpa)

I don't like the guy but I have to be fair, he IS the ultimate cook so yeah he's definitely doing good, if I remember well he could handle masterfully all styles but I feel like he'd struggle with simpler/ more humble dishes because of his pride

2.Jiaoqiu(HSR)

His style would be a mix between spicy and medicinal, but the spice would be more controlled if he was in the shokugeki no soma universe because he wouldn't be so traumatized by war

3.mydei(HSR)

No reason, I just feel like he makes mouthwatering desserts, he has been seen baking too soooo

4.Xiangling(Genshin Impact)

She'd definitely specialize in weird ingredients just like Rindo and they would 100% get along no one can change my mind

5.The traveler(Genshin Impact)

Just because it's been mentioned they can cook well, they'd struggle with finding their own style thanks to how broad their cooking would be

6.Escoffier(Genshin Impact)

Another canon chef so of course she'd fit perfectly in this list, I'm not sure about her style tho

Also out of topic but she lowkey reminds me of Erina

1. The tenma siblings (pjsekai)

Again no reason, they just look like they can have it in them, Tsukasa would have a very flashy style and saki would make cute dishes

1. Vivid bad squad(toya not included) (pjsekai)

Specially An, Akito would probably look like a tough guy meanwhile his style is all pastries, an and kohane would make a great Duo of chefs kinda like Soma and megumi

1. Street Kaito and Meiko(pjsekai)

They do run a cafe at street sekai, I feel like their cooking would give off a cozy vibe I can't explain it

10.vincent(dead plate)

He'd absolutely crush it at Tōtsuki, also he's crazy enough to go against anything that happens

If anything he'd have the occasional fluke because he can't really taste anything other than lemons, talking about lemons he'd definitely use them in like 90% of his dishes

I'm finishing the list here because 10 is a nice number, what do y'all think? Any character you'd like to mention too 👀?

Takumi is my crush like i fell for him too hard, of course isami be in law? lol. I guess i am not the only one who fell for them?

Drawn on Ipad Air M4 13” with Pastela

Got my single ass smilin'.

So after making it through much of my reading list, came time for me to read Nouvelle. Now I'm not a big fanfiction enjoyer, I really like things grounded in canon (not sure why) but while I don't hate every second of the El Hermano arc given it's the only real source of Sorina content, by the claudes was that some hot ass. The anime sorta curbed it at the end by not timeskipping half their life length from when they started the manga at least.

And thus began my venture to find alternate media. Media to sate this thirst. I came across many many one shots and fanfics, but I kept hearing about Nouvelle from Zancrowe.

Backstory yap aside. Here we go. The meat of the matter (haha get it, meat).

Oh and psa: I think the actual manga fucked my perspective on the fic. More on that later.

I fucking loved the cruise line plot. Reading it put me back in the enjoyment I had watching the training camp and the stagiaire arcs.

I fucking loved the Akira vs Erina team shokugeki plot. The over the top setups and presentation are so incredibly good.

These two plot lines felt so incredibly SnS to me it's crazy.

I adored how lovey dovey Soma and Erina were near the latter parts. Again, got my single ass smilin' lmao. I have a writeup in the drafts on Sorina, the interpersonal intimacy model and the theory of self expansion through another, and this gave me so much more fuel for it. Alas I'll need an end to a writers block to finish that.

I also loved some really small details and tongue in cheeks, like how the main characters got the Central Kitchen, and how Shokugeki? No, Soma was like a genuine usage of the title in the story.

Switching gears,

Heavy is the plot that is drugs. I wasn't sure how I felt about it and I still am not sure. I don't jive with it completely and I feel there was another way out to frame Soma in one way or the other. When the Mimasaka thing first happened I assumed he was gonna like take unethical photos or illegal thumbprints or something, or some other third thing that tied Soma to the Noirs maybe. But drugs? For a cooking shonen, where quite literally everything, stupid as it might be, gets resolved through orgasmic cooking and consumption.

And speaking of, why wasn't 1. Joichiro contacted ASAP and 2. the matter put to a food war as things happen in this academy apparently?

The pace. I know it's said to be slow paced but here is where the manga fucks me over. In my head, iirc all of this happened between the end of autumn elections and slightly over 1 week of Stagiaire. While stretched over the course of slightly less than 30 chapters is long, not a lot of time has passed. And it's really hard to imagine an alternate reality where Soma would've got with Erina faster than he would've even made to Shino's Tokyo.

On that note, he sorta got overpowered for where he was at at the moment? Generally speaking after the elections he only barely participated in Erinas fight at the start, got kicked, attended the cruise, and then the tournament plotline followed. Im a bit sus on the power progression here given he starts kicking goals against the E10 as well.

Maybe I missed something, maybe the original series is fucking me up, or maybe i didn't pay attention.

But all that put together I think I can sum up by saying Nouvelle is a great story but a bad replacement for Shokugeki no Soma. S5 and the initial bits put me in the mindset of a replacement so I'll leave part of the load of that critique on myself as well, of not having given it the rigour I usually give to media.

To Zancrowe, idk if you'll read this, I saw your writing improve so much between the first and last chapters. I know you edited stuff over time but I could feel the echoes of your effort reading this. Things were a bit rough on the edges with silly goober mistakes but most of those got resolved once a proofreader got involved, shoutout chessru and everyone else involved.

You've got your heart and mind in the right place. Keep at it. I look forward to reading Classique and whatever follows that, and I hope you make it big as an original author one day. Until then, keep cookin'! (haha get it, cooki-*gunshot*)

Cheers!

Correct me if I’m wrong in my assessment but Azami’s ultimate goal was to protect chefs from burning out. After watching Jōichirō slowly fade away due to constantly striving for a higher level, he didn’t want to watch what happened to his friend happen again. I feel a lot of that ultimately falls on Jōichirō though since he failed to see that he could rely on those around him, especially Azami and Gin since they seem to have tried. He then tried to stop it by setting a universal standard/limit/menu on what to expect out of the culinary world so that future chefs would stop pushing themselves beyond what they were capable of. Also we see that Tsukasa was heading towards a similar burnout as Jōichirō, is that why he and Rindo ended up siding with Azami despite seemingly holding different beliefs?

According to this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_1XK33RV-k, there were apparently plans for Soma and Erina to eventually get married.

Obviously, we don’t know how much of that is actually true, and I don’t think we’re ever going to get an official continuation of their story.

So I had a random idea: would anyone in the community be interested in creating a small fan manga continuing Soma and Erina’s relationship?

Just to be clear, this is only an idea/suggestion. I don’t know anything about creating manga, organizing fan projects, or how any of this works, and I’m not saying that I’m going to participate or organize it myself.

I was just thinking that, since we probably won’t ever get an official continuation, it could be fun if some fans wanted to create something completely free and just for the community, with no serious commitments or professional expectations.

It could be just a few pages or short chapters exploring what Soma and Erina’s relationship might have looked like after the ending. Nothing serious or commercial — just a fun fan project for people who still want more of their story.

If anyone with the skills or experience thinks this could be fun, maybe the community could make something out of it. ❤️

Just throwing the idea out there!
Let’s keep the Soma × Erina dream alive!