Top 10 Food Wars Moments (Ft. Blake Shepard, Voice of Soma!)

The first encounter between our favourite underdog and the holder of the God Tongue may have been somewhat sour given Erina’s prejudices, but it still served to highlight just how Soma was someone you should never underestimate. Putting his own spin on rice, the result is so delicious that it’s almost more than Erina can bare. While she still finds it in herself to shoot him down, its fair to say that this fateful meeting served as the foundation for their future relationship as Totsuki Academy’s most adorable frenemies!

This wasn’t so much a battle of cooking as it was a battle of restaurants. With the Moon Banquet Festival underway, Soma finds himself going to war with the Eighth Seat of the Elite Ten. While Terunori has a legion of cooks under his command as well as the ideal establishment, Soma still manages to pull one out of the bag by relying on his friends and experience working in his diner. Watching everyone pitch in to create such a wonderful setting from practically nothing was a wholly satisfying sight, further proof that Soma’s magnetic charm was a deadlier ingredient than even Terunori’s vast resources.

#8: 200 Servings In 30 Minutes

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During the last stage of the Training Camp, a lapse in judgment proves fatal when Soma discovers his dish has been rendered inedible. With only a half hour to serve two hundred guests, Soma has to make the mother of all comebacks or risk expulsion. So what does he do? He kicks it into high gear and cooks like a freakin’ boss! Managing to whip up an amazing soufflé omelette, Soma passes by the skin of his teeth thanks to the exceptional quality of his food, not to mention his flair for the dramatic.

By far one of the most voluptuous students to attend Totsuki, Ikumi was a femme fatale in every sense of the word. As Erina’s henchwoman, it didn’t take her long before she found herself engaging in a Food War with Soma. Despite the immense size of her…um…talent when it came to cooking meat, she was defeated regardless thanks to Soma’s broader knowledge. The cook-off by itself is fun and engaging, but where this confrontation really shines is how Soma unintentionally ends up helping her settle some deep-rooted issues. Oh, and she totally falls for him by the end of it.

Armed with the latest culinary technology as well as an incredible knowledge of molecular gastronomy, Erina’s cousin was not so much a cook as she was a scientist, one no wannabe chef would want to cross. While she seems to have Soma outclassed, he manages to provide a little education of his own. We’re not kidding here, his Bento proves to be so good that not only does it secure him his first victory in the Autumn Election, but it helps Alice come to terms with her insecurities about living in Erina’s shadow. Jeez Soma, any more of this and you’ll have a harem before you know it!

So close, yet so far. After being clued in that Central’s ultimate goal is the eradication of all non-gourmet food establishments, Soma basically says “screw that” and challenges his strongest opponent to date; the First Seat of the Elite Ten. In spite of using all his talents to create a stunning dish, he ultimately fails before Eishi’s unparalleled culinary might. While the White Knight of the Table may have knocked the wind out of his sails, this only served to drive Soma further to becoming a better chef.

Aww, our little cherub has finally grown up! After making it to the latter stage of the Autumn Elections, Megumi finds herself taking on the mad dog that is Ryo in a battle of fish. Imbued by the confidence Soma and the rest of her friends have given her, she pushes aside her timidity and lets loose her own dish. What follows is perhaps the series’ greatest visual gag as the two of them engage in a JoJo style battle, with their ingredients coming to life and beating the ever loving crap out of each other. Talk about a Stand-off.

It’s fair to say that Soma is above else a pretty chill guy. You can insult him or his cooking and he’ll just laugh it off. However, should you go out of your way to insult and degrade his friends, then ooooooh boy…you are in for it! After Totsuki alumni Kojiro humiliates and threatens to expel Megumi, Soma steps in and challenges him to a Food War, risking expulsion in the process. This fiery exchange leads to the two of them giving it their all against the former First Seat, and while they fail to win, they do manage to somewhat earn the master chef’s respect in the process.

From the very beginning, the Elite Ten’s Ninth Seat had proved himself to be a grade-A asshole who only cares about profit. Wholly embracing Central’s ideals, he was more than happy to win Food Wars by openly bribing the judges. He also happened to have a major hate-boner for Soma. When his dormitory under threat, Soma has no choice but to challenge Eizan to a one-sided cook-off. While the odds couldn’t be more stacked against him, he still finds a way to secure an overwhelming victory thanks to sheer lusciousness of his dish. Honestly, the only thing more satisfying than the food is seeing Eizan’s defeated expression.

The three-way finale of the Autumn Elections did not disappoint. With our three chefs contrasting each other in backgrounds, styles and reasons for winning, this battle turned out to be a feast on every single level. Soma may have ended up losing, but in the process earned himself two rivals, a new direction to take his cooking, as well as acknowledgment from the rest Totsuki’s once dismissive student body. One thing’s for sure, you’re going to have a hard time deciding which dish looked tastier after seeing this culinary clash.