Food Wars! is basically everything a chocolate, hamburger, yogurt or any kind of food commercial wants to be—it illustrates the effect really delicious food can have on you. And it does it in sexy, bizarre and hilarious ways. 

Our main character, Soma, is a confident young cook at his father’s restaurant, a delicious haven treasured by the locals. Soma’s peeled and pan-fried his way up in the kitchen by accepting the numerous food challenges placed upon him by his father. Soma has a pretty bad track record in his delicacy duels with dad, but he’s learned to think creatively when it comes to food. However, his ideas don’t always end up delicious: an example found in volume one, peanut butter and grilled squid, is about as appetizing as it sounds. PB & Squid aside, Soma proves that he’s not afraid to challenge culinary notions, and this spicy attitude makes him the perfect candidate for, say, attending the top culinary school in the country.

At the urgings of his father, Soma applies to Totsuki Institute, Japan’s premier culinary school. Only the crème de la crème can sauté their way through Totsuki’s rigorous curriculum and cutthroat student body. Everyone is on the chopping block at Totsuki. Only the strongest chefs will make it to graduation, meanwhile the weak burn out like Baked Alaska…or some other flambéed dish. The smallest mistake can result in instant expulsion. And students themselves can speed up this process by challenging each other to a Shokugeki, “the Totsuki Institute’s legendary one-on-one cooking duel.”

Volume four begins in a Shokugeki partnership between Soma and his shy classmate Megumi. They’re not just facing another student; they’re facing top French Chef, Shinomiya, a graduate of Totsuki who has a foul mouth, but a flawless food vision. 

If you’re a fan of cooking shows, you may know what to expect from Food Wars! Vigorous cooking sequences followed by a judgment of each chef’s dish. Food Wars! brings some fun into the mix by visually showing people’s reactions to the food entering their palates. Whether these reactions are revulsion or bliss, readers are able to view their odyssey of consumption, often in humorous and sensual ways. Food Wars! definitely understands the deep relationship we have with our food and puts artistic care into how each dish is displayed in the manga. As a wonderful bonus, recipes of dishes made by Soma and friends (or enemies) are included in the volumes, so readers can have their own food battles.

I enjoyed this volume because we were able to see Soma in a supportive role as Megumi takes the lead in her Shokugeki against the formidable Shinomiya. We also learn more about Shinomiya’s motivations; how even a successful chef can loose his way at the top… And then find it again with the help of plucky young students.

If you're looking for a tasty new manga to whet your palette, try  Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma! 

by Cat Rechsteiner