Food Wars: Culinary Battleground

Food Wars Review

Food Wars aka Shokugeki no Soma.  

Who would have guessed a shōnen show about food competitions would make for an entertaining anime?  Not this guy I had no idea what I was getting into when I first started to watch

 I was ready to write the whole show off as another softcore adolescent hormone-filled romp but there are actually some genuine nuggets of quality mixed in there if you're willing to have a good sense of humor and not take it too seriously.

I'm not going to lie this show's weekly episode sparked more than one trip to the local grocery store for ingredients to try some new food.

The food in this show just looks so damn tasty that it makes you want to eat it and makes you think "Yeah yeah I could totally make that".

The meat looks juicy and tender, the veggies look crisp and delectable, and the deserts are as sinfully decadent as you can imagine.  The sensation reminded me of watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a kid.  The pizza in the show looked like the most delicious thing you've ever seen and I spend years in search of a pizza with as much pull as the one they show.

Watching Food Wars on an empty stomach is ill-advised at best and dangerous at worst as you start throwing different ingredients together to make your own culinary "interpretations"

Forewarned is forearmed you will want to listen to parts of this anime with headphones on or with the volume down.  There was literally a section of the first episode where I was scrambling for the volume remote.

Also, we did a review of NO GAME, NO LIFE  so please read and enjoy!

Foodgasm

The show has a segment that occurs after someone has tried exceptionally delicious food, which can only be described as a full-blown foodgasm. 

During this segment, there are typically comical sound effects, such as moaning and exclamations, and sometimes even costume changes. However, this segment only lasts for about 20 seconds, but it feels like a long 20 seconds. As the show progresses, these segments occur less frequently, but they pick up again towards the end of the series.
                                     
If I'm being perfectly honest these sequences are the reason why I almost didn't finish the series. However, I powered through it and I'm glad that I watched it.

If you're into a more ecchi anime try Date Alive

In Food Wars, the main character follows a common trope of being a natural talent in cooking despite having no formal training or prestigious background. 

However, he faces humbling moments throughout the show, including when other students at the competitive culinary academy belittle him as "just a cook from a diner."

These comments often come from entitled individuals who highlight the undervaluation and dismissiveness our protagonist faces from his peers. Despite this, he proves his worth by using his real-world experience in the food industry to outshine those who rely solely on theoretical and academic knowledge.

Eventually, though every protagonist must come up against opponents that truly test them and are even humble and Food Wars is no exception.

Should you watch it?

In my perspective, it would have been better if Sōma-kun faced more challenges, but I am satisfied with the outcome. Other characters describe Soma-kun as someone who seems cool but is actually a sore loser, meaning that he is very competitive and dislikes losing.

However, Soma-kun always learns from his defeats and applies those lessons to future endeavors. The takeaway here is to never let a loss define you, and instead, use it to become stronger. This message is something that everyone can appreciate.

To summarize, the show is enjoyable to watch, but it won't necessarily change your perspective on anime or the world. It takes you on a lighthearted journey through the culinary world that will leave you craving more episodes and delicious food.

I recommend it as a good choice if you're looking for something to watch while planning your next series, but it may not be the best introduction to anime for beginners.