Ep 23. The Unfolding Individual Competition

In Food Wars season 1 episode 23, titled "The Unfolding Individual Competition," the students of Totsuki Academy's Culinary Arts Program are divided into groups to compete in an individual cooking competition. The students are required to make dishes inspired by a randomly selected country.

The episode opens with the announcement of the competition and the drawing of the various countries by the students. Soma, the protagonist, is tasked with making a dish inspired by the cuisine of Thailand. Despite not having any prior experience with Thai cuisine, Soma remains confident and begins to research the country's signature dishes.

As the students prepare for the competition, tensions begin to rise among those in the same country group, as they start to see each other as competitors. Erina, the Queen of Totsuki, also makes an appearance in the episode, where she is seen as cold and ruthless as usual.

The competition itself is intense, with each student showcasing their respective dishes. Soma's dish, a Thai-style fried rice, surprises the judges, who find it unique and delicious. However, the real highlight of the episode is the dish made by Alice, a classmate of Soma's who is known for her scientific approach to cooking. Her dish, which incorporates the use of jellyfish, wows the judges with its unusual flavor profile.

As the competition comes to a close, the judges deliberate and decide on a winner. The results of the competition are not revealed in this episode, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats for the next episode.

Overall, "The Unfolding Individual Competition" is a thrilling episode that showcases the students' culinary skills and their ability to work under pressure. It also highlights the intense competition and rivalries that exist within the academy, making it a must-watch for fans of the series.