I'll begin by informing you that this show really takes culinary seriously. It's very informative and educational, along with entertaining. These were huge pluses for me, because I didn't want to be droned with boring monologues and stupid cooking innuendos that were just there for the sake of being there.
The first thing that grabs your attention is Souma, a headstrong aspiring chef who wishes to surpass his father one day and own their little restaurant. Souma is confident, to the point where he initially believes that his cooking has little rivalry.
One day, his father leaves suddenly, and enrolls Souma in a culinary school. Soma thinks it's a pain; he even complains to his father via phone call. But the guy is blindsided when he's told that the school isn't an ordinary one. It's high class, demands nothing but excellence, and has a pass rate of 10%. THAT'S what drew me in.
Throughout the anime, you really feel how the characters struggle. The school itself is brutal and only the best can make it passed their challenges.
I was really impressed with Souma overall. He fought tooth and nail to survive against top-level candidates that are from rich backgrounds, and have had the best of lives. He faced challenge after challenge with certainty that he could beat them. What made him even more grounded as a character was that even though he put all his effort into something, it didn't mean he would be on top every time. He always strives to be better, even more so when he loses at something. The unpredictability of Souma aided in developing him into a well-rounded, likable individual.
Megumi was another favorite of mine. She started off timid and unsure of her abilities as a chef. She almost got expelled from the school, but she was able to get help and confide in Souma as a partner, and their teamwork won them partial victory when they needed it. Overtime, she grew into her own person and rose to the occasion thanks to being around Souma and her dormmates.
'Nikumi' was one person I felt was the least developed and a bit rushed as a supporting character. It would have been nice to see a better effort in making her.
The sound in the show is perfectly executed. It highlights danger when necessary, adds to the comedy aspect of the anime, and genuinely - sometimes - nice to just sit back and listen to.
Whether you like cooking or not, whether you feel that watching someone make something to eat in an anime is a waist of your time, you should really give this show a shot. It's not for everyone, that's for damn sure, but the only way for you to decide whether it suits your curiosity is to try it out.
