The Third Plate

Soma finds out that Totsuki has a school festival that happens at the end of autumn called the Moon Festival. Soma is told by the 8th seat of the Elite Ten, Kuga, that if he’s able to beat him in any dish there, he’ll accept a Shokugeki from him and Soma decides to enter the Moon Festival so he can challenge him. He then goes to Kuga’s Chinese Food RS and sees...

After seeing the Chinese Food RS, Soma decides to put out a Chinese cuisine food stall at the Moon Festival to challenge Kuga. Meanwhile, Alice pairs up with Kurokiba and Hayama, and the others also start to prepare for the Moon Festival. Soma starts preparing a dish for his stand at the festival with the help of Megumi, but things aren’t going that well...

The Moon Festival finally begins! The dish that Soma decides to make for his stand are black pepper pork buns that are made in a stone oven. However, the crowd keeps going over to the more luxorious Chinese cuisine RS's stand instead. Soma ends up in the red on the first day. Since students who end up with losses during this school festival will be expelled, Soma is already in trouble. Will he be able to turn things around?!

It is now the third day of the Moon Festival! While the addition of the Sorta Danzi Noodles dish to their lineup has helped Soma improve their sales, they are nowhere near Chinese Cuisine RS, who continues to dominate the sales rankings. Soma decides to get help and start serving yet another new dish: Mapo Tofu, the same as Chinese Cuisine RS! However, his version has a surprising secret--what is Soma's strategy?

The final day of the Moon Festival is here. Soma and Kuga's battle finally draws to a close--who will emerge the victor? After closing up shop in the Central Area, Soma and Megumi accept Rindo's invitation to go to Tsukasa Eishi's booth in the Yamanote Area! What kind of food will be served by the first seat?

More than half the Elite Ten Council have been turned by Erina's father, Nakiri Azami, and appointed him as Totsuki's new director! News of the regime change comes as a shock to the whole campus, and there is unease in the air. One day, Soma goes back to his room, only to find the former director, Senzaemon, waiting for him. Senzaemon begins to tell Soma about Erina's shocking past...

With Alice and Hisako's help, Erina escaped from her family home and came to Polar Star Dormitory. Meanwhile, Azami establishes Central, whose members will solely consist of students he personally finds worthy. In addition, he announces the dissolution of research groups, research societies, and clubs! Polar Star Dormitory is also on the list...

Soma and Eizan begin the shokugeki that will determine the fate of Polar Star Dormitory. Hereto known more as a skilled consultant, Eizan's strengths as a chef will finally become known. The shokugeki's topic is Satsuma chicken from Kagoshima prefecture. However, the match is rigged due to Eizan having bought out all the judges. Does Soma have a fighting chance?

Though Polar Star Dormitory has won a narrow victory, the Azami administration is continuing its revolution. Isshiki (7th Seat), Megishima (3rd Seat), Kuga (8th Seat) are removed from the Elite Ten. Furthermore, the administration begins its "survivor hunt" to crush remaining organizations who seek to overturn the administration's decision to shut them all down...

With the survival of Cutting Edge Cuisine RS on the line, Kurokiba and Kusunoki's shokugeki begins. Not only does Kusunoki prepare the key ingredient, salmon, with the same skill as Kurokiba, but he also pulls out a steam convection oven. How will Kurokiba counter Kusunoki's expertise in cutting edge culinary skills?

Cutting Edge Cuisine RS was able to defeat Central. However, other organizations who suffered defeat have been shut down, strengthening Central's control over the academy. Meanwhile, the First Seat happens to become the substitute instructor in Soma's class, and Soma volunteers to be his assistant...

Soma battles with the First Seat of the Totsuki Elite Ten, Tsukasa. If Soma loses, he has to join Central and Tsukasa wagers seat in the Elite Ten. Their topic is French cuisine using venison. However, Soma pulls out an unlikely ingredient and a bizarre tool. The judges for this battle end up being Erina, Megumi, and Hisako who thought they were hiding, but were found. Who will be the victor in this battle that could greatly change both of their lives?

The 1st years at the Totsuki Culinary Institute are facing the biggest event of the 2nd semester, “The Advancement Exam”! However, the mood is gloomy at Polar Star dormitory as it is rumored that those who won't obey Azami's regime will face elimination. As Soma reflects on the situation, he is visited by Erina. When he hears her thoughts, he starts to cook a “Yukihira dish” and make her taste it…!

The advancement exam traditionally takes place in Hokkaido every year. With theme of the exam being Hokkaido ingredients, Erina is to hold a special lesson on Hokkaido to the Polar Star members. With extra hard training, they are now ready for the exam. Soma and others arrive in Hakodate. The 1st exam shortly begins; however, they are already facing the interference from the Central Gourmet Organization…!

After passing the 1st exam, Soma and others are moving onto the 2nd exam! The next theme is “noodle dish”! However, they face another obstruction from the Central! When it's their time to cook, all the noodles were used up. Although the regulation is to “procure any missing ingredients yourself”, they are stranded in the rural mountain side venue and are also grounded with heavy snow! How will Soma and friends get through this!?

The advancement exam continues. In the 3rd exam, students are to battle Totsuki Elite Ten members! Soma is up against none other than Hayama, who joined the council recently. Their exam will begin in 3 days’ time, with “bear meat” as its theme. Soma goes straight into trials but because of its distinct smell, bear meat is proven more difficult to handle. As Soma tackles bear meat fruitlessly, an unexpected person comes to his aid…!

Soma thinks upon the circumstance of Shiomi Seminar’s closure and the reason why Hayama joined the Central without a fight. Dojima, who knew why Hayama joined the Elite Ten, tells Soma it was because Azami has been pulling the wires from behind. With that knowledge, Soma heads to where Hayama is! Finally, the day of the 3rd exam is here! Soma’s revenge match begins!!

The 3rd round of the Advancement Exam begins with Soma vs new member of the Elite Ten, Hayama! Soma throws everything he’s got into his ultimately delicious Bear Menchi Katsu, which seemed like a winning dish already. In that situation, Hayama’s bear meat dish is finally revealed! A bear dish prepared with Hayama’s extremely acute sense of smell blows judges away and even makes them admit that it surpasses Soma’s dish! However, Soma’s eyes still shine with hope. What will his next move be!?

Hisako, Alice and Kurokiba all failed the third exam and were expelled! In desperation, Erina directly negotiates with Azami but her pleas are not taken seriously. Soma also challenges Azami for the seat at the Elite Ten. Like Erina, his challenge is also brushed away but the situation changes entirely when a certain person appears at the scene!

In order to prepare themselves for the upcoming Régiment du Cuisine, Soma and the others divide into 2 teams for practice battle. While they are not allowed to speak under the rule, the team leader Dojima prepares a dish but to everyone’s confusion, he improvises from the recipe. As Takumi tries to understand Dojima’s intention, he recalls back to the events at Stagiaire Challenge…

23 years ago, Polar Star dormitory lead by Saiba Joichiro and Dojima Gin was known as the strongest of all Totsuki Academy. Joichiro’s creative dishes won many competitions and were recognized by many, however, he had an unsettling feeling inside him…

The day of the Regiment de Cuisine is here! Soma has selected 8 best members to defeat the Central! After Azami and Erina’s discussion, it was decided that Soma, Isshiki and Megishima will fight in the 1st BOUT. Soma is up against Kinokuni Nene, the 6th seat in Central and also an expert in “soba” noodles! What will the shokugeki theme be!?

Excitement rises as the judges arrive at the venue of the Regiment de Cuisine. Isshiki is up against the 8th seat and Italian cuisine specialist Shiratsu Julio! His rivalry for Isshiki is apparent but what’s the reason behind it? Julio’s dish is ready first! What will the judges reaction be!?

The 3rd and final battle between Soma and Nene is heating up, as they are putting everything they've got in the dish! As the theme of shokugeki is soba, Nene is in her element and finishes first. Her dish is highly praised by the judges so what will Soma cook up to turn the situation around!?