Roland Chapelle is one of Tootsuki Culinary Academy's most feared instructors, known for his uncompromising standards and iron-fisted approach to teaching. He earned the nickname "the Chef Who Never Smiles"—and it stuck because he genuinely lived up to it. For Chapelle, every student presentation matters as much as a professional service; he treats each dish like it's a reflection of who they'll become as chefs, whether they're learning French cuisine or anything else. Fail to meet his bar, and you'll face his ruthless judgment. He's essentially judge, jury, and executioner at the academy.
That changed when Souma Yukihira transferred in. His resourceful, innovative approach to cooking—particularly his take on Boeuf Bourguignon—actually made Chapelle smile. It's the only time anyone's seen it happen. Souma became the first and only rookie to crack that supposedly impenetrable exterior.
Chapelle takes French cuisine personally. It's his specialty, his pride, and he has zero patience for anyone disrespecting it. His whole teaching philosophy boils down to one thing: rigid discipline equals perfect results. Students who don't excel aren't just underperforming—they've failed to prove their worth, period. Combined with his gruff, no-nonsense demeanor, his reputation is so severe that even the legendary Elite Ten think twice before crossing him.
But here's the thing: for all his harshness, Chapelle is actually fair. He doesn't play favorites, and his judgments, while brutal, are rooted in genuine assessment.
Content compiled by AnimeList.moe from publicly available sources.
