The Straw Hat Pirates' resident chef has been providing sustenance for the crew since he joined them in the early days of One Piece. In fact, Sanji's cooking is notable enough to warrant him his own cooking spin-off manga miniseries -- Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Sanji.
Like the events featured in this spin-off, Sanji has prepared a variety of dishes that left an imprint in the fans' minds for one reason or another. Here are Sanji's most memorable dishes -- not because of their taste, but because of the story behind them.
Gin's Food
During Sanji's introductory arc, he was shown as a server in Baratie. Gin, a member of the Krieg Pirates, successfully escaped from Marine Lieutenant Fullbody's ship after being held captive and deprived of food for days. He demanded food from the floating restaurant but got kicked out by the chefs. Seeing the starving man, Sanji handed him a plate of seafood risotto. Gin gladly accepted and licked the plate clean. The pirate peacefully left after finishing his meal.
Two days later, Gin came back with his captain and their wrecked ship. They once again demanded food from Baratie -- a request the fighting chefs refused once more. As someone who can't turn away anyone famished, Sanji gave Don Krieg a meal. Don Krieg finished it, then demanded that Baratie cook for his entire crew. However, he didn't stop there. He also exhorted for Baratie, further agitating the fighting chefs. The other chefs stopped Sanji from giving any more food to the disrespectful pirates, but Zeff stepped in and fed them, proving who Sanji inherited the trait from. Even though Baratie was attacked after, Sanji's adamancy to feed the hungry left a positive impression on both Luffy and the viewers.
Luffy's Soiled Bento
Sanji left the Straw Hat Pirate crew in a bid to save them from Big Mom's wrath. However, Luffy didn't accept a forced departure and followed him to Whole Cake Island. When the two finally met, Sanji refused to go back and even gave Luffy a beating. Luffy believed in Sanji despite the cook's actions and proclaimed a hunger strike, saying that he would only eat a dish Sanji prepared.
When he was preparing a bento for Pudding, Sanji subconsciously made every Straw Hat's favorite food, which was also served as a catalyst to firm his resolve. He ultimately decided to hand it to Luffy, although the bento got dropped, shaken about and rained on during the process. Despite the bento's horrible state, Luffy still gladly ate it and also recognized all the dishes.
Big Mom's Cake
While everybody was looking forward to Sanji and Pudding's wedding that would unify the Germa 66 with the Big Mom Pirates, Big Mom was highly anticipating eating the wedding cake. However, Luffy ruined it by employing a Trojan Horse plan. Losing her cake in addition to Brook destroying Mother Carmel's portrait turned Big Mom into a walking disaster. To stop her, Chiffon and Pudding sought Sanji's help in recreating the cake Luffy destroyed.
Sanji went undercover and started preparing the cake along with Chiffon, Pudding and numerous patissiers from Whole Cake Island. They finished it just before Big Mom annihilated the Thousand Sunny, and it proved delicious enough not only to stop Big Mom in her tracks but also temporarily knock her down, granting the Straw Hat Pirates some room to breathe.
Sanji's cooking skills are without a doubt one of the best in One Piece, but the most memorable dishes he's prepared are not necessarily the most delicious. From a thrashed bento to a towering cake, what makes these dishes impactful is the story and emotions they convey.
