You ever heard the saying that good food tastes better when you eat it with others? Gourmet Girl Graffiti is literally that concept turned into a wholesome Slice of Life series and Im all for it. Relaxing Slice of Life series that focus on appreciating the small thingslike ARIA and Hidamari Sketchare probably my favorite overall subgenre in anime and manga. Graffiti took that vibe and combined it with one of my favorite things: enjoying food especially Japanese food. It was a combo I didnt know I needed until this aired in the mid2010s. The first episode does a great job of setting up the theme. The main character Ryou is a nice but shy and modest girl whos naturally a good cook. The animation shows off her food beautifully but she feels like something is missingher cooking doesnt taste right even though she follows the same recipes she was taught as a kid. Then theres her second cousin Kirin. Despite being family shes basically Ryous complete oppositehyperactive curious and full of energy. She loves Ryous cooking but more than that she specifically emphasizes that eating it together is what makes it so good. This simple but emotionally effective moment hooked me for the rest of the series and that warm comforting tone is why I love it so much. Slice of Life often gets criticized for being slow or uneventful but to me Graffiti proves that just a little theming and two likable contrasting main characters are enough to make a show feel engaging and comfy. I love the dynamic between Ryou and Kirin. Despite their differences theyre always so happy just hanging out trying new recipes and describing why they love food so much. Honestly even though Im not a girl their friendship reminds me of the kind I wished I had growing up. A good Slice of Life keeps a consistent tone and stays entertaining but what elevates a good one to a great one is emotional depth and character development. While Graffiti doesnt go super deep the little growth we get is satisfying. Ryou starts off as someone who enjoys cooking but learns to appreciate the experience of sharing food and company. Meanwhile Kirin despite being the hyper one gets some surprisingly strong moments later in the season. Lets just say that while Ryou does most of the cooking Kirin isnt completely out of the pictureand when she does get involved its really well done. Aside from the wholesome interactions theres some quirky humor sprinkled in. Its never too overthetop or out of place for this kind of show which just goes to show how well the writing balances the comedy and comfy vibes. That said as much as I love the vibe the emphasis on beautifully animated Japanese food and the main duos interactions I have to admit Graffiti isnt perfect. One thing that could be a hit or miss for viewers is the way it presents the characters lowkey sensual enjoyment of food. Even in something like Shokugeki no Souma Food Wars the foodgasms can be divisive. Graffiti has similar momentssuper slow detailed closeups of slicing picking up and eating food. As a foodie I actually love this the attention to detail makes me hungry. But then theres the other aspect. I havent mentioned this yet but both Ryou and Kirin are middle schoolers. Look anime already has a habit of sexualizing high schoolers which is a gray area Ive had to come to terms with over the years. But middle schoolers? In a show thats supposed to be about wholesome food appreciation? Occasionally lewding them feels unnecessary and just weird. Another issue is that while theres solid character development some episodes feel repetitivereusing the same themes but with different food. It doesnt ruin the show but it happens a little too often for my liking. Then theres Shiina the third main character. Shes chill and makes fun commentary about Ryou and Kirins dynamic but shes barely around. When she is there she feels more like a third wheel than a real part of the group. Maybe if there were more recurring side characters for her to bounce off shed have more of a role but as is shes just likable enough without being fully utilized. Otherwise I cant find too much to criticize objectively. Its a super wholesome Slice of Life that nails the iyashikei vibe has a great family dynamic andshockinglydoesnt rely on yuribaiting. Plus the focus on Japanese food is right up my alley. Its a shame the series never got popular enough for a second season or even full manga scanlations. Honestly this should be the poster child for how to do a good wholesome downtoearth Slice of Life.