So teams compete in a salsa dancing competition? Winner gets the probable plot device?

No, no. See, there are two factions. One prepares mild salsa, and one prepares the hot stuff. You're born under the finest brand of mild salsa, but for years, you've been producing the hottest salsa ever known.

Until something goes terribly wrong and you begin to suspect your life is a lie, and you produce picante sauce.

Both factions believe you've gone mad and need to be stopped.

.....................................

Your childhood friend, however, believes in you, even if they happen to think picante sauce is disgusting. They'll be by your side the whole time, and lend you their sword staff cooking talents.

Searching for the ultimate ingredient, you come across several more kindred souls, searching for something new in the war of salsa. They join your cause, and you slowly deepen your bonds with them.

You find leads as you go on - a plot of land that grows a pepper seen once in fifteen years, the secrets of the legendary onion, golden tomatoes with a curious consistency, and so on.

...holy shoot is it bad I'd play this

like I love food-based manga and anime I'd play this

Then, one day, on your travels, you hear a rumor. About an ancient recipe, passed through generations, across dynasties, maybe beyond space and time. It's contained in a mystical artifact: the Salsa Emblem.

Its location is closely guarded, and it's said only the chosen one can unlock its delicious, spicy secrets.

Of course, everyone ELSE wants the Salsa Emblem, too. The mild faction wants to improve their taste while also keeping their recipe easy to eat. The spicy faction needs to turn up the heat ever further.

/can't stop reading

You? You just want to make the ultimate salsa. You don't care about mild, or spicy, or to some extent if it's even really salsa. You're here to make the perfect dip.

and we gotta recruit chefs to our cause!

Exactly! And they all have different specialties, and some of them even have cool skills that change the way they cut up ingredients!