Toradora!: Bentou no Gokui

Side stories/spin-offs which focus more on food and food prep. Both have a huge cast. 

Both animes are about a love for food, or sa special meaning behind the food being served  

They're both different. But they do have the same plots. Well, the original Toradora was not about bentos, but this OVA was. They're both about Bentos. Both was about competition about bentos. Both has a hint of romance.  

"Food Wars: Shokugeki no Souma" and the "Toradora!: Bentou no Gokui" special both focus on cooking up meals that impress and a main character with an extremely competitive spirit. 

The "Toradora!: Bentou no Gokui" special and the "Gourmet Girl Graffiti" TV series both delve into the psychology behind preparing food not simply in terms of "how to make something tasty", but also in terms of "what to cook up". For those who are interested in seeing food prepared with a slight backdrop of a school setting as well as friendly interactions between good friends, these two anime should definitely be on your radar and you ought to check them out.