Netflix 'Culinary Class Wars' pits star chefs against hidden culinary gems
Netflix is spicing up the entertainment scene once again with the upcoming "Culinary Class Wars," its first Korean cooking survival show. The series throws 100 competitors into the mix, testing their skills in culinary battles with adrenaline-pumping sports game-like rules, all in the quest to crown the ultimate top chef.
The 100 contestants are split into two groups: the "black spoon" class, consisting of 80 hidden culinary masters from various backgrounds, from home-meal restaurant chefs and trendy pub owners to school canteen managers, and the "white spoon" class, which includes 20 celebrity chefs such as Lu Ching Lai, Choi Hyun-seok and "MasterChef Korea 2" winner Choi Kang-rok.
To crown the ultimate winner of this fierce showdown of taste and culinary skills, Korea's popular culinary icon Paik Jong-won and chef Anh Sung-jae, the mastermind behind Korea's sole Michelin three-star restaurant Mosu Seoul, judge the dishes blindfolded.
Paik said as he travels abroad for work, he has noticed a growing interest in Korean food through Korean content on Netflix. Yet, he wanted to tell those drama fans that Korea has more than "gimbap" (steamed rice roll) and "ramyeon" (instant noodles), explaining his reason for joining this show.
"I wanted to highlight a variety of regional ingredients and Korea's seasonal culinary themes. You can see them included in missions. By showcasing the diversity of Korean cuisine, I hope this show will inspire people to visit Korea to try these unique dishes and explore cities beyond Seoul, like Busan," the 58-year-old restaurateur said Wednesday during a press conference for the show at a hotel in Seoul.
"Ultimately, I hope to contribute to Korea's reputation as a culinary destination."
Paik initially doubted the idea of managing such a large number of participants at a studio due to the complex logistics of cooking setups.
"Cooking requires water, fire and drainage. Even with my experiences in many cooking programs, I knew that cooking with just five chefs could lead to water-related issues. I was pessimistic about managing 100 chefs for the show at first. I was surprised that they pulled it off. This is a monumental starting point, and I'm honored to be a part of it," Paik said.
During the show, 254 recipes and some 1,000 cooking utensils have been used. It took some 40 days to build the massive cooking set, equipped with gas pipes, drainage and a ventilation system.
Paik said he thought it would be an easy win for "white spoon" chefs, but was surprised by the unexpected outcomes.
"Cooking is more sensitive than sports. The taste of a dish can vary greatly depending on the diner. It's astonishing that so many renowned chefs took part. I initially thought the 'white' chefs would have a natural advantage, but this program has made me more humble," he said. "I've discovered many hidden culinary talents and realized the need to highlight the profound depth of Korean cuisine."
Another interesting point of the show will be the differing views on the same dish between the two judges, Paik and Anh. Regarding the blind tasting test, Paik said it might seem odd to eat with an eyemask, but round after round, when the competition gets fierce and hard to decide which dish is better, the blindfold rather allowed him to focus solely on the taste and texture.
Anh agreed, adding, "The blindfold was essential for a fair and unbiased judgment. It was a new and challenging experience, but I believe it was the right decision."
Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars" will premiere on Tuesday.
source: The Korea Times
The 100 contestants are split into two groups: the "black spoon" class, consisting of 80 hidden culinary masters from various backgrounds, from home-meal restaurant chefs and trendy pub owners to school canteen managers, and the "white spoon" class, which includes 20 celebrity chefs such as Lu Ching Lai, Choi Hyun-seok and "MasterChef Korea 2" winner Choi Kang-rok.
To crown the ultimate winner of this fierce showdown of taste and culinary skills, Korea's popular culinary icon Paik Jong-won and chef Anh Sung-jae, the mastermind behind Korea's sole Michelin three-star restaurant Mosu Seoul, judge the dishes blindfolded.
Paik said as he travels abroad for work, he has noticed a growing interest in Korean food through Korean content on Netflix. Yet, he wanted to tell those drama fans that Korea has more than "gimbap" (steamed rice roll) and "ramyeon" (instant noodles), explaining his reason for joining this show.
"I wanted to highlight a variety of regional ingredients and Korea's seasonal culinary themes. You can see them included in missions. By showcasing the diversity of Korean cuisine, I hope this show will inspire people to visit Korea to try these unique dishes and explore cities beyond Seoul, like Busan," the 58-year-old restaurateur said Wednesday during a press conference for the show at a hotel in Seoul.
"Ultimately, I hope to contribute to Korea's reputation as a culinary destination."
Paik initially doubted the idea of managing such a large number of participants at a studio due to the complex logistics of cooking setups.
"Cooking requires water, fire and drainage. Even with my experiences in many cooking programs, I knew that cooking with just five chefs could lead to water-related issues. I was pessimistic about managing 100 chefs for the show at first. I was surprised that they pulled it off. This is a monumental starting point, and I'm honored to be a part of it," Paik said.
During the show, 254 recipes and some 1,000 cooking utensils have been used. It took some 40 days to build the massive cooking set, equipped with gas pipes, drainage and a ventilation system.
Paik said he thought it would be an easy win for "white spoon" chefs, but was surprised by the unexpected outcomes.
"Cooking is more sensitive than sports. The taste of a dish can vary greatly depending on the diner. It's astonishing that so many renowned chefs took part. I initially thought the 'white' chefs would have a natural advantage, but this program has made me more humble," he said. "I've discovered many hidden culinary talents and realized the need to highlight the profound depth of Korean cuisine."
Another interesting point of the show will be the differing views on the same dish between the two judges, Paik and Anh. Regarding the blind tasting test, Paik said it might seem odd to eat with an eyemask, but round after round, when the competition gets fierce and hard to decide which dish is better, the blindfold rather allowed him to focus solely on the taste and texture.
Anh agreed, adding, "The blindfold was essential for a fair and unbiased judgment. It was a new and challenging experience, but I believe it was the right decision."
Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars" will premiere on Tuesday.
source: The Korea Times