Three Korean American chefs have joined the ranks of 100 competitors in a cooking reality show, setting the stage for a culinary showdown.
The show has drawn attention, especially with the presence of top chefs from Korea, leaving viewers curious about how the Korean American chefs will perform.
On September 17, Netflix premiered its original series Culinary Class Wars, a cooking survival show where 80 lesser-known hidden masters (black spoon) challenge 20 renowned chefs (white spoon) in intense culinary battles.
Among the “white spoon” chefs, two Korean American chefs, Edward Lee and Seonkyoung Longest, have joined the fray alongside famous Korean chefs like Choi Hyun-seok, Yeo Kyung-rae, and Jung Ji-sun.
Chef Edward Lee is no stranger to competition, having won Iron Chef America in 2010. He operates several restaurants in Kentucky and has been nominated nine times for the prestigious James Beard Awards, often dubbed the “Academy Awards of the culinary world.” In 2023, Lee was invited to prepare food for the U.S.-Korea state dinner at the White House.
Chef Seonkyoung Longest also rose to fame through cooking competitions, winning Food Network’s Restaurant Express in 2013. After serving as the executive chef at Jade Fusion in Las Vegas, she now shares Asian cooking recipes through her popular YouTube channel and website.
On the “black spoon” side, chefs from all walks of life—including restaurant owners, YouTube chefs, and school cafeteria cooks—are competing. Among them is Korean American chef Austin Kang, who gained recognition after finishing in the top five on MasterChef Korea Season 4. Kang is also a well-known model and TV personality.
The 12-episode series launched with episodes 1 to 4 on September 17, with episodes 5 to 7 set to air on September 24. The remaining episodes will be released on October 1 and October 8.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
