The heated culinary clash in the latest South Korean cooking competition Culinary Class Wars is once in a lifetime opportunity for the Black Spoon cooks (underdogs) to outshine the elite 20 White Spoon chefs. The show is topping the non-English TV shows list on Netflix, as viewers eagerly anticipate the last flavor face-off.
As revealed in the first episode of Culinary Class Wars, the winning chef will take home 300 million South Korean won as prize money. The competition is judged by Michelin star chef Ahn Sun-jae, the owner of MOSU, Seoul, and famous chef Paik Jong-won.
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In the first battle of dishes, the contestants were stunned to learn the elimination of 60 Black Spoon cooks out of 80, as the judges did not compromise with the strict rules. Despite the eliminations, some Black Spoon chefs are experiencing a flood of orders after appearing on the show.
How much is 300 Million Won in USD - Prize money offered in Culinary Class Wars
Culinary Class Wars is a game of survival, and the last one to survive with their extraordinary dish gets to secure 300 million won, which translates to around 2,28,956.07 USD (United States Dollars). Apart from the handsome prize money, the underdog will also get the chance to reveal their name at the end of the culinary clash.
Unlike typical cooking shows, Culinary Class Wars stands out for its unique format and welcomes 100 contestants from all over South Korea to highlight their cooking skills. The clash gets intense with each episode as judges continue to share honest feedback on dishes they didn't like.
The Black Spoon chefs are recognized by their nicknames on the show and stand against each other to remain in contention against the White Spoons. The show is getting extremely popular among subscribers as they get to see a clash between the signature dishes of the contestants.
The ripple effect of Culinary Class Wars on South Korean dining
The effect of Culinary Class Wars on the South Korean dining scene has gone beyond elevating chef profiles. Whether is a famous restaurant of the White Spoon chef or a modest eatery owned by a Black Spoon, there has been an impressive surge in restaurant demand after the release of the cooking competition.
After appearing as one of the White Spoons, Chef Choi Kang-rok saw an impressive demand for reservations for his restaurant Neo. Thousands of people tried to book a table at his restaurant, but the reservation closed in a minute on September 22, 2024.
Similarly, chef Oh Jun-tak who appeared as a Black Spoon cook in the competition, saw an unavoidable line of customers outside his restaurant Namyeong Chicken in Seoul on September 21, 2024. Not only he, but another contestant nicknamed God of Seasoning in the cooking composite had to close his restaurant Edamame Bar before time due to high demand.
Interestingly, this is what one of the two judges Ahn Sun-jae aimed at before agreeing to appear on the show. The famous dining chef wants to elevate the South Korean dining scene after it was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While talking about his motivation to judge Culinary Class Wars, Chef Ahn Sun-jae said "I saw it as a chance to highlight South Korea's culinary scene" (via The Chosun Daily).
Reasons behind the growing popularity of Culinary Class Wars on Netflix
One of the biggest reasons why Culinary Class Wars is topping charts on Netflix is its underdog storyline. These narratives are mostly found in famous Japanese manga like Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, in which the underdogs must elevate their skills in each phase.
Even though the clash is between the elite and underdog chefs, the White Spoon chefs have the option of not competing in the culinary clash. Another reason why the show is gathering all the attention is the expertise of the two judges.
While Ahn Sun-jae is recognized for the three Michelin stars for MOSU, chef Paik Jong-won holds remarkable expertise in street food. Even though their judgments are based on taste, it's intriguing to watch how the two chefs offer insights on different dishes.
Culinary Class Wars is streaming on Netflix.
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