Netflix variety show 'Culinary Class Wars' released visual editorial photos and impressions of the TOP7 glory winners.
'Culinary Class Wars 2' has only one episode left until the finale, and interest in the winner is intense. White Spoon Choi Kang-rok, who scored the highest in infinite cooking heaven, advanced directly to the final first, while in the final showdown of infinite cooking hell, interest is focused on who will survive between White Spoon Hou Deok-juk and Black Spoon the cooking monster to face Choi Kang-rok in the final head-to-head. With great support for the final, Netflix released visual editorial photos of the TOP7 chefs to raise expectations.
Hou Deok-juk, who showed the dignity of a master of Chinese cuisine and made the final three, said, "I still think cooking is an endless learning process," and explained the reason for the challenge: "I wanted to pass on my cooking experience to juniors and at the same time learn from the energy and perspectives of young chefs, so I decided to take on the challenge."
He added, "Cooking is about taking responsibility for a person's day and body," and emphasized, "Making food that keeps the body and mind healthy is what I consider the essence of cooking." Through Culinary Class Wars, Hou Deok-juk said, "Watching juniors who quietly do their best in their positions reminded me of the original intention and responsibility toward cooking," and expressed his gratitude: "I sincerely thank viewers around the world for their warm interest in Chinese cuisine and my cooking. To repay this love, I will continue honest cooking, putting my name and philosophy into each bowl."
Monk Seonjae, Korea's first master of temple cuisine, said, "I wanted to share the wisdom embedded in Korean food with more people," and explained his reason for appearing: "In our traditional food there is deep teaching in choosing ingredients, how to make them, and how to eat them so that it becomes practice. Through Culinary Class Wars, I decided to appear hoping that the wisdom of Korean food, based on the Buddhist spirit of compassion and emptiness, will bring small awakening, empathy and warm sharing to viewers' everyday tables."
For Monk Seonjae, cooking is practice. He said, "I think food is not just about filling one person's stomach but the fruit of life in the whole universe gathered by connections," and revealed, "So I feel cooking is about conversing with the ingredients and the heart, and helping as a bridge that links my life with those lives. What and how you cut, how you cook it, and with what mind you place it on the table reveal the state of my practice. For me, cooking is not a technique but living meditation and prayer that examines and refines my mind every moment," delivering a deep impression.
Monk Seonjae said everyone is a practitioner in their own way. "Watching many people on set give their all for the one dish they were responsible for, I felt that that devotion and focus are no different from the attitude of practice spoken of in Buddhism. Whether as a job or a hobby, I deeply learned that the moment each person makes food wholeheartedly they are already on the path of practice," he said.
Monk Seonjae said, "I deeply thank all the people around the world who love Culinary Class Wars," and added, "Food is a gift formed by the lives of the whole universe coming together, and "eating together" is a common language that connects us all. Only when animals and plants, land and air, and water are all happy can we truly be happy. I hope that a single meal on your table becomes food that saves yourself, your neighbors and nature together."
Im Seong-keun, who sparked a craze for 'All kinds of sauces' in Korean cuisine's highest tier, explained his reason for the challenge: "I wanted to let foreign countries know that not only fusion Korean or autokorean cuisine but traditional Korean food is this diverse and colorful." For Im Seong-keun, cooking is his mother. He said, "During hungry times I wanted to give my parents as much food as possible, so I learned Korean cooking while working, and through working I have been learning and feeling my mother's hardships and tastes for life."
Im Seong-keun said, "I was very pleased and grateful that there were many young chefs doing Korean food in season 2," and through Culinary Class Wars he shared what he learned: "I was grateful to learn new stories and techniques of traditional Korean food through the young chefs as well." He asked viewers to remember that there is traditional Korean cuisine expert Im Seong-keun in Korea and expressed gratitude to everyone who supported and loved him, saying, "I will surely repay you with good food."
Jung Ho-young, Korea's representative Japanese cuisine star chef, said he decided to appear because "while watching season 1 I immersed myself in each scene wondering what I would do in that situation, and so I wanted to try it once." For Jung Ho-young, cooking is a lifelong companion. "It was a great opportunity to grow more as a cook and mentally," Jung said, adding, "Thank you so much for all the love, and I will repay you with delicious food."
Choi Kang-rok, who wrote a drama of retrying and advanced to the final, gave an unusual reason typical of him: "to recharge dopamine." Choi, who says cooking accounts for 52% of his life, quoted author Han River Police's "question" about what he learned through Culinary Class Wars: "The past chef Choi Kang-rok saves the present chef Choi Kang-rok," leaving a strong impression. He concluded, "If there is any small resonance, even if it is each viewer's interpretation or illusion through the characters in Culinary Class Wars, I will consider it a great honor and live accordingly."
Brewmaster Yun, who connects tradition and modernity with a hand taste for brewing alcohol, said, "As someone who brews traditional liquor and cooks, I wanted to show the diversity of Korean food culture," and explained the reason for entering the fierce competition: "I applied to appear because I wanted to be remembered as a mother who takes on challenges." For Brewmaster Yun, cooking is respect for the season, ingredients, the eater, and what is as it is. "Watching other chefs' cooking processes up close made me want to do this wonderful work longer and more seriously," she said, adding her gratitude: "I was moved to hear that people enjoyed the Korean food and alcohol I cooked and that they cried and laughed with me whenever I survived. I, too, received great comfort and strength. I am truly grateful."
The cooking monster, who made the final three, said his reason for appearing was, "I had many difficulties preparing to open a restaurant, and I wanted to test myself as a person through cooking." For the cooking monster, cooking started as fun, became more serious over time, and turned into something that requires study and effort. He said, "I now feel I am at a stage of starting anew," and added, "It's not as light as before, but it's not only a burden. I'm curious how cooking will come to me in this new chapter. I want to show more of myself through cooking from now on."
Through Culinary Class Wars, the cooking monster said, "I felt there are many people who, regardless of age or field, are passionate and hardworking within the framework of cooking." He said, "I was able to focus solely on making food without other useless thoughts," and added, "Unlike the usual routine of making food and providing experiences for guests, there was also thrill in carrying out missions given moment to moment in the special situation of a competition."
Finally, the cooking monster who before the TOP7 release was embroiled in fairness controversy after a real-name name tag was revealed due to an editing mistake and for using 'Brown Veal Stock' sauce in the redemption round. From his first appearance his somewhat arrogant attitude caused frowns, and regarding this he said, "I tried to show a confident appearance to avoid getting intimidated, which must have made many uncomfortable, but I am grateful for the much support," and added, "I tried to prove my skills throughout the shoot. I will continue to work hard. Please give me lots of support," expressing gratitude to viewers.
The underground masters 'Black Spoon' chefs who try to overturn class solely by taste and Korea's top star chefs 'White Spoon' who try to protect it clash in the fiery culinary class war Culinary Class Wars, and the winner will be decided in episode 13, which will be released on the 13th (Tue).
The final episode in which the last survivor and winner of 'Culinary Class Wars 2' will be crowned meets viewers around the world through Netflix at 5 p.m. on the 13th (Tue).<
[Photo] Netflix
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