"I lived my life pretending, and I didn't want to braise even in cooking for myself." Chef Choi Kang-rok's confession after winning Culinary Class Wars: culinary class wars 2 resonated.
On the 13th, the winner was revealed on episode 13 (finale) of the Netflix original variety show Culinary Class Wars: culinary class wars 2 (abbreviated Culinary Class Wars 2). The final theme was "cooking for myself." Chefs who until now had prioritized the people eating their food had to make a dish just for themselves in the final. Black Spoon culinary monster Lee Ha-sung turned the blood sausage soup filled with childhood memories of his father into a fine-dining dish with his signature creativity and sensibility, and Choi Kang-rok presented a broth dish with sesame tofu reflecting his own taste. Among the watching chefs, Lee Ha-sung's flashy, straightforward flavors seemed likely to win. However, the judges' choice was a unanimous decision for Choi Kang-rok.
Choi Kang-rok's final dish was striking even from its name. He called it "a broth dish with sesame tofu, but I made it my way." He added his beloved phrase that he often used after stewed dishes, saying he 'served it alongside' something. About the main ingredient, "sesame tofu," he said, "I didn't want to do something difficult, and since I had 90 minutes, I tried making sesame tofu as a form of self-check. For me, this sesame tofu reminded me not to get lazy with my grit," emphasizing his grit as a chef.
About the dish he said, "It's a broth filled with ingredients I like. It might not match the judges' tastes. I like udon broth. I put in experiences from the restaurant, memories of wondering what to do with leftover chicken bones, memories of sobering up with lots of green onions, and added katsuobushi stock to make it my way," confessing the painful concerns he has as a chef and restaurant owner, which moved listeners.
About 10 years ago, Choi Kang-rok, who won the first cooking survival show, MasterChef Korea season 2 (abbreviated Masheko 2), recalled those memories. He, who presented various stewed dishes back then, began, "I am a braising person." But he admitted, "I once won a competition and did a lot of braised dishes then, so I got nicknames like 'braising person,' 'serial braiser,' 'braise-thing' — I couldn't braise well but pretended I could."
He continued, "I actually studied a lot. I tried hard too, but there was a life I lived to pretend. I didn't want to braise even in cooking for myself," and confessed the reason for his final dish: "I wanted to give myself some comfort. Every day I'd just push myself so hard; I've never even used 90 seconds. I wanted to try it in the virtual world of 'Culinary Class Wars 2.' I wanted to make it like this."
After the calm confession, "I've only ever cooked instant noodles for myself," Choi Kang-rok laughed when asked what he would tell himself before eating: "Good job, braising person, take a break from braising today." He paired the dish with a bottle of red-cap soju. He added, "It's less of a pairing and more a worker's drink, a sleep drink, a drink for oneself, a drink to blow away the fatigue in one go."
Choi Kang-rok's confession moved the chefs watching on site. White Spoon chef Kim Eun-hee choked up saying, "You have to give that to him, 'red cap,' red cap," and White Spoon chef Choi Yu-gang also empathized, saying, "It's the feeling of finishing work and eating." The Black Spoon Boss in the Kitchen agreed, "For consolation, I'm also soju," and White Spoon chef Im Seong-keun shouted, "Kang-rok is cool!" in support.
In response, Choi Kang-rok said humbly, praising his fellow chefs' diligence: "People ask things like, 'What is your kick, what's your signature?' But I have no signature. I'm not a special chef. I'm just someone who repeats the unnoticed tasks in the kitchen, and I was lucky enough to become a 'braise-thing' once."
The judges showed respect by drinking the broth from the bowl and neatly clearing their plates in response to his sincerity. Chef Anh Sung-jae commented, "Every chef goes through a period of pretending. I do a lot of pretending too. So it seems like an honest dish," and even after winning, Choi Kang-rok's act of greeting the chefs on site rather than showing exuberant joy was even more moving.
Above all, Choi Kang-rok once again dedicated the honor to the chefs still working in the field. "If the final mission's theme hadn't been cooking for myself, I think Culinary Monster would have produced a more impressive dish. As I said earlier, I'm not someone who makes outstanding food; I'm someone who does the same work as those nationwide who are quietly working hard, making food. I'll keep the words given to me well in my heart, cherish the connections I've made here, and live thinking more about food," he said.
He added, "This is a survival format divided into black and white, but it made me think about what it means to give the win. There are many masters of cooking, people who are starting out, people who worked incredibly hard, and each has dishes they are good at and people who make a living with that food, people who cook to survive. Rather than talking about my story, I hope we finish by talking about the people who cook and their stories."
Judge Anh Sung-jae said, "Cooking is what I do. I bet everything on what I do," White Spoon Hou Deok-juk said, "57 years in cooking, trying to reach 60," Black Spoon Seochon prince said, "Everyone is equally desperate; I don't think the size of desperation is bigger for some and smaller for others," Black Spoon Fan Master said, "I've collapsed from working before," and Black Spoon Iron Arm said, "I couldn't give up because this dish was so delicious." In response to their confessions, the producers added Choi Kang-rok's pledge to try again: "Think you're doing it for those people and work hard."
In the end, settling at the winner's table as the last person, he again said with a calm smile, "I won't be arrogant. I'm glad I re-challenged." If the producers bringing out the reclusive man who had continued to receive fans' love online after winning Masheko 2 was the first season's achievement, his re-challenge and ultimate victory was very much Choi Kang-rok. A man who became the strongest by name through that grit. Those who quietly keep their own steady efforts in unseen places are generously sending him congratulations.
[Photo] Provided by Netflix.
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