*Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the Netflix series “Culinary Class Wars.”*
Cooking shows don’t often whet my appetite, but Culinary Class Wars served up an exception. Netflix’s newest competition series, riding on the coattails of hits like The Glory and Squid Game, features 100 chefs divided into two groups: 80 “Black Spoon” chefs representing local talents and 20 “White Spoon” chefs showcasing established culinary stars.
Across eight suspenseful rounds, the contestants battled for a 300 million won grand prize (roughly $230,000) under the provision of the judges, Baek Jong-Won and Ahn Seong-Jae—two giants of Korean gourmet.
The series begins with the initial 80 Black Spoon chefs fighting for a spot in the top 20, leading to mass eliminations that set the stage for intense one-on-one battles. From seafood vs. meat showdowns to cooking convenience store meals, the challenges were definitely creative.
Despite claiming to spotlight “unknown talent,” however, the show leaned heavily on its celebrity chefs, sidelining the Black Spoons it sought to uplift. Many battles, especially those with lesser-known chefs, were cut entirely from the edits. This lack of recognition felt like a major letdown for a show demanding so much from its participants.
One of the most frustrating moments came during the team collaboration round, where Black Spoon and White Spoon chefs were paired to work in groups of five. After hours of collective preparation, the producers threw in an absurd twist—each group had to kick out a member without justification.
The ousted chefs were then lumped together into a “leftovers” team, practically designed to fail—and, unsurprisingly, they did. This discourteous, drama-driven twist undermines the competition and disrespects the chefs’ efforts. Instead of showing teamwork and culinary skill, the round devolved into a rigged popularity contest, which demonstrated the show’s tendency to prioritize shock value over fairness.
The finale was the ultimate letdown. Edward Lee, a White Spoon chef with heart and undeniable talent, faced off against the flashy Black Spoon chef Napoli Mafia. Spoiler alert: Napoli Mafia won, but personally, I felt like it was completely undeserved. Lee performed flawlessly throughout the competition, and his quick defeat in a rushed final episode felt like a slap in the face to viewers.
The judges, Baek Jong-Won and Ahn Seong-Jae were another missed opportunity. In the early episodes, their dynamic was perfect—Baek’s charm balanced by Ahn’s precise critiques. But as the show progressed, Baek completely overshadowed Ahn, whose insightful feedback was reduced to agreeing with Baek’s opinions. By the finale, Ahn barely said a word, and his presence felt almost irrelevant.
Although the judges’ stories ended there, the chefs continued to receive attention from the public. While this acted as a promotion for many Black Spoon chefs, some faced backlash for sordid personal lives.
Triple Star, one of the Black Spoon finalists, faced controversies that tarnished his reputation. Reports claimed that Chef Triple Star dated two women simultaneously during his trainee years. One of the women alleged that she secured him a position at a Michelin-starred restaurant and supported him with expensive gifts. Chef Triple Star denied such claims, claiming that his achievements solely came from his own work.
Additionally, Triple Star’s former kitchen staff exposed his excessively demanding management style, with allegations of consistent verbal abuse. Although the chef has yet to address these claims publicly, his demeanors sparked a fiery debate about the grilling culture within elite kitchens.
Yu Bibim, popularly known as the “Bibim King,” grew popular from his culinary skills and contributions to Korea’s food culture—Bibimbap. However, Yu faced significant controversy regarding his business practices as his legal records revealed his history of tax evasion and illegal restaurant registration. Soon, he admitted to operating his restaurant without proper permits for years, resulting in a conviction for violating food safety laws. Despite Yu’s promises to turn over a new leaf, the scandals cast a lasting shadow over his career.
Culinary Class Wars had all the ingredients for a great cooking show but managed to burn the dish. With its lack of focus on Black Spoon chefs, overly dramatic twists, and an unsatisfactory conclusion, it’s hard to call this series anything but a disappointment. Netflix already approved a second season of Culinary Class Wars; however, I will be impressed only if they completely revamp the show to honor the chefs and their craft.
