'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Netflix's most recent Korean reality show, Culinary Class Wars, took the #1 place in the Global Top 10 TV (non-English) category for three consecutive weeks. It surpassed the latest released K-drama, Gyeongseong Creature, starring Park Seo-joon, Han So-hee, Claudia Kim, and more. The cooking show's quick ascent to global popularity demonstrated Korean reality TV's impact worldwide.
The show had a unique concept where cooks from various social and economic backgrounds were engaged in culinary duels. The contestants were required to prepare creative dishes, representing their own narratives, inspiration, and life. The show aired 12 episodes where 80 "Black Spoon" cooks competed against world-class 20 "White Spoon" chefs.
Due to this extensive participation, Culinary Class Wars became the most-watched non-English TV series on Netflix globally, including North America, Europe, and Asia. The show recorded over 4.9 million views on Netflix between September 23 and 29, 2024.
Trending
Culinary Class Wars finalist Edward Lee won hearts worldwide for his humility and journey of finding his Korean roots
The show received accolades from critics for its creative idea, which combined aspects of a culinary program with intense personal stories. For instance, Korean-American celebrity chef Edward Lee found his original Korean name, Lee Kyun, during his journey in the show.
The veteran culinary expert—who had won the Iron Chef America and cooked for President Joe Biden for the 2023 White House dinner—wrote a letter in Korean when he presented his final dish during the show's finale. The scene moved viewers and the show judges alike. He explained that the show helped him find his Korean roots, for which he expressed his heartfelt gratitude.
Discussions concerning talent and tenacity in the kitchen and beyond flooded social media. Viewers found the show's ability to humanize culinary maestros impressive, which struck a chord with them. Through fan conversations about their favorite candidates, special dishes, and the show's deeper themes, global viewers voiced their appreciation for the program on social media.
In addition to having a stellar cast of celebrity judges including Paik Jong-won and Ahn Sung-jae, the show also brought Michelin-star restaurant owners like Fabrizio Ferrari and Joseph Lidgerwood as the White Spoon contestants.
A total of 20 top celebrity chefs called the "White Spoons" competed in the show. The names included Choi Hyun-seok, Edward Lee, veteran Lu Chinglai, Hwang Jin-seon, Kim Seung-min, Lee Young-suk, Jang Ho-joon, Jung Ji-sun, Kim Do-yun, Nam Jeong-seok, Seonkyoung Longest, Oh Se-deuk, and Park Joon-woo.
Meanwhile, only 20 out of the 80 Black Spoon chefs made it to Round 2. These included the top 8 semi-finalist chefs: Triple Star (Scott Kang), Napoli Matfia (Kwon Sung-jun), Cooking Maniac (Yoon Nam-no), and Auntie Omakase #1 (Lee Mi-ryeong).
The chefs butted their heads against unique competitive tasks such as one-on-one cooking battles, Black and White team battles for 100 dishes, running profitable food kiosks for 20 well-known mukbang influencers to make maximum revenue, and more. Culinary Class Wars season 1 winner was Black Spoon Napoli Matfia aka Kwon Sung-jun.
All episodes of Culinary Class Wars are now streaming on Netflix.
