Culinary Class Wars stars Cooking Maniac and Self Made Chef reported to join forces with Baek Jong-won for new show 'Les Miserables'

On October 9, 2024, South Korean media outlet OSEN reported that two contestants from Culinary Class Wars, Chef Im Tae-hoon, the 'Self Made Chef,' and Chef Yoon Nam-no, the 'Cooking Maniac,' will team up with celebrity chef Baek Jong-won on a new entertainment show titled Les Miserables. The show is currently in production and is expected to air on ENA in mid-November 2024.

As per the report, the two chefs, who gained considerable attention for their performances on Culinary Class Wars, will join Baek Jong-won, a celebrity and CEO of TheBorn Korea, to mentor participants.

The new show is said to be a "human transformation project" where contestants take on Spartan missions designed to change their lives, set in a massive studio converted from a 40,000-pyeong abandoned factory.

Les Miserables promises a compelling combination of strong characters and heartwarming personal journeys, with Baek Jong-won actively involved in the recruitment process.

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All you need to know about Culinary Class Wars and the two chefs reported to join Chef Baek Jong-won

The inaugural season of Netflix's Culinary Class Wars wrapped up on October 8, 2024, captivating a global audience and establishing itself as one of the platform's leading non-English series. With its intense challenges, innovative dishes, and suspenseful eliminations, the show kept food lovers engaged from start to finish.

A key element that set the show apart was its unique structure. The competition split 100 chefs into two groups—20 elite White Spoon chefs and 80 aspiring Black Spoon chefs—creating a dynamic clash between seasoned expertise and rising ambition. While the White Spoon chefs, some of Korea's top culinary experts, worked to maintain their elite status, the Black Spoon chefs battled to prove their worth and climb the ranks.

Chef Im Tae-hoon, also known as the 'Self Made Chef,' rose through the ranks to run his Chinese restaurant and captured viewers' hearts with his humble beginnings. His standout moment on Culinary Class Wars was winning a one-on-one blind evaluation against a veteran Chinese cuisine expert.

Though eventually eliminated, he left a lasting impression by volunteering for the elimination mission, showing his resilience and team spirit.

Chef Yoon Nam-no, aka 'Cooking Maniac,' also made waves throughout the season for his no-nonsense approach to cooking. He advanced to the semi-finals of Culinary Class Wars, demonstrating his culinary prowess and making it to the top 8.

Known for his bold flavors and passion for his craft, Yoon runs the popular bistronomy restaurant 'Deepin' in Seoul.

Both chefs are expected to bring their experience from the restaurant industry to Les Miserables, where they will mentor contestants aiming to turn their lives around.

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As per OSEN, the production team is filming at local festivals and gearing up for its highly anticipated premiere.