The South Korean culinary show titled Culinary Class Wars continues to excite fans and viewers as they await the competition finale. Unlike traditional reality cooking shows, Culinary Class Wars is a battle between 80 black spoon chefs (amateur and experienced) and the high-profile white spoon chefs, set to show off their exceptional culinary skills.
Adding tension to the culinary clash, the country's two most recognized chefs have joined Culinary Class Wars as judges. Among them is Chef Ahn Sung-jae, the only Michelin 3-star chef in Korea, celebrated for his famous restaurant MOSU, which has been temporarily closed.
Chef Ahn Sung-jae's roots lie in Korea, where he was born before he was raised in California, United States. Despite being an incredibly successful and well-known chef, Ahn Sung-jae prefers limiting his media presence.
Ahn Sung-jae's presence as one of the two judges in Culinary Class Wars reflects his years of determination to transform into a culinary genius, who's now tasked with judging the 100 participants. The show is getting notable viewership on Netflix, as viewers are appreciating the heated kitchen battle.
How Ahn Sung-jae transformed into a Michelin Star chef: Exploring the journey of the Culinary Class Wars judge
Ahn Sung-jae's journey of becoming a Michelin star chef is incredibly interesting. It's a tale of how a mechanic in the US Army unexpectedly found interest in culinary arts and gave it all to become highly successful.
Though Ahn Sung-jae served in the US Army, he was aware of his traditional dishes, thanks to the chef's grandmother. Ahn Sung-jae was just 24 when he decided to shift his career from mechanic to cooking arts. After years of experience, Ahn Sung-jae opened MOSU in 2016 in San Francisco. However, the chef later returned to his home country and relocated his restaurant to Seoul.
Famous fine-dining chef Ahn Sung-jae reveals reason to join Culinary Class Wars
Now that viewers have watched chef Ahn Sung-jae, joined by famous restaurateur Paik Jong-won as the judge of the Korean culinary clash, many would wonder what pulled the fine-dining chef toward the competition. Per The Chosun Daily, Ahn Sung-jae revealed his motivation behind the trending culinary clash and said:
"I saw it as a chance to highlight South Korea’s culinary scene. It’s a significant platform, much like the Michelin Guide".
Ahn Sung-jae saw this opportunity to highlight South Korean cuisine, especially after the industry encountered significant challenges due to COVID-19. The chef aims to promote investment in the local dining sector to elevate the standards. He also mentioned:
"After confirming with the producers that this show wouldn’t turn us into a laughingstock, I agreed to participate in Culinary Class Wars."
Ahn Sung-jae also shed light on the dedication and innovation of the participants in Culinary Class Wars, stating that he "realized there are many different ways to approach food" after witnessing numerous dishes in the competition.
Netflix has released seven episodes of the competition, with the seventh featuring a tough rivalry between the teams. While one has all the ingredients, others have to innovate a unique dish with the remaining ingredients. However, a twist in the episode leaves some of the chefs stunned.
Why did Chef Ahn Sung-jae temporarily close MOSU?
Chef Ahn Sung-jae, the owner of MOSU decided on a short intermission of his restaurant in Seoul after the expiration of the contract with his former corporate partner. The chef explained that despite the support from the corporate partner, their vision for MOSU Seoul didn't seem to align.
While talking about the temporary pause, the chef added:
"I’m currently working on a new restaurant with a different partner, not a large corporation, that better matches my vision."
Ahn Sung-jae has been clear with his vision since the time he entered the fine-dining business. The chef's new partnership will allow him to set up a new restaurant that aligns with his vision to create an exceptional culinary experience.
Culinary Class Wars is streaming on Netflix.
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