Chef Choi Kang-rok in a scene from Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars” Season 2 / Courtesy of Netflix
Netflix’s cooking present “Culinary Class Wars” Season 2 got here to an finish Tuesday, abandoning greater than only a winner and a 300 million received ($203,129) prize.
Whereas the competitors was fierce, it additionally felt like a heat message to everybody working laborious in their very own lives.
On the heart of this emotion was the competition’s winner Choi Kang-rok.
For over a decade, Choi had been identified to the general public as a specialist in braised dishes, a label that introduced him fame but in addition proved to be a burden as he tried to dwell as much as that picture.
Within the closing spherical, he lastly broke free expectations. After successful, he moved many viewers by revealing his internal exhaustion, saying, “I wished to relaxation from being the ‘Braised Man’ for simply in the future.” It was a particular second of honesty from a grasp who had spent years focusing solely on one factor, maintaining his stress hidden.
Choi received the title after a troublesome battle in opposition to Lee Ha-sung, who was nicknamed “Culinary Monster.” However the true success of this season lies in the way it revered the laborious work and persistence of strange individuals who give their greatest to their jobs every single day.
Choi’s confession, “I pretended to be good at braising to outlive,” spoke to many staff who really feel related stress no matter their profession.
When Choi instructed himself, “You probably did properly, ‘Braised Man.’ You’ll be able to relaxation from braising in the present day,” it was a therapeutic second for anybody exhausted by the expectations of their job.
Chef Lee Ha-sung in a scene from Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars” Season 2 / Courtesy of Netflix
Shedding mild on great thing about course of
Whereas the primary season was well-known for the stress between “Black Spoon” challengers and “White Spoon” elites, the second season targeted extra on human tales. Each chef was extremely gifted, and the present appeared crammed with deep mutual respect.
Among the most touching scenes concerned the 76-year-old chef Hou Deok-juk. Seeing a grasp of his stage quietly serving to junior cooks or listening to French delicacies knowledgeable Park Hyo-nam inform a youthful chef, “I hope you fly excessive on my again,” confirmed what a real mentor appears like. Their attitudes show that being on the high means staying humble.
Many viewers discovered extra worth within the course of than the ultimate consequence. The competitors grew to become a balm for strange individuals. It celebrated the strange cooks who work laborious in small, scorching kitchens every single day with none fame.
The joy for the present has as soon as once more discovered its approach to the on a regular basis financial system, with eating places run by the contestants seeing an enormous wave of reservations.
Regardless of early worries about Paik Jong-won, one of many judges who as a meals entrepreneur confronted criticism for his business-related controversies, the second season stayed targeted on the meals because of the strict and honest judging of Anh Sung-jae.
