Knives are officially sharpened because Culinary Class Wars is cooking up its second season! The Kitchen Clash is set to premiere globally on Netflix on Dec. 16, so mark your calendars. You might remember the show’s first season absolutely sizzled, making history as the first Korean unscripted series to lead Netflix’s Global Top 10 (Non-English) TV list for three weeks straight. What an appetizer!
The show also earned the title of “the most beloved series among Korean viewers” in a September 2024 survey by Gallup Korea, according to Netflix. In fact, Netflix Korea’s Director of Content, Yoo Ki-hwan, shared that the show sparked fresh conversations within the food industry and created a cultural impact, proving that good content is just as important as good food!
The Concept: A Battle of Spoons
To understand the flavor of the show, you must know the concept. Culinary Class Wars is an intense reality cooking competition that gathers 100 chefs for a heated culinary showdown. The series centers on a metaphorical “class war” that pits the established elite chefs—the White Spoons—against the skilled yet relatively unknown underdogs—the Black Spoons. The underdogs typically compete using bold nicknames, while the star chefs use their real names. Ultimately, these chefs are vying for a grand prize of 300 million won (approximately $223,000).
Season 1 was a dramatic success. After a cutthroat battle of the culinary arts, the Black Spoon chef “Napoli Matfia” ultimately defeated celebrated White Spoon chef Edward Lee to claim the huge prize. Judges Paik Jong-won and three-star Michelin chef Ahn Sung-jae oversaw the high-stakes contest. Although Edward Lee finished as the runner-up, he became the undeniable people’s champion, with many fans feeling he deserved to take home the top prize. His performance, dedication and sincere journey to reconnect with his Korean heritage deeply resonated with viewers, cementing his status as a fan favorite even after his loss.
The White Spoons: A Stacked Lineup of Culinary Royalty
This season, the White Spoons are absolutely decked out with culinary royalty, ready to defend their reputation. First, we see posters for the elite chefs, featuring ingredients arranged on a kinetic, Ferris wheel-like structure, giving us a taste of the spectacle. The lineup includes a mix of famous TV personalities and highly decorated masters.
So, who is plating up for the elite side?
Lee Jun, a chef with two Michelin stars, leads the charge.
Next, we have Son Jong-won, who holds one Michelin star in both Korean and Western cuisine.
Then, Venerable Sunjae joins, recognized as Korea’s first master of Buddhist temple cuisine.
We also welcome Hou Deok-juk, a seasoned Chinese cuisine veteran with 57 years of experience.
Moreover, French cuisine legend Park Hyo-nam brings 47 years of experience to the table.
Of course, Korea’s beloved chefs Jung Ho-young, Sam Kim and Raymon Kim are back in the kitchen as well. Many fans will recognize Son Jong-won, Jung Ho-young, Sam Kim and Raymon Kim from their appearances on the popular Korean show Chef & My Fridge, which also airs on Netflix and further highlights their star power.
Furthermore, Song Hoon, who served as a judge on MasterChef Korea Season 4, enters the competition.
Lastly, Im Seong-keun, the winner of Hansik Battle Season 3, is also competing.
Additionally, the White Spoon lineup is stacked with other top-tier chefs, including Chun Sang-hyun, Choi Yu-gang, Jennie Walldén, Shim Sung-chul, Lee Keum-hee, Kim Sung-woon, Kim Geon and Kim Hee-eun. That’s an impressive recipe for a great season!
Black Spoons: Hungry to Overturn the Hierarchy
But wait, the Black Spoons are hidden masters who are absolutely hungry to overturn the established hierarchy. Therefore, the main trailer shifts focus to these contestants, setting them against a stark black-and-white kitchen, which signals trouble for the White Spoon elites. Their bold nicknames are saying it all!
Their monikers, which hint at years of sharpened skill and fearlessness, include:
“Three Star Killer”
“Seochon Prince”
“Culinary Monster”
“Barbecue Lab Director”
“Culinary Innovator”
“Wok Rider”
The last two names, “Culinary Innovator” and “Wok Rider,” especially raise eyebrows, suggesting that surprising alliances or shocking placements might shake up the whole competition, as noted by Netflix.
New Rules and a Surprise Comeback
Moving on, the second season of the competition is whisking in some new rules! Although the specific changes remain a surprise until the premiere, they set the stage for unpredictable twists. The signature blind tastings, where judges evaluate dishes based only on flavor to eliminate any bias, are definitely returning.
However, the season’s biggest secret ingredient has to be the surprise reveal of two masked contestants returning for redemption, which Netflix teased in the main trailer. The two mystery chefs declare that they are “back for a second chance.” Producer Kim Hak-min told Korea JoongAng Daily that the creative team will actively take on viewers’ comments and strive to respect every contestant’s story because the people and their journeys are the most important “ingredients” of the show.
Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars 2 raises the stakes for an all-out battle decided purely by taste. So, make sure you don’t miss the culinary showdown when it premieres on Dec. 16, exclusively on Netflix.
Are you ready to dig into the new season and see which chef will serve up a masterpiece? Let us know in the comments below or on our Instagram and Twitter/X!
Featured Image Credit: Netflix
