[Culinary Class Wars 2 Review] Enemies of Yesterday, Comrades of Today: The Cruel Episodes 9-10 & Seonjae's Twist (Spoilers)
Episodes 9 and 10 of Culinary Class Wars Season 2 were arguably the most cruel, yet closest to the essence of cooking in the entire series.
The "Team Member Survival Mission," where you must compete against the very teammate you stood back-to-back with just moments ago using the exact same ingredients. Here is my analysis and the thrill I felt watching this cruel drama.
1. The First to Smile: Im Seong-geun (Im Jjang) & Yoon Ju-mo
In the team battle of Episode 9, the standouts were undoubtedly Chef Im Seong-geun and Chef Yoon Ju-mo. Instead of flashy techniques, they demonstrated perfect harmony and speed, focusing on the balance of taste. They took first place and secured their tickets to the next round before anyone else.
Im Jjang proved his skills went far beyond his "Home Shopping" image, and Yoon Ju-mo once again captivated the judges' palates. These two have now secured a comfortable position to watch their colleagues fight for survival.
2. Jung Ho-young vs. Sam Kim, and the Dilemma of Kim Sung-woon vs. Choi Kang-rok
The matchups for the remaining teams facing elimination were nothing short of a tragedy.
Since Chef Jung Ho-young (Japanese cuisine) and Chef Sam Kim (Italian cuisine) showed such excellent fusion harmony in the team battle, the situation where they had to eliminate each other was heartbreaking. The tension was palpable during the match between Chef Kim Sung-woon and Chef Choi Kang-rok as well, given their mutual respect and teamwork.
Chef Choi Kang-rok once again displayed his unique "abstract approach." His method of approaching cooking as if writing a story or painting a picture constantly stimulates the viewer's curiosity: "What does that actually taste like?" While Chef Kim Sung-woon showed great humility and skill, Choi Kang-rok's storytelling character seems to have prevailed once again.
3. Ven. Seonjae: Making Judges Clear Their Bowls in Silence
The highlight of Episode 10 was undoubtedly Venerable Seonjae.
There is often a prejudice that "Temple Food" is merely bland and healthy. However, Ven. Seonjae's "Doenjang (Soybean Paste) Bibimbap" completely shattered that notion. Without flashy techniques or expensive ingredients, she made the two judges scrape their bowls clean in silence, solely through the harmony of fermented sauce and wild greens.
It was a scene that proved the truth: "The simplest things are the most delicious." No evaluation was needed; the empty bowls were the highest praise.
4. Hou Deok-juk: Showing the Depth of Chinese Cuisine
Having lived in China myself, I thought I knew the depth of Chinese cuisine to some extent, but Chef Hou Deok-juk's cooking was on another level.
The judges became speechless after one bite, focusing entirely on the gourmet experience. Their subsequent praise, "The best dish I ate today," said it all. It was a moment where the inner strength of a master who has walked a single path exploded. He proved how elegant and deep Chinese cuisine can be without a flashy fire show.
5. The Climax of Episode 10: Son Jong-won vs. Cooking Monster
The broadcast cut off at the most curious moment. The duel between the Michelin-starred Chef Son Jong-won and the hidden master, "Cooking Monster."
Although they made a mistake with time management in the team battle, both are verified in terms of taste. Judging by the preview and the flow, this match seems to be the main event of Episode 10 and the key to next week's results. It is a tight match where neither winning would be a surprise.
Jihoon’s Closing Thoughts
I agree that Episode 10 felt like the most entertaining one so far. The rules were cruel, but because of them, the chefs were pushed to their limits, showing an unprecedented level of cooking.
Watching the show, an uncontrollable curiosity often arises: "What does that dish actually taste like?" Especially this season, with verified star chefs and hidden masters all in one place, visiting their actual restaurants would be another way to enjoy this program.
If you are curious about the locations and menu information of the chefs' restaurants featured in the show, please refer to the link below.
[Check Culinary Class Wars 2 Chef Restaurant List & Info]
0 댓글