Since its debut in September 2024, Netflix's Culinary Class Wars has turned South Korea's most talented chefs into global stars. The Korean reality show is a cutthroat cooking competition that pits acclaimed culinary masters, dubbed the White Spoons, against lesser-known rising chefs, known as the Black Spoons. After appearing on the smash-hit first season, several Black Spoons have become global stars in their own right, from winner Napoli Matfia to fan-favorites Cooking Maniac and Auntie Omakase.
I'm a lifelong supporter of underdogs, so when Black Spoon Brewmaster Yun made me cry in the qualifying round, I knew I'd found my season 2 favorite. The soft-spoken chef made a strong impression with her introduction, where she revealed that she's not a professionally-trained chef, but a Korean barkeep who employs traditional methods while cooking and brewing alcohol. Though she had visible nerves while preparing her meal—and distilling soju on the spot, a first on the show—judge Ahn Sung-jae sent her through, complimenting her "special chef's touch."
