Culinary Class Wars Season 2: The black spoon chefs to watch

The long-awaited Culinary Class Wars is finally back on Netflix this December, and yes, the chefs are absolutely cooking up a storm. Much like its debut season, the second instalment pits a line-up of acclaimed White Spoon chefs against a new wave of Black Spoon contenders. Some of these Black Spoon chefs are already familiar faces in the industry, but on the show, they compete under nicknames, at least until one of them rises above the rest.

If season one taught us anything, it is that anything is possible. After all, its champion was Napoli Mafia, also known as Kwon Seong-jun, whose razor-sharp skills and fearless creativity earned him the crown.

While the White Spoon roster was revealed earlier on, the series, which premiered on 16 December on the streaming giant, has just unveiled this season’s Black Spoon line-up, and trust us, it is one that will keep you glued to your screen.

So if you have already dived into the first few episodes and found yourself wanting to know more about these chefs (or maybe where to follow them on Instagram), you are in the right place. Here are the Black Spoon chefs who made it past the first round of Culinary Class Wars season two. 

Brewmaster Yun

Brewmaster Yun made a memorable first impression by becoming the very first contestant to survive the opening round of Culinary Class Wars. Off-screen, she is the owner of Haebangchon Yunjudang, where she has spent more than a decade brewing her own alcohol and crafting Korean dishes designed to perfectly complement each pour. According to her show introduction, everyone, from loyal regulars to curious travellers, simply calls her “Brewmaster”, and let’s be real, the title could not be more fitting.

Dweji Gomtang in NY

Chef Dweji Gomtang in NY is best known for the dish that also became his nickname. “Dweji gomtang” translates to pork bone soup, a comforting Korean staple that he has turned into his signature. His real name is Ok Dong-sik, which also happens to be the name of his restaurant group, with outlets in New York City, Seoul, Tokyo, and Hawaii. In his interview on the show, he revealed that one of his restaurants once had a waiting list of more than a thousand people.

Seoul Mother

Seoul Mother is no stranger to the culinary scene. Having cooked for some of the country’s most recognisable figures, it comes as little surprise that she also runs her own restaurant, Superpan, a popular eatery known for its Seoul-style comfort food.

Three Star Killer 

Chef Three Star Killer previously ran a French bistro, Monsieur Benjamin, alongside the highly decorated Chef Corey, who has been awarded three Michelin stars. He also spent six years at Thomas Keller’s three Michelin-starred restaurant, Per Se. Perhaps most surprising of all, he has even worked with Chef Anh Sung-jae, who now sits on the judging panel of Culinary Class Wars.

Little Tiger 

Chef Little Tiger came out strong in the first challenge with a bold vegetable-forward dish. A self-professed lover of seasoned vegetables, she surprised Chef Paik and viewers by presenting seasoned vegetables with drinks, a playful and unexpected move that quickly set her apart. Beyond the competition, she is also a chef at Solbam, a one-Michelin-starred restaurant specialising in contemporary Korean fine dining.

Loner in a Hole-in-the-Wall

This talented chef runs a Korean bar called Dokdo 16 Celsius in Seochon. He started out small, quite literally, with a tiny space in Cheongun-dong, before gradually building and upgrading his bar over the past four years entirely on his own, which explains the “loner” in his nickname.

French Papa 

Backed by many of the White Spoon chefs, French Papa quickly became a fan favourite, recognised not only for his warm demeanour but also for his deep mastery of French cuisine. He is the chef-owner of the acclaimed Parisian-style bistro Bistrot de Yountville, which first opened its doors in 2009.

Culinary Monster

His nickname speaks for itself. Before stepping into the Culinary Class Wars kitchen, he led the team at New York City’s Atomix during the period it earned two Michelin stars. His career has also taken him through some of the world’s most respected kitchens, from serving as sous chef at The French Laundry to stints at Geranium and Gramercy Tavern.

Witch with a Wok

Chef Lee Moon-jung, better known as Witch with a Wok, brings serious experience to the table. With 25 years in Chinese cuisine and a long-standing role as a veteran chef at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul hotel, her depth of knowledge is formidable.

Barbecue Lab Director

Barbecue Lab Director truly brought the heat to the competition, instantly impressing judges and viewers alike with his cooking skills. Outside the show, he is the CEO of Imok Smoke Dining, where he has built a reputation for his expertly barbecued meats.

Iron Arms 

Park Ju-sung, better known by his nickname Iron Arms, is one of the competition’s most inspiring figures. He revealed on the show that he lives with a rare and incurable condition that causes muscle loss in his right hand. Still, he refuses to let it define him. When he steps into the kitchen and finds his rhythm, he says his arm becomes “tough as iron”. His decision to join the competition was driven by a desire to prove that people with his condition are capable of extraordinary things, and through his performance, he has done exactly that. He is also the owner-chef behind the restaurant Sobajuu in Mapo-gu, Seoul.

Annyeong Bonjour 

Mathieu Moles, better known as Annyeong Bonjour, shared in his introduction that he is originally from France and was adopted at the age of six. Shaped by his upbringing, he expresses his pride in both sides of his identity through his cooking, weaving Korean influences into classic French cuisine to create something distinctly his own. He is also the owner-chef of Michelin-selected restaurant Chez Nous Private Kitchen.