The Hunger-Inducing Star Wars, 'Black and White Chef 2' Favorite Chef (+ Winner Prediction)

Cooking is delicious. Survival is fun. Therefore, 〈Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War〉 Season 2 (hereafter 〈Black and White Chef 2〉) is both delicious and fun. Premiering on December 16 and currently having released up to episode 6, 〈Black and White Chef 2〉 is set to release episodes 8 to 10 on December 30. Even at this halfway point, the dishes filled with the secrets, specialties, and know-how of numerous chefs have provided viewers with psychological satisfaction, and it raises curiosity about what kind of competition will unfold next in the battle of true 'taste'. Cineplay reporters are also watching 〈Black and White Chef 2〉 in real-time, sharpening their appetites. We have summarized who each reporter's favorite chef is and who the final winner will be.

Chua Young Reporter - Chef Son Jong-won of the White Spoon

​

Chef Son Jong-won, known as the 'Nice Guy' of the chef world, is chosen as the favorite chef of 〈Black and White Chef 2〉. Having already built public recognition since 2014 with 〈Please Take Care of My Refrigerator〉, Chef Son Jong-won has solidified his likable image with 〈Black and White Chef 2〉. He consistently looks after Monk Seon-jae, and in the second round of 'All or Nothing', he volunteered to be the youngest in the kitchen, running around to carry ingredients and assist other chefs. In addition to his handsome appearance, he possesses a warm personality that has garnered him popularity. However, the reason the public is paying attention to him is not just that. While he is easygoing with others, he is a perfectionist who pursues the best in his cooking. In the 'All or Nothing' round, Chef Son Jong-won elevated the acidity by adding burnt lemon to capture the richness of 'fricassée', and with a pinch of pollack roe at the end, he captivated the sensitive palate of judge Ahn Seong-jae. When facing off against a three-star killer in a 1:1 match, he showcased delicate plating by shaping potatoes and black truffles into flowers and serving them with beef tongue. His efforts for perfection have earned him one Michelin star each in Korean and Western fine dining, making him a chef ranked 25th among Asia's best restaurants. It is no exaggeration to say that Son Jong-won is currently the hottest chef in South Korea.

​

Winner Prediction: I believe it will go to Chef Son Jong-won. 'Oh, Son' anyway, the victory belongs to Chef Son Jong-won!

Joo Seong-cheol - Chef Huh Deok-juk of the White Spoon

​​

Those who love Chinese food will not be unfamiliar with Chef Lee Kyung-rae from last season of 〈Black and White Chef〉 and Chef Huh Deok-juk from this season. So, it is true that just the fact that he is participating has already made him a favorite chef, but after watching the show, I liked him even more. Many viewers say that watching the white spoon chefs this season brings them peace of mind. The peaceful division of labor and skill display of these chefs, who have already transcended any weight class, makes one forget that it is a 'competition'. It can be said that they have shown that even with many rowers, the best speed can be achieved. Of course, I am also drawn to Chef Park Hyo-nam, the 'chef's chef' who I learned about newly, but as a favorite chef, I would choose the 1949-born 'Hoo Sang-moo' who quietly and diligently peeled dozens of melons like preparing kimchi in a group competition.

​

Winner Prediction: I believe Chef Son Jong-won will win. He was already an amazing chef, but through collaboration (?) with the dark spoon Kim Poong in 'Nayoung's Kitchen', he has shown overwhelming class.

Seong Chan-eol - Black Spoon 'Pork Bone Soup in New York'

​​

Among the various dishes in 〈Black and White Chef〉, there was something that I immediately wanted to eat, which was the pork bone soup presented by the black spoon 'Pork Bone Soup in New York'. I quite like sundae soup and pork soup, but I can't believe I haven't tried that yet. I can only blame my laziness. The pork bone soup in New York also caught my eye in the second round, particularly during the competition against the white spoon Monk Seon-jae. In fact, it was one of the most impressive competitions so far, perhaps because I have a great admiration for Buddhism and because of the extreme dedication shown by both individuals, which goes beyond fair sportsmanship. Considering his specialty, it would be strategic to avoid a competition with Monk Seon-jae, who deals with temple food, yet the way they faced each other with a mindset of mutual practice shook my heart with emotions rarely seen in 〈Black and White Chef〉 and other survival shows. And the scene where Monk Seon-jae, who finished cooking first, looked at him as if gazing at another Buddha. What else could this be if not an unscripted drama? Additionally, if I were to pick one more with personal affection, it would be the black spoon 'Chinese Food Gangster' professor. His cheerful demeanor while cooking, and even while being eliminated, is the best.

​

I predict the winner will be the black spoon 'Culinary Monster'. Personally, it feels like the program hasn't given him much weight compared to his nickname, but that seems to foreshadow his active role in the latter half. I think he will win with the image of a 'brilliant genius' that Koreans, including myself, do not particularly like, and will rewrite the narrative of both the culinary world and survival programs.

Kim Ji-yeon - White Spoon Chef Lim Seong-geun

​​

What is lacking in 〈Black and White Chef 2〉 is undoubtedly the memes. Things like 'Yubi-bim', 'It's me, perilla oil', 'Evenly', 'Degree of cooking'... those moments suitable for clips. Of course, I understand that the quality of the dishes has been upgraded. There are many fine dining chefs among the black spoons, and there are 'black spoons that are not black spoons' that are just as good as the white spoons. However, what did we want from 〈Black and White Chef〉? We did not actually want to see the perfect dishes of professionals who seem to have measured angles. The fun of a 'cooking' survival show, unlike singing, idol, or talent survival shows, relies heavily on the character of the participants. Unlike songs and dances that viewers can see and judge, in a situation where they cannot taste the dishes being judged, the only thing viewers can judge is the character. Meanwhile, a participant has emerged who perfectly recalls the glory of season 1, and that is Lim Seong-geun. He claims to know how to make all kinds of sauces and says, "I can tell just by looking at the steam if it's plain water or not," exuding a suspicious aura like a 'sauce master', yet above all, he makes 'delicious' dishes, truly making him a 'middle-aged beast'.

​

I think the strong candidate for the winner is the black spoon Culinary Monster. He originally said he came to win, and it seems that will become a reality. He certainly stood out in individual competitions, but especially in team competitions, his performance as a 'doer' was impressive. He is undoubtedly a skilled person who can go all the way to victory.