“Cooking Monster” (Lee Ha-sung), a standout on Netflix’s "Culinary Class Wars" Season 2, is addressing controversy over his on-camera attitude.
With just one episode left, Netflix dropped Top 7 portraits and bite-sized interviews on Jan. 9.
Explaining why he joined the show, Cooking Monster said, “Opening my own restaurant has come with all kinds of hurdles, and I wanted to test myself through cooking―no excuses, just results.”
The chef, who previously worked as a sous-chef at The French Laundry in New York, competes on the Black Spoon Team this season and is reportedly prepping to open a restaurant in New York.
On what cooking means to him, he shared, “It started as something fun, but it got serious fast―it’s a craft you have to study and grind for. I feel like I’m starting fresh again. It’s not as light as it used to be, but it’s not just pressure either. I’m curious what cooking will mean to me in this new chapter, and I want to show more of who I am through my food.”
Reflecting on the competition, he added, “Inside the framework of cooking, you meet people of every age and background going all-in with passion and work ethic. On set, I could shut out everything else and focus purely on making food. Unlike service, where you create an experience for guests, tackling rapid-fire missions in a contest setting had its own rush.”
He also responded to the debate sparked by his blunt comments and 'attitude' on set. “I tried to look confident so I wouldn’t shrink, and I know that rubbed some people the wrong way. I’m grateful for all the support, too,” he said. “I worked to let my cooking do the talking the whole time. I’ll keep pushing―please keep cheering me on.”
"Culinary Class Wars" Season 2 drops its finale on Jan. 13. In Episode 11, White Spoon Team’s Chef Choi Kang-rok punched his ticket straight to the final. Episode 12 saw Black Spoon Team’s Cooking Monster face White Spoon Team’s Chef Hudeokjuk for the last spot. The finale will reveal the second finalist―and the ultimate winner.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)