âIron Chefâ-adoration meets big-budget production. [View on web]( [The contestants of the show 'Culinary Class Wars' line up and face each other in a pristine steel kitchen, while the show's hosts hover over them]( Netflix In food competition shows, thereâs always some degree of conflict or drama over the question of objectivity. Was a contestantâs dish treated fairly? Were teams split evenly for group challenges? Did the celebrity judges actually have the talent, technique, and sufficient awareness of the culinary traditions that inform the globally influenced dishes landing in front of them? Did bias find its way into the judging panel? Whether fans are arguing over seemingly sudden decisions or wracking their brains to nitpick a criticâs tasting notes, speculation and social media discourse have become intertwined with what many viewers define as a worthwhile watch â especially when it comes to Netflixâs newly minted archives of compelling and hyper-produced competition shows like [Physical 100](, [The Influencer](, and its latest, Culinary Class Wars. The heavily bankrolled show takes a similar approach to its non-food-focused predecessors in assembling a crowd of 100 Korean culinary talents, including the chefs of Michelin-starred restaurants, social media creators with staggering global followings, and even a handful of international competitors like chef Edward Lee (but weâll get back to him in a bit). From there, the cooks are split into two teams: 80 âBlack Spoons,â the showâs moniker for the enterprising competitors who rose to acclaim outside of traditional fine dining kitchens, and 20 of those institutionally adored âWhite Spoons.â From here, the contestants are mixed, matched, and paired for various challenges that test their cooking acumen. Along the way, Brooklyn-born Korean American chef Edward Kyun Lee slowly but surely differentiates himself through poignant and evocative confessionals that feel like excerpts cut directly from his 2019 memoir [Buttermilk Graffiti](. But where the memoir focused on Leeâs experiences exploring the âmelting potâ cuisine evolving across the States, viewers can watch in real-time (sort of) as Lee chafes against the pains and struggles that, like in the [reiteration of the âlunchbox moment,â]( too often get painted as solely metaphorical. Itâs in the initial uncertain glimpses that flash over team membersâ faces when first paired with Lee. Itâs in the questionably harsh critiques of the traditional Korean dishes Lee chooses to cite as inspirations. Itâs in the challenges that arise for Lee when ordering ingredients and realizing the Korean names for components carry different connotations, and thus, results in the sourcing of cuts of meat that are completely opposite of the preparations he planned. And itâs in this friction that we see Lee and so many other talents rise to the gaudily curated occasion. Each episode feels like a distinct competition arc from a deliciously overdramatic anime like [Food Wars](, or a hyper-sprint through vintage seasons of Iron Chef and Master Chef. With each challenge and each raising of the stakes, we get a deeper understanding of Culinary Class Warsâs ambition. Where Physical 100 aimed to display the awe-inspiring strength of Korean athletes, this show has a larger goal in mind: Establishing on an international stage the technique, rigor, and ambition that cooks across the Asian diaspora, but specifically Korean chefs (however they personally identify), bring to their craft. This isnât a show for showing off. Itâs a means of demanding the world treat Korean foods and culinary talents with higher regard globally, and without centering the West in these appeals. Culinary Class Wars isnât prioritizing American audiences. (It neither needs to, nor drives them away.) Instead, it leaves the door open for familiar and new viewers to grow wistful for sheets of Auntie Omakase #1âs carefully toasted and seasoned seaweed or Napoli Matfiaâs anxiety-fueled risotto. Itâs not perfect: a number of viewers left the last few episodes questioning the fairness of the judgesâ obviously preferential ratings. (Others noted that the judgesâ critiques of chefsâ dish citations resembled the kind of consequence a Western chef might receive for misnaming a pasta shape or preparation.) But ultimately, objectivity isnât really the point â especially after controversy over rigged challenges [sullied the second season of Physical 100](. Instead, itâs to display on an international stage the galvanizing talents and personalities that have heavily shaped modern Korean cooking and restaurants, regardless of age, class, geography, gender, or an individualâs cuisine specialty. Although the final episode might not feel wholly satisfying to some, the heart-rending vulnerability of Leeâs storytelling throughout the series will more than make up for it. After all, what could be better than watching people who have clawed their way to the pinnacle of their nationâs craft validate and celebrate each other? The showâs not impartial, and thatâs a key component of what makes it so damn compelling. â Jesse Sparks, Eater.com senior editor More Links: - [Magic and machinery mix in mysterious ways]( in the new series Agatha All Along on Disney Plus.
- If you havenât already, Iâm unabashedly peer-pressuring you to revisit Jaya Saxenaâs essay on the limits of [pop cultureâs adoption of the lunchbox moment](.
- Austin City Limits headliner and general [arbiter of good taste Dua Lipa]( shared her [salty-spicy Diet Coke recipe](, and some of yâall need to get a grip. This isnât that new.
- This weekend, Iâll be grabbing as many of these [iconic shaker margaritas as gastrointestinally safe/possible](. If you see me there, [no, you didnât](. If you like this email, please forward it to a friend. If you aren't signed up for this newsletter, you can [do so right here](.
Â
[Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences]( or [unsubscribe](param=today). View our [Privacy Notice]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media,1701 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved.