backback

'Culinary Class Wars' winner Napoli Matfia and chef Edward Lee to appear on 'You Quiz on the Block'

Chef Kwon Sung-jun, also known as Napoli Matfia, left, and chef Edward Lee pose for photos at the show’s press conference at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery Ambassador in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Monday. [YONHAP]


The winner and runner-up of Netflix’s cooking survival show “Culinary Class Wars” are slated to appear on the tvN talk show “You Quiz on the Block” (2018-), according to a local report Wednesday.

The show's winner Napoli Matfia, whose real name is Kwon Sung-jun and chef Edward Lee, the runner-up, have been confirmed to appear as guests on the tvN talk show, local media outlet Star News said earlier Wednesday morning.


Later, the show also confirmed their appearance, releasing a photo of them participating in the filming on its Instagram, with hosts Yoo Jae-seok and Jo Se-ho, the same day.

The episode with the two chefs will be aired on Oct. 16.

Kwon Sung-jun, also known as Napoli Matfia, and chef Edward Lee participate in the shooting of tvN talk show ″You Quiz on the Block″ (2018-). From left, comedian Jo Se-ho, chefs Kwon and Lee and comedian Yoo Jae-seok [SCREEN CAPTURE]


Netflix’s cooking survival show “Culinary Class Wars,” came out on Sept. 17, featuring 100 contestants from diverse culinary backgrounds — ranging from Michelin-starred chefs to school cafeteria cooks. The contestants competed against each other in a massive studio that can accommodate up to 40 professionals cooking simultaneously.

Produced by Kim Hak-min and Kim Eun-ji, the show features restauranteur Paik Jong-won and fine dining chef Anh Sung-jae as judges. The show divides the contestants into two groups — Black Spoon, a group of cooks considered the lesser-known, underdogs of the industry and the higher-powered White Spoon chefs, the industry’s best professionals.


The final two episodes of the show aired on Tuesday, featuring Black Spoon chef Kwon winning the grand prize of 300 million won ($223,000), while White Spoon chef Edward Lee secured second place. Kwon was crowned the show’s first-ever winner by judges Anh and Paik.

Kwon is currently the chef-owner of pasta bar Via Toledo in Yongsan District, central Seoul. Though he won the show, his behavior sparked some controversy on the internet, which he apologized for on his Instagram Tuesday, acknowledging it was “arrogant.”

Korean American chef Edward Lee is currently the owner of 610 Magnolia in Louisville, Kentucky. He is well-known in Korea for being the guest chef for the White House state dinner with U.S. President Biden and Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol last year. He has published three books and is also a celebrity chef, appearing in the third season of U.S. broadcaster PBS’s documentary “The Mind of a Chef” (2015) for which he received an Emmy nomination.


BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]