“I have an American name, Edward, but I also have a Korean name. My parents gave me a name, my Korean name is Kyun. So, Lee Kyun made this dish. When I eat in Korea, they always give me too much food, so I’m always full and can’t finish it. So when I order tteokbokki, I always have two or three rice cakes left. I thought it was a waste, but it’s not. I think it shows abundance and love, consideration for others, and that’s what Korean food is. So I made the dessert with the remaining three tteokbokki.”
In the latest episode of Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars,” released Oct. 8, Korean-American chef Edward Lee presented the final dish in front of the judges. He spread out a piece of paper written in distorted Korean letters and conveyed his identity and sincerity about cooking.
“Culinary Class Wars” is basically a survival game where unknown chefs compete against famous chefs. If an earthen spoon wins, he will be able to reveal his real name to the world instead of the nickname he used during the program. The studio was filled with emotion when winner Napoli Matfia revealed his real name “Kwon Jung-joon” before the final match. However, the moment when Edward Lee revealed his real name “Lee Kyun” shortly after was truly a “kick” of the program. This is why many say, “The winner of ‘Culinary Class Wars’ was Napoli Matfia, but the protagonist is Lee Kyun.”
Before the final match, Edward Lee said that in addition to winning, he also learned about Korea and his identity as a Korean. As he said, he introduced new dishes that incorporate Korean cuisine instead of the typical dish he sells in his restaurant from the beginning to the end of the competition. He had to compete with top Korean chefs without using weapons, and many were impressed by his fighting spirit, focus and veteran humor.
One netizen expressed emotion with a comment on Netflix’s official YouTube channel, saying: “Watching Edward Lee is like watching Picasso master folk art and draw abstractions.”
Source: Kyunghyang Sports
