Chef Ahn Sung-jae Praises ‘Master of School Meals’ and Shares Vision for Korea’s Culinary Future
Oct 14, 2024
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Chef Ahn Sung-jae, who has gained immense popularity as a judge alongside Jongwon Paik in the Netflix original series 'Culinary Class Wars', recently shared his thoughts in an interview with Harper's Bazaar.
In the interview, Chef Ahn recalled, "The most memorable thing was the food from Master of School Meals. To be honest, I didn’t expect much at first, but once I started eating, I couldn’t stop. It was like when a child eats mindlessly at school just because they’re hungry. I kept eating, thinking it was delicious without overthinking it. When I finally came to my senses, I realized the plate was already half-empty," he said with a smile, reflecting on that moment.
He continued, "There were still several dozen more participants left to be judged, so I had to stop myself. I thought, 'I can't go on like this.' In my mind, I had already accepted the dish, and even if Jongwon Paik thought it wasn't good enough, I would’ve argued to pass it. I still want to eat that food again."
Chef Ahn also shared that there were only two conditions for him to agree to appear on the show. The first was that he didn’t want to be portrayed as overly pretentious or exaggerated for entertainment’s sake. "I take great pride in being a chef who works in a restaurant every day. Often, the way chefs appear on TV lacks sincerity, and I made it clear that I wouldn’t participate if that were the case."
The second condition was that the show should positively contribute to the restaurant industry. "After a while, the production team contacted me again and assured me they would reflect everything I wanted."
Finally, when asked about how to further develop Korea's fine dining culture and restaurant industry, Chef Ahn said, "Some say Korea’s restaurant culture is behind, but we’re a country where the food industry can thrive, even with just a Netflix show. People are willing to spend money and explore new dining experiences if they’re given the opportunity. To further develop the Korean food service industry, I believe it’s crucial to review and improve laws related to imports and exports," he concluded, expressing his firm belief.
고재완 기자 star77@sportschosun.com
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star77@sportschosun.com
