Chef Edward Lee: Everything You Need to Know About the Culinary Class Wars Finalist

On Tuesday, October 8, Netflix unveiled the eagerly anticipated final episodes of Culinary Class Wars, showcasing Chef Edward Lee alongside Napoli Matfia (Kwon Seong-joon) as the finalists of the competition. Chef Lee represented the White Spoon team, while Kwon Seong-joon stood for Black Spoon. Edward Lee’s exceptional skills shone through his numerous challenges throughout the series.

For those who may not know, Edward Lee is a prominent chef, restaurateur, and author hailing from Brooklyn, New York. He has also served as a judge on Gordon Ramsay’s reality series Culinary Genius. Lee’s culinary journey includes appearances on multiple acclaimed programs such as Top Chef and The Mind of a Chef.

A celebrated figure in the culinary world, Lee has received multiple nominations for the prestigious James Beard Award. As an author, he has penned two acclaimed books: Smoke and Pickles and Buttermilk Graffiti. Currently, Chef Edward Lee enjoys a following of over 190k on Instagram at @chefedwardlee.

Edward Lee’s Television Appearances Include Top Chef and The Mind of a Chef

Lee embarked on his professional culinary career at just 22 years old, gaining expertise in various cooking styles and techniques across France and the United States. A pivotal moment came in 2001 when he developed a passion for Southern cuisine after visiting the Kentucky Derby.

Motivated by this newfound love, Lee moved to Louisville in 2002 and began his journey at 610 Magnolia, a restaurant he now owns. His portfolio also includes other establishments such as Whiskey Dry in Louisville, Succotash Prime in Washington D.C. and National Harbor, and Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse in Louisville.

In 2011, he competed in the ninth season of Top Chef and later took on the role of host chef in the third season of The Mind of a Chef.

Edward Lee has been recognized with consecutive nominations from the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef: Southeast from 2011 to 2014. Additionally, he released his first cookbook, Smoke and Pickles, in 2013.

In 2015, Chef Lee launched The LEE Initiative, which stands for ‘Let’s Empower Employment.’ More information about this initiative can be found on his official website.

“We initiated the LEE Initiative in Louisville, KY, in 2015 after recognizing the necessity for increased diversity, training, and equality within our local restaurant scene. Our goal was to transform how we give back to the community based on our analysis, experiences, and instincts.”

Chef Lee was appointed as a juror on Culinary Genius in 2017. His book Buttermilk Graffiti, initially published in 2018, received accolades as the Best Food Book of the Year by notable outlets including Smithsonian, Boston Globe, Plate, and BookRiot, and it was a semifinalist for the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards.

Additionally, Chef Edward Lee was invited as a guest chef at the White House state dinner held on April 26, 2023, where he had the honor of serving South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

In April 2024, Chef Lee is set to publish his third book, Bourbon Land. Recently, he showcased his culinary talents in Netflix’s Korean reality series, Culinary Class Wars. The show, consisting of twelve episodes, is available for streaming exclusively on the platform and features two competing teams, the ‘White Spoon’ and ‘Black Spoon.’

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