“You’re Still My Winner” — Edward Lee Dominates the Internet with Creative Skills and Inspiring Diaspora Story from ‘Culinary Class Wars’

On October 8, 2024, Netflix concluded the thrilling journey of *Culinary Class Wars* by releasing its final two episodes. This captivating Korean reality cooking series featured evaluations by renowned chef Paik Jong-won and Michelin-starred chef Ahn Sung-jae, who owns the esteemed Mosu Seoul. During the climactic episode 12, chefs Edward Lee from White Spoon and Kwon Sung-jun, known as Napoli Matfia from Black Spoon, faced off for the grand prize of 300 million won (approximately $223,000).

While Napoli Matfia emerged victorious in the finale, Korean-American chef Edward Lee captured the audience’s admiration with his inventive dishes and genuine demeanor. In the eleventh episode, the top seven semi-finalists engaged in the challenging “Endless Infinite Cooking Challenge,”where they had to cook continuously for four hours until one chef remained to face Napoli Matfia in the finale.

Napoli Matfia had previously secured his spot in the finale by winning the tenth episode. In contrast, Edward Lee and the other six talented chefs competed fiercely. Lee dazzled both judges and viewers by crafting five extraordinary tofu-based dishes that had never been seen before. Edward Lee’s accolades include his triumph on *Iron Chef America* and cooking for President Joe Biden at the White House.

Many viewers expressed disappointment with episode 12, feeling it lacked excitement since Napoli Matfia only cooked a single dish while Edward Lee labored for nearly four hours before the showdown. Fans took to X to celebrate Edward Lee’s innovative recipes and tenacity, declaring him their true “winner”of *Culinary Class Wars*.

One fan elaborated,

“Though Chef Edward Lee fell short of the title, I admire him for continually pushing his boundaries with the dishes he created. Each contestant has a remarkable story too. My cool uncle, you will always be my winner!”

Online commenters praised Edward Lee’s culinary expertise, highlighting the passionate and sincere approach he applied to each dish. They were particularly impressed by his capability to develop five distinct tofu recipes under time constraints during the finale.

“Witnessing Chef Edward Lee’s cooking is exhilarating; his creativity shines through, and his heartfelt rationale for each dish is incredibly moving. It enhances appreciation for the meals he prepares.”a user on X commented.

“In episode 11, we saw Chef Edward Lee’s creative brilliance! Under pressure and with just tofu, he elevated his dishes to new heights. I believe he truly deserves to be the ultimate winner.”another viewer noted.

“In the Endless Cooking Challenge, Chef Edward Lee’s performance was unmatched. Each dish he created showcased his extensive knowledge and innovation.”an additional viewer remarked.

Some fans also expressed admiration for Scott Kang, aka Triple Star, suggesting he should have been among the top two competitors alongside Edward Lee. Comments circulated regarding Napoli Matfia’s lamb dish as being somewhat unoriginal, raising questions about the merit of his victory in the inaugural season of *Culinary Class Wars*.

“In my opinion, Chef Lee deserves the win, while Triple Star should have been a finalist too. It would have been more thrilling to see the three of them compete at the end! The eventual winner’s performance didn’t impress me; it felt lackluster compared to the competition.”wrote one user.

“Edward Lee should have claimed victory; I believe he connected more with the viewers, and his dishes conveyed meaningful stories.”another stated.

“The finale of *Culinary Class Wars* paled in comparison to Episode 11. With all his creativity, Edward Lee was overshadowed by a well-cooked lamb. It was an odd outcome. Hahaha.”a user shared.

Insights on Netflix’s Hit Show *Culinary Class Wars*

*Culinary Class Wars* premiered its initial seven episodes on September 17, 2024. Episodes 8 to 10 followed on October 1, culminating in the final two episodes on October 8 on Netflix. The series featured 80 aspiring chefs, known as “Black Spoons,”who were presented to the audience through creative nicknames instead of their actual names.

In contrast, 20 prestigious chefs, referred to as “White Spoons,”were introduced using their real identities, including Choi Hyun-seok, Edward Lee, Michelin-starred Fabrizio Ferrari, and others. The eight semi-finalists comprised four White Spoon chefs: Choi Hyun-seok, Edward Lee, Jang Ho-joon, and Jung Ji-sun, alongside four Black Spoon chefs: Napoli Matfia (Kwon Sung-jun), Cooking Maniac (Yoon Nam-no), Triple Star (Scott Kang), and Auntie Omakase #1 (Lee Mi-ryeong).

With a total of 12 episodes, *Culinary Class Wars* is available for streaming on Netflix.

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