Hotel-trained chefs stand out on Netflix's 'Black & White Chefs' Season 2
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Netflix's cooking competition 'Black & White Chefs' Season 2 has highlighted several contestants known as 'white-spoon' (백수저 — a Korean term referring to relatively privileged culinary backgrounds) chefs who began their careers in luxury hotels. Chef Son Jong-won, a leading figure in Korea’s hotel fine dining, helped earn Michelin one-star status for two restaurants he leads: La Mange Secrète at The Westin (Rescape Hotel) and Itanic Garden at Chosun Palace Seoul Gangnam. Chef Hu Deok-juk, a longtime Chinese cuisine master from The Shilla Seoul’s restaurant Palsun, introduced a Korean-style version of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall (불도장) and cooked for top Chinese leaders. Other hotel alumni include Choi Yoo-gang, who trained at The Shilla and now runs Koja Cha; Cheon Sang-hyun, a former presidential chef who started at The Shilla; Park Hyo-nam, a Western cuisine expert honored with France’s Mérite Agricole and Korea’s Master Chef title; and Lee Geum-hee, the first female executive chef at a Korean luxury hotel, leading the hanjeongsik (traditional Korean course meal) restaurant Bongraeheon. Industry observers say hotels offer diverse training opportunities, helping many contestants bring polished techniques to the show.
