Netflix's 'Culinary Class Wars' to pit franchise food against fine dining

Netflix's upcoming show 'Culinary Class Wars' features 100 contestants from various culinary backgrounds competing to showcase their delicious food. Restaurateur Paik Jong-won and Michelin-starred Chef Sung Anh will serve as judges.

Restaurateur Paik Jong-won, left, and chef Anh Sung-jae [NETFLIX]

Netflix cooking competition show “Culinary Class Wars” will be released in September, the streaming service said Wednesday.

A total of 100 contestants from all different culinary genres, ranging from everyday diners to fine dining chefs, will compete on the show.

The program was put together “with the question of whose food would be considered more delicious: the owner of a local diner or a Michelin-starred chef,” Netflix said in a news release.

Restaurateur Paik Jong-won and fine dining Chef Sung Anh will serve as judges.

Paik is well known as the owner of Theborn Korea, home of many franchise restaurant chains. Anh, by contrast, owns Mosu, the sole Korean restaurant with three Michelin stars.

The juxtaposition between Paik's commercial palate and Anh's fine dining expertise will bring “evaluations with various aspects and wide viewpoints,” Netflix said.

“When we put the two together, we thought it would be a very solid judge roster,” said producer Kim Eun-ji. “We thought that the tension and the negotiation process that arises when opinions between the two differ could also become a unique charm.”

“Korea’s culinary standards are quite high, yet that is not well-known around the world,” said Paik. “I hope that this time Korea can join the ranks of the world's culinary powerhouses.”

“I feel both cautious and grateful for the opportunity to participate in such a grand-scale project alongside professional chefs,” said Anh. “After hearing the production team's vision, I approached this project with a strong sense of responsibility, believing that it could undoubtedly contribute to the development of Korea's dining culture.”

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]