Netflix’s cooking show Black and White Chef: Cooking Class War is returning for a new season. Riding high on the success of Season 1, it aims to bring a more upgraded “taste class war” into homes this year-end. The release date is confirmed for December 16.
In this season, the competition is clear-cut. A group of “black spoon” chefs, determined to overturn their social status through sheer skill, will face off against the “white spoon” star chefs, who have already reached the pinnacle of the culinary world. The tension will focus on those who wish to protect their status versus those who seek to transcend it, showcasing a fierce cooking battle.
The poster featuring the black spoon version, released on November 18, captures the season’s vibe perfectly. Chefs from various genres including Korean, Western, Chinese, Japanese, and fusion cuisines are shown sweating over the flames. Scenes of them serving traditional liquor, battling at the barbecue grill to preserve juices, and meticulously plating food from big pots demonstrate that they are not just competitors but true masters.
They will be met by the white spoon chefs who come equipped with “brand” and “star” status. This season features top chefs such as Michelin 2-star Chef Lee Joon, Michelin 1-star Chefs Son Jong-won in Korean and Western cuisines, Chef Seonjae, a master of temple food, and Hu Deok-juk, a Chinese culinary expert with 57 years of experience.
In the teaser released the same day, the black spoon chefs express their admiration for the white spoon chefs, saying things like, “It’s a competition where stars are on the line,” and “In Chinese cuisine, Chef Hu Deok-juk is almost a deity.” At the same time, their determination shines through as they assert, “I’ve been waiting for this competition,” “I’m going to give it my all,” “I want to make my name known worldwide,” “I came to win first place,” and “If I can beat that person, my name will also be recognized.”
Season 1 went beyond ordinary cooking variety shows, highlighting the emotional and pride battles between white spoon chefs who needed to prove their class and black spoon chefs aiming to transcend their rank, effectively crafting a “cooking survival + drama” experience. It became the first Korean entertainment show on Netflix to top the global Netflix TOP 10 TV Non-English category for three consecutive weeks and topped Gallup Korea’s “Most Liked Programs by Koreans” survey for September 2024, creating a sensation of “cooking class variety.”
Season 2 will ride this momentum and bring “Korean flavors” to the forefront. With recipes that utilize ingredients from all over the country and the creative interpretations of chefs across genres, the show aims to convey the message that “local is global” through cooking. It’s also gaining attention as a card that will cap off the year-end alongside Netflix’s other lineup of shows such as Single’s Inferno 4, Crime Scene Zero, Physical: Asia, and Devil’s Plan: Death Room.
Directors Kim Hak-min and Kim Eun-ji shared their thoughts on Season 2, saying, “We received an unexpectedly warm reception during Season 1. We thought a lot and prepared well to repay that love. We retained the elements viewers enjoyed in Season 1 while refining the aspects they pointed out as lacking to create a more complete season.”
They further mentioned, “New rules, missions, and surprise elements are also prepared, and we ask for warm support for all chefs participating in Season 2. We believe we can deliver a different kind of fun and emotion compared to Season 1.”
The intense “taste class war” of black and white chefs in Black and White Chef 2 will once again open the doors to a hot kitchen in front of global viewers on December 16.