Cover Son Jong-won, a “White Spoon” chef in ‘Culinary Class Wars 2’
Son Jong-won, a “White Spoon” chef in ‘Culinary Class Wars 2’
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Already a beloved presence in South Korea’s dining world, Son Jong-won further captured public attention through ‘Culinary Class Wars 2’. His graceful composure and refined artistry in both French and Korean cuisine have earned him not just awards, but hearts
Netflix’s popular cooking competition show, Culinary Class Wars, has returned with a stronger, more dynamic chef lineup. Son Jong-won from the “White Spoon” team—an elite group of top-tier chefs, as opposed to the “Black Spoon” team, which is made up of talented but lesser-known chefs—has recently become the centre of attention.
Well before the show, Son had already established a formidable reputation within—and beyond—the dining world. As head chef of two acclaimed restaurants, Korean restaurant Eatanic Garden and French restaurant L’Amant Secret, both of which are Tatler Best 100 Asia-Pacific 2025 and Michelin-starred venues. He also became a familiar face through the cooking series Chef & My Fridge (2024).
His season ended in a narrow defeat to Hasung Lee, known on the show as the “Culinary Monster,” a result widely regarded as one of the competition’s most surprising exits. Son showcased a refined dish pairing wagyu beef tongue with white potatoes and black truffle, a presentation so exquisite that even his rival praised it as “a dish embodying the gentlemanly grace of chef Son himself”.
During the show’s “Black and White Team Battle”, Son paired up with Lee to create an innovative version of the Waldorf Salad. They won unanimous praise from the judges for their creative synergy. Son’s leadership and sense of camaraderie shone throughout the group challenges, boosting his popularity among viewers even further.
While no longer a contestant of Culinary Class Wars, Son continues to enchant audiences with his blend of warmth, wit and exquisite technique.
Read on to find out more about Son’s lesser-known facts and his visit to Hong Kong.
The first chef in South Korea to lead two Michelin-starred restaurants
Above Son Jong-won, a “White Spoon” chef at ‘Culinary Class Wars 2’
Son Jong-won, a “White Spoon” chef at ‘Culinary Class Wars 2’
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The 41-year-old chef holds the distinctive honour of being South Korea’s first and only chef to oversee two one-Michelin-starred restaurants: Eatanic Garden and L’Amant Secret (“Secret Lover”), showcasing his dual mastery of Korean and French techniques. Last year, the two restaurants were awarded Tatler Best 100 Awards and have maintained their one-star status for five consecutive years.
L’Amant Secret, perched on the 26th floor of L’Escape Hotel in downtown Seoul, radiates Parisian romance and intimacy. After sharpening his craft in the US, Sun developed a unique “Korean-inspired Western cuisine” concept using locally sourced seasonal ingredients, turning each plate into something akin to an edible artwork.
Across the river in Gangnam, Eatanic Garden, located on the 36th floor of Josun Palace, takes a more avant-garde approach to traditional Korean cuisine. Eschewing conventional menus, the restaurant presents dishes on illustrated art cards featuring seasonal ingredients, with servers narrating each creation’s story and inspiration.
A visit to Hong Kong
Few realise that Son is no stranger to Hong Kong. In September last year, he represented Eatanic Garden at a collaboration dinner with Antimo Maria Merone at the acclaimed Italian restaurant Estro. The collaboration menu included inventive creations such as tuna gimbap with smoked caviar and finger lime, kimchi arancini and bottarga pasta, a dazzling marriage of Italian and Korean flavours.
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The engineer-turned-chef
Above L’Amant Secret, headed by Son Jong-won, a contestant of ‘Culinary Class Wars’
L’Amant Secret, headed by Son Jong-won, a contestant of ‘Culinary Class Wars’
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Surprisingly, Son’s journey into gastronomy was not a straightforward one. Originally a civil engineering major in the US, he discovered his true calling during a visit to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in his senior year. Inspired by the passion and artistry of the students, he made the bold decision to switch careers and start from scratch.
He trained intensively at the CIA and honed his skills at some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, including San Francisco’s three-Michelin-starred Quince, Benu and Coi, before undertaking an apprenticeship at Copenhagen’s legendary Noma. In 2018, he returned to Korea, ready to redefine the culinary scene.
A fan favourite of ‘Chef & My Fridge’
Above Song Jong-won, a contestant of ‘Culinary Class Wars’, was featured in ‘Chef & My Fridge’ (Season 2)
Above Song Jong-won, a contestant of ‘Culinary Class Wars’, was featured in ‘Chef & My Fridge’ (Season 2)
Song Jong-won, a contestant of ‘Culinary Class Wars’, was featured in ‘Chef & My Fridge’ (Season 2)
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Before his Culinary Class Wars 2 fame, Son had already become a household name on the hit culinary show Chef & My Fridge (Season 2) in 2024, a series that gathered some of South Korea’s most celebrated chefs, including Choi Hyun-seok, Edward Lee, Sungjun Kwon and Jung Ji-sun.
Audiences were drawn not just to Son’s technical precision and innovative approach, but to his soft-spoken charm and sophistication. His poised yet passionate performance on Culinary Class Wars 2 has only reaffirmed that title.
This article is translated from Cathy Huang’s original version.
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
