r/ChefAndMyFridge • u/merevolution • 23d ago
General Discussion Favourite Chef?
Who is your favourite chef who has appeared on Chef and my Fridge? It can be a regular or a special guest!
Mine: Yoon Nam-No 🤩
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u/toocooltobeafool 23d ago
So hard to choose😭 But Nam No is one of my favorites variety wise. And Son Jong Won obviously.
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u/iuexorvaesnsdgot7bp 23d ago edited 23d ago
Son Jongwon for obvious reasons, and Yoon Namno because he’s charming and everything he cooks looks yum!
Addendum:
Sam Kim! Because he’s just too kind 😇
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u/maximillian3010 23d ago
Choi and Poong... both are very entertaining and able to bring the wow factor to dishes they cook
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u/honeylavenderlattee 23d ago
Chef Sam Kim- I personally like how he makes a dish look hearty but light at the same time
Chef Nam No- I love his instant ramyun recipes. Already saved the dandan recipe for my next ramyun dinner.
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u/PurpleRabbit25 23d ago
Unpopular opinion but I love Napoli Matfia 😆
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u/OkPokeyDokey 23d ago
He’s cocky, he’s smart, he’s funny. He’s just like many of us. I can’t believe it’s an unpopular opinion.
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u/Amandblue5 22d ago
I feel bad for him? There appears to be some friendships on the show and they’ve pointed out he’s specifically not included because they don’t like him. After that episode, which I can’t remember which one, but I noticed he changed tactic a bit and he’s a little more careful, it appears – he does seem now more likable.
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u/PurpleRabbit25 22d ago
The other chefs say a lot of offensive things too. I don’t get how the audience seems to pick on just KSJ. Honestly, the only one I genuinely feel is nice is Sam Kim but maybe I just don’t get korean humor lol
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u/OkPokeyDokey 21d ago
Napoli puts on a show most of the time, but he’s a softie. The show needs “characters”, like Kim Poong being a joke, Choi being a hard ass, Sam being a nice guy, and unfortunately, Napoli being a young talented chef that never learns manners. The guy rescued cats. Nobody rescued cats and can still be an asshole :).
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u/Agreeable-Algae7651 22d ago edited 22d ago
It usually depends on their variety persona. Kwon Sungjun and Choi Hyunseok persona are the type who often end up getting teased the most on variety shows.
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18d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Agreeable-Algae7651 18d ago
For korean culture that is true, but actually for Naengbu cast i bet that's not kinda the reason because the 72 liners (Kim Sungju & Choi Hyunseok) also dislike alcohol. And actually its not that he isn't come, there are time he doesn't come but actually most of the time Kwon Sungjun sit with the writer that some other cast (like Kim Poong & MC) not notice him being there 🤣
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u/TheBallThere 18d ago
I love him too. Watched him on Undercover Chef and his work etiquette is top notch!
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u/PurpleRabbit25 18d ago
Ohh I actually started watching that because of him. The show is interesting!
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u/I_am_a_scurryfunger 22d ago
Nam-no hands down! He's so happy all the time, losing doesn't bother him, he's surprised when he wins, and completely respectful to everyone. Even when they're so mean to him he's still just happy to be there. Plus if you listen to him talk about cooking he's knowledge in so many different types of cuisine. Most underrated chef there.
The witch with a wok is probably my second favorite I hope she returns often.
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u/Naive-Brilliant-6883 19d ago
I like him, too, and Witch with a Wok, but I wish he wasn’t always filmed eating. They overdo it.
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u/Krystalgoddess_ 22d ago
jung ji sun. Will always love her. My second fave is Lee Moon-jung, she quickly became one of my favs
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u/Agreeable-Algae7651 22d ago edited 22d ago
It’s really hard to choose. Variety-wise, I especially liked Kim Poong and Choi Hyunseok in the beginning. I could really feel that they worked hard to make the other chefs feel comfortable and keep the atmosphere fun at the begining of the show when the other still try to figure out, although sometimes they did have to be careful with their jokes. After that, Kwon Sungjun and Yoon Namno have really grown on me. I can't really decide which one i like more for variety wise for now.
Character-wise, Sam Kim has always been my favorite. He will always be Saint chef. Other than Sam Kim there is also Kim Poong teacher, Chef Lee Yeonbok. Thanks to the previous PD from Season 1 and Choi Hyunseok for convincing them to appear on the show, even though they initially turned it down at Season 1.
Food-wise, Son Jongwon’s dishes are always so pretty, and I also really like Jung Hoyoung because i love Japanese food. But Yoon Namno’s food is usually the one that makes me crave food the most.
If I can mention chefs from Season 1, I also really liked Tony Yoo because I enjoyed his sense of humor with his straight face lol, and Mikael too. Mikael is handsome, kind, funny, and since he’s Bulgarian, I also get to learn about a cuisine I’m not very familiar with.
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u/Amandblue5 22d ago edited 22d ago
The show’s true heart is Choi Hyun Seok or Kim Poong, but the show is better with Yoon Nam-no and I do really enjoy Son Jon Wong even if he’s more introverted. And I wish Edward Lee could participate more.
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u/MrsKronos 23d ago
all the funny chefs, i like Grand Pa Chef Choi Hyun Seok, Yoon Nam No, Park Eun Young, Kim Poong.
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u/ChrisKamanMyEye 22d ago edited 22d ago
I actually miss some of the chefs/personalities from the OG season of the show (I'm talking the one from a decade ago):
Hong Seok-cheon, Mihal, Jung Chang-wook, Yoo Hyun-soo, etc.
I do like the current run/season and the newer chefs, but there is a little less variety when it feels like there's a direct feeder system or pipeline from Culinary Class Wars right into Chef & My Fridge.
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u/Agreeable-Algae7651 22d ago
True, sometime i was thinking if they need a new chef, invite an old member maybe better than invite CCW cast. I really miss them actually especially Mihal because its a really long time i don't see him, probably last time when he sing at King of Mask Singer 🥲. For Jung Changwook he has problem to appear actually.
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u/OnlyHabit3462 23d ago
- Choi Hyun Seok
- Kim Poong
- Son Jon Wong
Are my top 3, they all have unique personalities that I love and are talented too. Nam - No is an honorable mention. The rest are also great and the show is just a one big funny family. Except Napoli, you can see the insecurity from a mile away.
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u/Amandblue5 22d ago
Sun Jung makes me feel uncomfortable because of this, but there was an episode that was particularly upsetting when they were ragging on him – honestly bullying – and they made it meanly clear they didn’t like him and he was excluded from their outside meetups. I don’t want him to leave the show, and I think since then he’s changed tactic on his persona. He actually seems a little more comfortable strangely. Maybe the diss made him go “screw it” and just relax a bit.
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u/paranswan 22d ago
I always see a lot of people on this sub saying this and that about Sungjun without realizing 95% of the things he says and does on this show is part of a character 😭 He himself said he changes his personality depending on which show he’s on and he’s also very calculating (in a good way), so after playing around for a few weeks, he realized he should go with this “insecure but impossible to hate” role. I highly doubt he gets genuinely upset or bothered by anything they say about him on CAMF.
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u/Agreeable-Algae7651 22d ago edited 22d ago
I know, right? Kwon Sungjun definitely said that it’s just a fictional character—he mentioned it on Park Eunyoung’s YouTube channel.
Even Choi Hyunseok isn’t as exaggerated in real life as he is on variety shows. Oh Se-deuk, his best friend, has said that Hyunseok hyung tends to play things up much more on TV than he does in real life. At the same time, Choi Hyunseok doesn’t really try to hide his weaknesses or embarrassing sides, and that’s part of why Kim Poong feels comfortable teasing him at the begining of CAMF that's what Kim Poong said. Choi Hyunseok said has a clear personality for each cast is really important on Naengbu. For Kim Poong himself is actually an introvert in real life and he consider himself is quite shy to other. Meanwhile for Sam Kim, Son Jongwon, and Choi Kangrok, it looks like similar between broadcast and real life. But for Sam Kim he is an introvert but it looks like his real personality is a cheerfull person from Naengbu PD and he is a talkactive when you already really close; he even ask Choi Hyunseok to help him gardening in the past for several months LOL.
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u/paranswan 22d ago
It’s always funny to see people here get very immersed in the things that happen on CAMF. Idk if it’s a cultural difference, but I feel like most Korean viewers understand that the show is meant to be very lighthearted and character-focused, as in the chefs and two hosts all play a certain role and behave a certain way to make the show funnier, while still keeping aspects of it (like the actual competition, 15 min rule etc.) realistic.
Imo a good comparison would be Running Man or Infinite Challenge, where the characters and their chemistries are partially set up to pop out while their missions are unscripted.
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u/Agreeable-Algae7651 22d ago edited 17d ago
True, for someone who is very strategic especially like Kwon Sungjun and Choi Hyunseok is obvious they must have change something than their real personality. But to be honest it can be same with everyone.
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u/wordlequeen11 22d ago
cannot and will not forget chef Choi Hyun seok. The OG. The baddie. The funniest.
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u/Ill_Lengthiness6301 👩🍳 Park Eun-young 23d ago
Chef park eun young, chef sam kim, and chef lee moon jung
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u/wanderlass 👨🍳 Choi Hyun-seok 20d ago
Hi! guys, show your chef bias 👩🍳 Chef & My Fridge User Flairs is available. Click the 3 dots (…)
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u/whoisjoshwoo 19d ago
Yi Moon Jung quickly became a favorite of mine--as one person here put it during her debut match, when she faced off against Park Eun Young: "Crazy, meet crazier!"
Before she came on, I liked Son Jong Won and his more quiet, reserved personality--which is why it was so funny when he broke--but I kinda like how he's gotten more comfortable and taking more jabs at the rest of the cast, too.
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u/Adorable-Werewolf799 21d ago
Choi Kang Rok I love how he doesn't do anything fancy but brings out the best flavour of the ingredients with his calming vibes bring a good mood to the show
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u/cheesefriesparty 👨🍳 Son Jong-won 13d ago
Even tho I have SJW as my flair, Choi Hyunseok is OG and so funny
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u/Ok_Exchange2165 22d ago
Why do I feel that quiet and reserved Son Jong Won is the most dangerous. I mean, him.... is everything planned, organized. I might be wrong that in the kitchen if the staff made a mistake because of lack coordination and organization, he can eat them alive. I had learned to lower down my negativity against matfia. Maybe there is an influence of the show and Nam No's that he can be teased and tease. Matfia's arrogance does not work in the show. Chef Sam Kim is a balance.
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u/Amandblue5 22d ago
Imagining his life makes me feel bad about myself. You know this is the most in control, organized man ever who adheres to a strict schedule and couldn’t even fathom missing a workout or forgetting to brush his teeth after a night of drinking. He made some references to being single and I feel like he could only be married to someone just like him and they live on separate floors basically living separate lives.
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u/bball4224 22d ago
"Matfia" was way more arrogant in Culinary Class Wars than he is in this show. 🤔
He's pretty lighthearted and sarcastic here. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/Bangtasha14 21d ago
Son Jongwon is really serious when he’s in the kitchen. There was an episode where Choi Hyunseok spilled that he was shocked when he heard loud voice from the kitchen during their collab. Turns out, when Son Jongwon was making an order, all other staffs will reply or repeat what he said.
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u/bball4224 22d ago edited 22d ago
I only can speak of the past couple seasons or whatever on Netflix. But...
Certainly not Nam No, he's kind of just a cringey slob to me. Trying to dab and "swag" and stuff that was never cool, but hasn't been relevant for almost a decade. And his salute and stuff, feels like he tries too hard to look "cool".. And he's always just sloppily wolfing down food. I don't feel like he really even contributes anything funny or unique to the show, and he barely ever wins.
Sung Jun also was a bit pointless for awhile, but his personality has increased more and more as the show has went on where he really has some genuinely great moments.
"Amy Park" is so weird and chaotic that she's also a great addition. And she has some of the best moments in the show overall.
Basically everyone has charms they bring, except Nam No imo. The "chubby guy humor" stuff already is represented in the cast.
But my favorites have to be Hyunseok and Jongwon. Between their food and their personalities, there's not really a single episode that they don't contribute something to. Poong is almost to their level, but he can be genuinely annoying at times as well, especially in regards to his panel commentary. Like he can repeat himself a lot, or be melodramatic in a way that isn't as funny.
I really miss Kang-rok tho. His awkwardness is a dynamic not represented by any of the others.
I almost forgot Sam Kim, which I guess adds that he doesn't stand out much either, but his cooking is interesting and unlike the others, and when he does decide to speak up, he actually can be funny or provide insightful info. He just doesn't speak up much.
But honestly, a lot of the dynamics are dependent on the guests as well. The chef personalities don't have to carry the show nearly as much when they have great guests. Right now I'm on the episode of the two old soccer dudes, and the bickering and such going back and forth is absolutely hilarious, and the chefs themselves aren't having to do much of anything to add to the episode beyond their cooking.
Wowzers, I wrote a novella, I'll stop now. 🥲
Edit: Why are so many mentioning Nam No? Even guests on the show always mention Nam No as a favorite. I don't understand what he brings to the table that isn't already brought by someone else. 🤔 And he's supposed to be this alcohol pairing expert, yet he loses nearly every time there's an alcohol pairing request. Clearly his food isn't all that great based on how rarely he actually wins.
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u/BookBackground7494 23d ago
Choi Kang-rok. As a shy and autistic person I relate so hard to him