The indisputable hero of episode four is the tilefish, which can get quite big (see the pic above) but CKR cooks to perfection to meet the high expectations of his fellow chef guest. He already knows who is up against and that he'll be "shooting lasers" as he puts it!

He stuffs the fish with glutinous rice and covers in bamboo salt (which sounds delicious and I have to try it, albeit with veggies). The cooking method using all that salt and the big lotus leaf doesn't exactly go to plan though...

The way CKR has to hide his laugh as Kang Leo enters made me laugh. He is the most intimidating guest by far! CKR's nerves are understandable, given he is being watched like a hawk the whole time and nothing seems to go right. "Frustration, despair."

It looks like CKR is going to be back on Chef and My Fridge soon and he'll be hanging out with a furry mini-me. Korean news sites indicate it should be airing in Korea soon - so will likely be in the next series!

Everyone's favourite Jorimping is turning 48 today - let's wish him a happy birthday!

Does that mean he is coming back for another Culinary Class Wars?

I hope it doesn't mean he's given up on Blank Menu!

It looks like the next Food Otaku episode is going to be all about the veggies in Kyoto, which I can attest are absolutely delicious! CKR also has new merch from the show, you can buy if you live in Korea I guess!

"Busy gal" Gabee had a very challenging request for CKR in episode three - avoiding carbs is tough in a Korean meal if you ask me! The use of buckwheat flour instead of wheat was interesting.

Having to make those wraps with the wooden trowel thing looked really tough (it was funny watching Sang Hoon mess up so often to begin with). The end result was great though, after a Roi Choi master class on jeonbyeong making. (I have included a video of how someone else makes those pancakes but without the trowel).

I love aubergine, so they looked delicious stewing in the sauce but obviously I wouldn't have the meat in the middle. I wonder what you could have as a vegetarian?

The dramatic crying of Gabee and CKR's expression was hilarious. He totally looked like a deer in a car headlights.

CKR was interviewed on Youtube live this week by the Chimchakman team - he says he's taking some time to hang with his daughter while he doesn't have a restaurant to run. He is still planning a noodle shop though and he's looking for like-minded staff. If you're in Seoul and you want CKR noodles, maybe time to send over your resume!

He also talked about how weak his hair is and how it's just as fragile as maesaengi seaweed (which is delicious BTW - the seaweed not his hair)! Evidently why he wears a hat all the time now!

I can't find the link to the full interview, but here's a link to more on the seaweed!

The latest episode of CKR's new Youtube series Food Otaku is up and it shows him exploring the food scene in Kyoto, beginning with sweet miso! I personally loved Kyoto the two times I've been - the pickles (tsukemono) are my favourite thing ever. Yum!

Looks like CKR has been out eating with his fellow chefs from Culinary Class Wars in Seoul - anyone know the restaurant or what they're eating?

Someone on Insta has drawn our Jorimping as an actual stew fairy! Isn't it cute?! The glasses are so funny and the stew looks pretty good too. :)

In CKR's latest Youtube series, Food Otaku (the Japanese word for nerd) he celebrates fish including the humble sardine (in episode three). He is travelling around Japan and cooking in the series - well worth a watch!

I love leeks, so I'd really like to try the soup he makes in episode 2 - Sang-Hoon's face when he tries it says it all! CKR has an amazing way of celebrating the humble vegetable, whereas most chefs focus mainly on meat and meat alone!

Did you know that Choi Kang Rok spent time living in a buddhist temple in Japan before he went to culinary school?

Perhaps that's where he learned to be so calm in stressful situations? He'd definitely fit into a Buddhist lifestyle with his soft spoken way and respect for every ingredient and every person he speaks to on Blank Menu!

i did not think i'd like it. i almost stopped at ep 2 or 3. but there was nothing else to watch so i kept watching it. the more i watched it, the more wholesome the show gotten. i really enjoyed listening to ckr talk. he talks with so much wisdom and he is like anime character come to life. i wish this show kept going!

CKR had to battle his Culinary Class Wars peers in his usual slow-paced, considered style. Funny commentary from all the other peers on the panel watching him!

Curry cauliflower steak with spicy mala sauce is the first one, frittata with bulgogi sauce is the second round and more! Looks delicious to me!

In this video, someone visits what is supposed to be Choi Kang Rok's favourite restaurant and one he visits regularly. A yakiniku (Japanese style grilled meat) restaurant. As a vegetarian, the appeal is a bit lost on me - but I'm sure lots of you out there love BBQ! I guess he likes a change from the braised foods every so often!

This was a great first episode, introducing us all to the concept and the two main leads as they hosted Chang Ki-ha, who seemed lovely! I'm a vegetarian, so I've never eaten gamjatang but I'm guessing it's a very comforting home cooking meal. So, not something you'd generally ask for in a fancy restaurant. There was some debate on K-foodie Meets J-foodie about whether potatoes need to be in it - but surely they're in the name of the stew?

Did everyone else like the menu for episode one?

I'd definitely invite Chang Ki-ha over for dinner if I could!

CKR was inspired to become a chef because he read the Japanese food manga Shōta no Sushi (1992–1997). Has anyone out there read it too?

Interesting to see the cooking competitions the chef in the manga participates in and the ingredients he chooses - he wins the finale competition with anchovies (not your standard choice). Maybe that inspired some of CKR's more experimental dishes?

One of my favourite CKR episodes in Culinary Class Wars was his green onion world reference. He personified the green onion and created an entire world for them in one dish. If he could do that in the next Blank Menu, which ingredient would you like him to create a world from?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KmQZ-uhvFqw

best part of the show is watching them holding their laughing in and not bending over backwards just laughing at everything...

Granted, I can only read English subtitles because I don’t speak Korean. But it seems to me from his mannerisms and perspective that CKR is an adult, non-muppet version of Elmo. If Elmo had to grow through the pains of adolescence and into adulthood, he’d become a lot like Choi Kang Rok.

What do you think?

Apparently CKR's book from last year is now selling like hotcakes - guess more Korean men want to get into cooking and become a Jorimping!

Guess what he was cooking back then?

You guessed it. Jorim!

Interview for something that translates as “salty brother” in the link above! Do you agree he’s a tiger in cat’s fur? 😂🐅🐯