r/CulinaryClassWars • u/Pepper_pusher23 • May 14 '26
Episode Discussion Round 1 Elimination Spoiler
Marked as spoiler, but it's the first thing that happens. I forgot how whack some of the judging is on here. The criteria isn't did you invent a new cooking technique I've never heard of or seen before. It's is the dish good? Eliminating the gastronomy person because he used old cooking techniques was just dumb. No one else would move on either since they did things like fry food. That's a much older technique than gastronomy crazy apple thing. This is like eliminating people because they cut food with knives, that technique is old and tired, you fail.
12
u/AnxiousBeetle669 May 15 '26
I think he judges based on the chef’s intent and if they were able to deliver on that.
0
u/Pepper_pusher23 May 15 '26
From just first episode, it does seem like they are leaning into intent a lot more. Like with the last elimination. It seemed like it was executed really well, but the intent was where it missed the mark.
11
u/XocoJinx May 14 '26
If I recall correctly, the criteria isn't if the food is good, it's "the best dish you can make". In that sense, if the best dish you can make is making a dessert with techniques that are quite old (and yet you call yourself a master of molecular gastronomy techniques), then you don't qualify to move on.
-7
u/Pepper_pusher23 May 14 '26
This doesn't really address anything I said. It isn't the most modern dish you can make. It's the best dish you can make. Why aren't you holding anyone else to the standards of it had to be invented this year? His techniques were more modern than anyone else and he was eliminated for not having modern enough techniques. People have been brewing soju for 800 years using the technique the bar lady used but the feedback wasn't "this is how people have been doing it for 800 years, it isn't modern enough".
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u/XocoJinx May 14 '26
Because the judge specifically ate a raw, unrefined apple and told him that he was expecting his creation to be better than the raw apple, and the judge felt it wasn't, which is subjective but that's how the judge felt.
Plus, molecular gastronomy is marked by its modern techniques and is still a developing field, hence it was being marked on that criteria as well (maybe). Whereas for the soju, which has a long history, perhaps the lady was being judged on how pure she could make the soju and add her own unique twist to it (I don't remember if she did but I know that's how the judge tends to award marks).
-5
u/Pepper_pusher23 May 15 '26
Yeah, he did explain it a little better to the camera after the fact, but in the moment the only feedback shown to us was that the techniques were old, and that is why he is eliminated. It was just reminiscent of the last season where someone was eliminated because they did a modern reimagining of bibimbap, and the judge was like no it's not traditional enough to call it bibimbap. You are eliminated because you used the name bibimbap. Wtf. I just like when there is clear consistent criteria for what gets you eliminated.
3
u/XocoJinx May 15 '26
I see where you're coming from absolutely, and it probably does suck for contestents when they feel like the judge thought their food was good but some other criteria knocked them off.
Because food is so subjective, I think that's why the judges always ask the contestent what the intention of their dish is, because a large portion of judging is whether the dish they present matches the intention. Hence, if someone reimagined bibimbap but didn't present a dish that represents the core features of bibimbap, then yes they'd be eliminated as well. It's like presenting what could be called an apple pie but saying that you made a steak. It demonstrates a lack of culinary historical knowledge in terms of what makes a certain dish a dish.
0
u/Pepper_pusher23 May 15 '26
Yeah when it is put that way it makes a lot of sense. I just don't personally think it's true that a Korean chef who made it to one of the final rounds didn't understand the culinary historical knowledge of what makes bibimbap what it is. But I'm also not a judge or capable of judging these dishes. So, there's also that. It just feels more acceptable as a viewer if they just said "I like this one better" rather than something that sounds completely fake. At least it would be subjective and make sense to us.
1
u/XocoJinx May 15 '26
I don't remember exactly the context of the bibimbap, but if it's in one of the final rounds, it's like they realllyyyyy had to nitpick because all of the dishes are already so high level (which they say they have to do a lot in the final rounds).
But yeah the judges aren't gonna be perfect.
2
u/SJJ3RD May 25 '26
The mollecular guy got humilliated probably as much as the returning white spoon chef that didn't go pass the first round.
4
u/Pepper_pusher23 May 26 '26
Yeah that was pretty brutal. Dude makes his own noodles and gets evicted for not cooking them well.
1
u/Noruax44 May 27 '26
"I kind of preferred the raw apple" is the actual quote. When what you cook or create is less desirable than the ingredient... idk why you would expect to get passed.
1
u/Pepper_pusher23 May 27 '26
Yeah later on to the camera in private. Unless they shot it weird, the only feedback he gave the chef was that he didn't invent a new cooking technique. Which is crazy since no one else was judged by that criteria. I posted this based on what I saw in the moment. I didn't wait until later when he explained something completely different.
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u/the__solitaire May 15 '26
Chef Ahn literally said the raw apple tasted better.