Choi Hyun-seok is on a roll.

In the 12th episode of JTBC‘s ‘Please Take Care of My Refrigerator’ (abbreviated as Naengbuhae) that aired on the 9th, a 15-minute cooking competition using ingredients from Heo Sung-tae’s refrigerator took place, and Choi Hyun-seok defeated Sam Kim with ‘Heotalian Vongole’, recording his 5th consecutive win and currently taking the lead with five star badges. The viewership ratings for that day‘s broadcast were 3.2% in the metropolitan area according to Nielsen Korea’s paid household standards. The target viewership ratings for men and women in their 20s and 40s were 2.0% in the metropolitan area.

Ahead of the full-scale cooking competition, Heo Sung-tae‘s shy, surprising charm, different from the intense characters in the drama, provided enjoyment. Heo Sung-tae raised the mood by dancing the Ombrinyu dance with BTS’ J-Hope and performing the ‘Even As the Night Deepens’ stage with J-Hope, Kim Poong, and Seo Taiji and Boys.

On this day, Heo Sung-tae chose a delicious ‘Fridge Clearing’ dish that uses up ingredients piled up in the refrigerator and an Italian dish that is delicious down to the last bite as the theme of hope cooking. As a result, Sam Kim and Choi Hyun-suk took the lead in the Italian dish, and the ‘Fridge Clearing’ cooking showdown between Kim So-hee, a judge on ‘MasterChef Korea 2’, and the winner Choi Kang-rok as teacher and student became a hot topic.

Kim So-hee, who drew attention with her unusual composure from the beginning of the competition, drew admiration by using her ‘1 Minute UNICEF’ benefit for Choi Kang-rok. Moreover, Kim So-hee finished her cooking first and then tasted and praised Choi Kang-rok‘s finishing dish, and showed a cool side by allowing Choi Kang-rok to add the green onions that he forgot.


Heo Sung-tae chose Kim So-hee’s dish after tasting Choi Kang-rok‘s pasta ‘Na Jom Natto’ with natto, kimchi, and seaweed, and Kim So-hee’s ‘Master Tteokguk Korea’ with radish stir-fried in sesame oil and broth and topped with a mixture of kimchi, shrimp paste, cabbage, and soybean paste. Kim So-hee, who was being judged for the first time, revealed her nervousness only then, saying, “I‘m sweating, I’m sweating.”

Meanwhile, Sam Kim and Choi Hyun-seok, synonymous with the original Italian chefs, exploded with adrenaline with a tense battle of nerves. Choi Hyun-seok made ‘Heotalian Vongole’ with ground green onions for color and flavor and instant kimchi stew, and Sam Kim made ‘Pasta But Tuna’ with canned tuna and tuna liquid, making us wonder if they can capture Heo Sung-tae, who doesn‘t know the appeal of Italian cuisine.

Just as Choi Hyun-seok said he would make a new vongole that doesn’t taste like kimchi stew, Heo Sung-tae was captivated by the scent of green onions and the unique texture of the sujebi, saying, “Oh, I really can‘t remember kimchi stew.” J-Hope, who tried Choi Hyun-seok’s cooking, also said, “It‘s the most delicious. Of all the things I ate today,” and praised him, saying, “All the chefs’ food was delicious, but (Chef Choi Hyun-seok‘s cooking) was all my style.”

In the final selection, Heo Sung-tae gave Choi Hyun-seok a hand. With this, Choi Hyun-seok achieved his fifth consecutive win and recorded an undefeated streak.

Hong Se-young, Donga.com reporter projecthong@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.