Chefs Kwon Sung-jun and Son Jong-won battle for Son Ye Jin
Chefs Kwon Sung-jun and Son Jong-won face off in a cooking battle for Son Ye Jin on JTBC's 'Chef & My Fridge.'
A highlight video from the JTBC variety program 'Chef & My Fridge' captures Chefs Kwon Sung-jun and Son Jong-won preparing for a cooking battle dedicated to actress Son Ye Jin. The official video title emphasizes the competitive tension between the two, while transcript data reveals the host introducing the segment as the 'Pretty Noona Cooking Battle.' The video begins with each chef explaining their prepared menus.
Kwon Sung-jun focuses on Jeollanam-do regional cuisine
In describing his menu, Chef Kwon noted that he considered the specific circumstances in which Son Ye Jin might serve the food. He mentioned Gangjin, Damyang, and Gwangju in Jeollanam-do—areas associated with Hyun Bin's family—explaining that regional dishes from these areas would be ideal for when her in-laws, Hyun Bin, or acquaintances visit. Within this theme, 'Haechung-tang' was presented as the centerpiece. The video introduces 'Haechung-tang' as a name implying that eating it makes one feel younger.
Kwon's lineup also includes side dishes. The transcript mentions pot rice as a way to show sincerity, but instead of serving it traditionally, he explains he will add a twist by making it 'Italian Soba.' Basil pesto and pickled cherry tomatoes are mentioned as ingredients for this dish. While there are host comments regarding the preparation of shrimp and paprika, the detailed cooking process is limited to what is captured in the initial machine transcription.
Son Jong-won counters with 'Ibaji Food'
Chef Son Jong-won introduced his menu as 'Ibaji food,' which the video describes as food prepared to celebrate family milestones or auspicious occasions. Son's specific menu is titled 'Pancake in My Head.' The lineup reportedly includes pancakes, braised abalone (jeonbokcho), and grilled octopus (nakji horanggui).
The confrontation is framed as a duel between Kwon, who seeks high praise from Son Ye Jin, and Son, who aims to erase Kwon from her memory. As the source material consists of voice transcripts from the beginning of the broadcast highlights, the final results and evaluations of the completed dishes are not confirmed. However, the core of the battle lies in the two distinct approaches: Kwon's regional 'Haechung-tang' versus Son's celebratory 'Ibaji food.'
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