Uhm Jung-hwa Calls One Dish the Best She Has Tried on 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator'

Singer Uhm Jung-hwa's refrigerator has become a fiercely contested arena for a group of chefs. The August 9 episode of JTBC's "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator," airing at 8:50 p.m. and directed by Lee Chang-woo and Lee Rin-ha, will feature 15-minute cooking battles using ingredients found inside Uhm's refrigerator.

The chefs have prepared distinctly different concepts in an effort to win over Uhm Jung-hwa, who is widely described as an icon of disciplined self-care. Each competitor will make a decisive bid to create a dish that suits her tastes within the program's tight time limit.

The first contest pits chefs Son Jong-won and Yoo Yong-wook against each other. Son approaches the challenge with a "gourmet world tour" concept, creating a dish that brings together flavors from around the world. Yoo takes a contrasting route by focusing specifically on Brazilian cuisine.

Son Jong-won, who was born in 1984, is 15 years younger than Uhm Jung-hwa, who was born in 1969. Their age difference adds another detail to the matchup as Son sets out on his culinary world tour and Yoo counters with his Brazilian-inspired menu.

Once the battle begins, Yoo Yong-wook unexpectedly runs into trouble. Although he initially appears relaxed and seems to have adjusted comfortably to the set, he is shaken by the nonstop advice pouring in from the other chefs.

As the pressure mounts, a flustered Yoo repeatedly cries, "Emergency! Emergency!" to announce the urgent situation, instantly heating up the atmosphere on set. Recalling his victory over Kim Poong during his first appearance on the program, Yoo adds, "I was able to win thanks to Chef Son Jong-won."

With only 15 minutes available, the tension rises over which dish will capture Uhm Jung-hwa's palate: Son Jong-won's globe-spanning creation or Yoo Yong-wook's Brazilian-style offering.

The second contest introduces the first two-on-two tag-team battle in the program's history. Jung Ho-young and Sam Kim join forces to face the team of Kim Poong and Lee Moon-jeong.

Jung Ho-young and Sam Kim draw confidence from their previous experience in team competitions. Emphasizing their strong bond, they say, "We were almost always on the same team." Calling themselves "the cook and the cooking utensil," the pair even perform a couple's dance as they take control of the mood on set.

The opposing combination of Kim Poong and Lee Moon-jeong is equally formidable. Known together as the "Chinese Cuisine Siblings," they stage a performance that combines Kim's freewheeling ideas with the cooking ability of Lee, a certified master of Chinese cuisine.

Jung Ho-young and Sam Kim openly attempt to unsettle their rivals, saying, "Even if Chef Lee Moon-jeong does well, we think writer Kim Poong will ruin it." A key point to watch in the tag-team battle is what Kim, who is known as the "Demonic Realm Chef," can produce with the help of Lee's skills.

After every dish is completed, Uhm Jung-hwa begins tasting the results herself. She samples each finished creation one by one before trying a particular menu item and offering extraordinary praise: "This is the most delicious version of this that I have ever eaten."

Uhm returns to the dish several times, continuing to voice her admiration as she launches into an enthusiastic tasting session. Her repeated reactions underscore just how strongly the menu has impressed her.

The final winner of the cooking competition built around Uhm Jung-hwa's refrigerator will be revealed on JTBC's "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator" at 8:50 p.m. on August 9.