Chef Kwon Seong Joon, better known as Napoli Matfia, opened up about his Culinary Class War victory and how he spent his 300 million KRW (approx. 222,000 USD) prize on the October 16th episode of tvN’s You Quiz on the Block. He appeared alongside fellow chef and runner-up Edward Lee.
Reflecting on his win, Napoli Matfia said, “I watched the show again and still can’t believe I won. But honestly, if I had to do it again, I think I could win again,” exuding confidence.
Despite being approached by multiple shows, Napoli Matfia revealed that You Quiz on the Block was the one he had hoped to join. In fact, he was so certain they would call him that he even had a suit tailored for the appearance, giving a big laugh.
Addressing his sudden rise in popularity, Napoli Matfia shared, “There are over 20,000 people on the waiting list on the reservation app. I’m incredibly grateful but also feel the pressure. I always limit the number of reservations because I want to provide a unique experience rather than focus on profit.”
When asked about the $222,000 prize, the chef surprised everyone with his answer. “I’m the type to be wary of becoming complacent. So, to stay focused on my restaurant, I immediately used the money to rent the place next door to my restaurant. I didn’t want to see that money sitting around and risk losing my drive,” he explained.
Napoli Matfia’s competitor in the Culinary Class War finale, Edward Lee reflected on his recent surge in attention, saying, “I took the subway yesterday, and about 50 people recognized me. It’s been amazing to feel the love, and it’s such a special experience.”
Napoli Matfia admitted that competing against Lee made him nervous. Edward, however, expressed his excitement about the show from the start. “When I first heard about the show, I was drawn to the fact that it was taking place in Korea. I wanted to showcase my version of Korean cuisine to the world,” he said. “I decided to only use Korean ingredients, which was really important to me—I wanted to do something I could be proud of.”
>> ‘Culinary Class Wars’ Becomes New Netflix Hit, Chef-Owned Restaurants Thrive
Source (1)
