On the October 16th episode of tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block” (hereinafter referred to as ‘You Quiz’), “Culinary Class Wars” contestants Napoli Mafia and Edward Lee appeared as guests.
When reflecting on his win, Napoli Mafia said, “Looking back, I still think, ‘How did I win?’ Watching the broadcast now, it becomes even clearer, and I recently started thinking, ‘How did I beat those people?’ But I also feel like if I competed again, I could win.”
Yoo Jae-suk commented, “You must have received a lot of TV appearance offers,” to which Napoli Mafia replied, “There was really only one thing I wanted to do. It’s a bit embarrassing, but since everyone on ‘You Quiz’ wears suits, I ordered a custom-made one after winning.”
Regarding his current situation post-show, Napoli Mafia revealed, “There’s a reservation app, and there are about 20,000 people on the waiting list. I’m incredibly grateful, but there’s also some pressure. We always take reservations in small amounts to ensure the quality of the experience. It’s more about offering a meaningful experience than just making money.”
Then, Yoo Jae-suk asked, “The prize was 300 million won ($225,000). May I ask how you plan to use it?”
Answering this, Napoli Mafia shared, “I’m the type who likes to avoid becoming lazy, so I didn’t want the money to be visible. I immediately invested the entire 300 million won into securing a nearby rental property next to my restaurant. It helps me focus on my work since it makes my commute easier. I thought if the money was visible, it would be a distraction.”
Additionally, Yoo Jae-suk mentioned, “You competed against Chef Edward Lee. We reached out to him, and he happened to be on his way to the airport but said he could join us before his flight,” building anticipation for Edward Lee’s surprise appearance.
As Edward Lee appeared, Yoo Jae-suk asked the chef, “Other chefs have restaurants in Korea and get a lot of reservations. How about you, since your restaurant is in the U.S.?”
To this, Edward Lee responded humorously, “Of course, I’d love to have a restaurant in Korea. It feels like a missed opportunity after being on TV here. There aren’t many customers in the U.S.”
Yoo Jae-suk jokingly said, “You don’t have any recognition in the U.S.?”, to which Edward Lee replied, “A little, but if you know a rich investor, please introduce them. I’d love to open a restaurant in Korea.”
Jo Se-ho then suggested, “We’re in luck! There’s a rich investor right here,” pointing to Yoo Jae-suk.
Yoo Jae-suk later marveled at Edward Lee’s appearance on the competitive cooking show, saying, “Many people were surprised to see you on the show.”
Meanwhile, Napoli Mafia added, “All the contestants were incredible, especially Chef Edward Lee. I was terrified thinking, ‘I’m competing against him?’”
Source: Daum
