Appearing as the underdog ‘French Papa’ on Netflix’s variety show ‘Culinary Class Wars Season 2’ “I wanted to show my child that I am still a chef” “My dream is to open a small restaurant where people with and without disabilities work together through food”
사진 확대 Chef Tommie Lee. Photo | Netflix ‘Culinary Class Wars Season 2’
Chef Tommie Lee, who competed under the nickname ‘French Papa’ on the Netflix original variety show ‘Culinary Class Wars Season 2,’ spoke about his experience in the competition and how it has shaped his life since.
In a written interview with Yonhap News Agency on the 8th, Tommie Lee shared, “Just being able to show my child that I cook on television was deeply moving. When my son watched the show and told me, ‘Daddy, very good,’ it was a short but truly heartfelt compliment that made me emotional and happy.”
He added, “Having lived as a father for so long, I wanted to confirm if I was still a chef and show my child that his dad remains a chef.”
Tommie Lee has been running his French restaurant, Bistrot de Yountville, in a small alley of Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, for over 16 years. Already well-known among top chefs, Tommie Lee gained broader recognition by appearing as the underdog ‘French Papa’ on ‘Culinary Class Wars Season 2,’ which premiered last month.
A particularly touching moment was when he teared up thinking of his son with developmental disabilities, which resonated with viewers. He recalled, “I left the restaurant for a long time to focus on my son’s treatment, entrusting it to my staff while I lived abroad. I wanted to see if my culinary skills were still sharp, so I joined ‘Culinary Class Wars Season 2.’ Surviving the first round brought me more joy than I expected, and thoughts of my son overwhelmed me with emotion.”
Although Tommie Lee runs a French restaurant, he has never trained in France. He explained, “Not having experience in France was a long-standing complex for me, but that sense of lack and longing pushed me to study and work even harder. I believe my greatest strength is my deep respect and love for French cuisine.”
사진 확대 Chef Tommie Lee. Photo | Tommie Lee’s social media
After being eliminated in the second round following a match against Park Hyo-nam, a master chef known as a leading figure in French cuisine in Korea, Tommie Lee reflected, “I wanted to connect and learn from Park Hyo-nam, a living legend of French cuisine. While I felt the gap in skill and experience, I learned even more about humility and consideration. It was a grateful time that became a turning point in my life.”
Tommie Lee also expressed no regrets about sharing his son’s disability on the show, saying, “It is no longer a secret or a painful story for my family. Through my son, our family became united, and I learned to look beyond myself and see others with empathy.”
He continued, “I sincerely hoped that our family’s story could offer some comfort to parents of children with developmental disabilities who are still struggling. I also wanted them to know they are not alone.”
He shared plans to travel to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar for a cooking volunteer project with fellow chefs he befriended through ‘Culinary Class Wars Season 2,’ and revealed his dream of opening a restaurant where children with disabilities can work together.
Aiming to open the restaurant in the second half of 2027, Tommie Lee explained, “Children with developmental disabilities often remain at home even after graduating from school, so both they and their parents become isolated from society. I want to create a small restaurant where people with and without disabilities can work together through food.”
Tommie Lee concluded, “It may not be easy, but rather than doing it alone, I dream of a collaborative project with many people. Even a little interest and support from everyone would give me great strength and courage.”
This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.
Dining and Cooking