Tencent's 'One Dish' Faces Backlash for Alleged Similarities to Netflix Show

In the realm of culinary competitions, originality is often celebrated, but a new show in China is stirring up controversy for potentially crossing the line into imitation. Tencent's 'One Dish To Rule Them All', hosted by Hong Kong star Nicholas Tse alongside Haidilao founder Zhang Yong and Michelin-starred chef Zheng Yongqi, has drawn criticism for its striking resemblance to Netflix's popular series 'Culinary Class Wars'.

Both shows feature a format that divides contestants into teams, with 'One Dish To Rule Them All' showcasing 100 participants split into black and white teams. The white team consists of 16 seasoned chefs, while the black team comprises 84 newcomers. This mirrors the structure of 'Culinary Class Wars', which also features 100 contestants, categorized into experienced chefs known as White Spoons and novices as Black Spoons.

While 'One Dish To Rule Them All' attempts to inject excitement with celebrity guest appearances from stars like Carina Lau and Charlene Choi, many viewers argue that these additions do not compensate for the lack of originality. Comments on social media reflect frustration, with one user stating, "That is just silly. Culinary Class Wars didn’t need all these celeb gimmicks to become a success."

The original Netflix series is judged by renowned chefs, including Michelin three-star chef An Sung-jae and celebrity cook Baek Jong-won, which has set a high bar for culinary competition shows. As 'One Dish To Rule Them All' continues to air, it remains to be seen whether it can carve out its own identity in a landscape already populated by similar formats.

This controversy raises questions about the nature of creativity in culinary media and whether the inclusion of celebrity chefs can truly differentiate a show when its core format is perceived as derivative. As audiences tune in, the debate over originality versus imitation in cooking competitions is sure to simmer on.