Controversy Erupts Over Chinese Cooking Show's Similarities to Netflix's Format

A new cooking competition in China, Tencent's 'One Dish To Rule Them All', is stirring controversy not for its culinary creativity but for its striking resemblance to Netflix's 'Culinary Class Wars'. Hosted by Hong Kong star Nicholas Tse, along with Zhang Yong, founder of Xing Rong Ji, and Michelin-starred chef Zheng Yongqi, the show features a format that many viewers have criticized as a blatant imitation of its Netflix counterpart.

The primary distinction between the two shows lies in the cuisine being showcased and the celebrity appearances that 'One Dish To Rule Them All' boasts. The show has welcomed notable guests such as Carina Lau, Charlene Choi, and Michelle Chen, adding a layer of star power that some argue enhances the viewing experience. However, the overall structure remains alarmingly similar to 'Culinary Class Wars', which has led to accusations of copying.

Both shows feature 100 contestants divided into two teams—black and white. In 'One Dish To Rule Them All', the white team consists of 16 renowned chefs, while the black team is made up of 84 novices. Similarly, 'Culinary Class Wars' also had 100 participants, with 20 experienced chefs known as White Spoons competing under their real names, while the remaining 80 newbies, dubbed Black Spoons, competed under aliases.

Viewer Reactions to Celebrity Guests in Cooking Shows

Despite some fans suggesting that the inclusion of celebrity guests adds an interesting twist, many viewers are not convinced. One netizen expressed frustration, stating, "That is just silly. Culinary Class Wars didn’t need all these celeb gimmicks to become a success."

The Ongoing Debate Over Culinary Show Formats

The original 'Culinary Class Wars' was hosted by Michelin three-star chef An Sung-jae and celebrity cook Baek Jong-won, who served as judges. The creators of 'One Dish To Rule Them All' seem to have taken a page from this successful format, leading to speculation about whether they believed that if it worked for Netflix, it could work for them as well.

As Netflix prepares for a second season of 'Culinary Class Wars', the question remains: will they adjust their format to maintain their edge over potential imitators? The debate over originality in culinary television continues as audiences weigh in on the merits of celebrity involvement versus authentic competition.