A Chinese cooking show is accused of copying 'Culinary Class Wars'

A Chinese variety show is facing plagiarism controversy for allegedly copying the Netflix cooking show 'Culinary Class Wars.'

On July 24, Netflix stated, "We have confirmed that Tencent Video's variety program 'Chef of China' bears similarities in concept to 'Culinary Class Wars,' as we are currently discussing internal countermeasures."

Tencent Video, a Chinese OTT platform, recently launched 'Chef of China,' a competition show featuring 100 chefs battling it out with pots and knives.

The program's format, which involves 100 chefs competing head-to-head, shows a striking resemblance to 'Culinary Class Wars.' Both shows divide the chef into two classes: "Black Spoons" and "White Spoons," and pit 84 rookie chefs against 16 established celebrity chefs. Contestants also use nicknames, just as in 'Culinary Class Wars.' Additionally, even the outfits and color scheme follow the black-and-white theme seen on the Netflix show.

The stage layout, set design, lighting, and editing style all closely resemble Culinary Class Wars, leading many to believe it was directly inspired by the Netflix original.

Netflix clarified, “We have never sold any rights to this program,” adding that they are “currently reviewing the similarities internally.”

Some Chinese online communities have echoed this sentiment, commenting, “They copied everything from the set to the format,” and “Even the competition system and filming style are the same.”

'Culinary Class Wars' is a survival-style cooking competition show where unknown chefs challenge celebrated culinary stars. It presents a powerful message of overcoming social hierarchy and discrimination through cooking, as underprivileged “black spoon” chefs go head-to-head with elite “white spoon” chefs.

The Netflix original has gained major popularity across Asia and continues to grow its global fanbase. Season 2 is scheduled for release later this year, with returning judges Baek Jong Won and Michelin 3-star chef Ahn Sung Jae.