Gabbi Garcia and Khalil Ramos got to meet Culinary Class Wars finalist chef Choi Hyun-seok and dined at his restaurant in Seoul.
On her Instagram page, Gabbi shared their snapshots with the Korean chef and documented their dining experience at his restaurant called Choi.
The actress shared that they are a big fan of Culinary Class Wars and chef Choi was one of their favorite contestants in the show.
"Waaaah! We got to eat at Chef Choi’s restaurant, @choidot_official! 🥰 we binge-watched Culinary Class Wars before heading to South Korea, and one of the contestants we rooted for was none other than Chef Choi Hyun-seok, one of Korea’s most prominent chefs! 🫶🏽" Gabbi remarked.
Gabbi remarked that they felt lucky to be able to dine at Choi amid its surge in popularity following the show.
"Because of the show’s popularity, almost all the restaurants owned by the chefs are fully booked. But we were so lucky to have dined at CHOI. Thank you, Chef Choi @crazypenne, for accommodating us!" Gabbi wrote.
Fans online were quick to react to Gabbi's post.
"Waaaahhhhh!!! He was one of my faves in the series! I hope to also be able to dine in his resto one day 😊," one fan commented.
Gabbi and Khalil tried a variety of dishes at Choi, from the main courses to the desserts.
Chef Choi began his culinary career in Seoul at the Italian restaurant La Cucina before taking on the role of head chef at Elbon the Table, which operates two locations in Seoul and one in Goyang.
He currently leads Choi, a Korean-European fusion restaurant in Seoul. In 2020, he launched his new restaurant, Central Reducer.
In 2023, he competed in the cooking show Culinary Class Wars, advancing to the final eight contestants.
"Netflix gathered top-tier chefs for this. Everyone here is incredibly skilled. Think of it like the Olympics—just because an athlete didn’t win a medal doesn’t mean they aren’t the best in the country. Even if someone finishes last, they’re still a champion at home," Chef Choi remarked as he shared his reflection on competing in the show in a recent interview with Netflix.
He added: "Every one of the 100 chefs on this show is dedicated to their craft and deserves respect. I hope people applaud their courage and that their dishes bring happiness to many."