Chef Yoon Nam-no’s ‘Gangnam Allergy’: What You Need to Know About the Hot Restaurant Scene

Netflix’s ‘Black and White Chef’ star Yoon Nam-no reveals his ‘Gangnam allergy’.

MBC’s ‘Save Me! Homes’ (directed by Jeong Da-hee, Nam Yu-jeong, Heo Ja-yoon, Kim Seong-nyeon) continues its exploration of the restaurants and homes of chefs featured in Netflix’s ‘Black and White Chef 2’, following last week’s episode.

This installment features Chef Yoon Nam-no, the ‘Cooking Genius’ from ‘Black and White Chef 1’, and Chef Park Eun-young, the ‘Chinese Cuisine Goddess’, alongside celebrity food connoisseur Kim Sook. The trio ventures into the ‘Black and White District’, a hub of restaurants run by the show’s chefs, moving from Yongsan to Gangnam, a hotspot for Michelin-starred eateries.

Upon entering Gangnam, Chef Yoon surprises everyone by confessing his ‘Gangnam allergy’, stating, “Even after working here for years, I still feel out of place.” While Gangnam boasts the highest concentration of ‘Black and White Chef’ restaurants, Yoon’s candid remarks about the area’s fierce competition strike a chord with viewers.

The group then visits ‘French Papa’, the brainchild of Chef Tommy Lee, a Cheongdam-dong stalwart for an impressive 17 years. The restaurant’s interior, unchanged since its opening, showcases a classic ambiance curated by Lee’s wife, leaving the visitors in awe. Lee reveals that since his ‘Black and White Chef 2’ appearance, the restaurant has been fully booked. This news prompts comedian Jang Dong-min, who previously expressed interest in dining there, to humorously lament, “If it’s all booked up, how am I supposed to eat there?”

The episode unveils the backstory of Chef Lee’s restaurant hunt 17 years ago, including his bicycle expeditions around the area. Viewers are treated to a glimpse of his ultra-efficient kitchen and top-of-the-line cooking equipment. Chef Yoon marvels at the kitchen’s design, learning that ‘French Papa’ prioritized minimizing walking distances, a layout that took a month to perfect. The show also offers an exclusive preview of additional spaces and kitchens in yet-to-open restaurants.

Catch part 2 of the ‘Black and White District’ feature on MBC’s ‘Save Me! Homes’ on the 12th at 10 PM.

Kim Se-a, Ten Asia reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr