Chef Sam Kim Reveals Special Connection with Italy's 'National Chef' Carlo Cracco

Chef Sam Kim has demonstrated his deep-rooted trust within the global culinary community as he concluded his 'Undercover Project,' during which he lived as a junior staff member at a local Italian restaurant while strictly concealing his professional career.

In the episode of the tvN variety program 'Undercover Chef' broadcast on the 23rd, the process of Sam Kim finishing his disguised employment life under the name 'Hee-tae' at a restaurant in Parma, Italy, was revealed. Throughout this period, Sam Kim worked alongside local chefs in the same environment, completely hiding his name and illustrious career to function as a junior kitchen staff member. By shedding the halo of a star chef, he embodied the program's intent to be judged solely on skill and attitude. In Italy, a nation with deeply rooted culinary traditions, he fully integrated into the kitchen by performing everything from menial tasks to basic cooking processes.

Ahead of his final mission, Sam Kim sought an unexpected ally to reveal his true identity: the representative figure of the Italian culinary world, star chef Carlo Cracco. As a leader of Michelin-starred restaurants and a highly recognized television personality, Cracco is regarded as a 'national chef' in Italy, possessing both massive public appeal and immense professional authority.

Introducing his special friendship with Cracco, Sam Kim described him as "a legend chef that anyone in Italy knows," naturally revealing the long-standing relationship of trust they have built on the international culinary stage. This moment serves as a symbolic demonstration that Korean chefs are no longer confined to the domestic scene but are establishing themselves as core members of the global gastronomic network.

Responding readily to Sam Kim's request, Cracco personally called the restaurant owner. During the speakerphone conversation, Cracco mentioned the new employee 'Hee-tae' before cryptically dropping the name "Kim," leaving the restaurant owner visibly bewildered by the unexpected remark. The owner, who had never called him by any name other than 'Hee-tae,' was shocked. After the call, the owner informed the staff that Carlo Cracco had stated the person working with them is a chef representing Italian cuisine from Korea. The kitchen was instantly swept into an atmosphere of shock and silence as the true identity of the man they had treated as an ordinary new hire was unveiled.

Upon learning the truth, the employees burst into laughter, with some remarking, "He said he was a farmer, so it didn't quite add up," and others joking, "It turns out we were teaching cooking to a world-class chef." In particular, his colleague Simone used a translator to joke, "We will take our revenge tonight," creating a scene of great amusement. The camaraderie and playful relationships built through the undercover premise added significant enjoyment to the program's conclusion.

Beyond the mere entertainment device of revealing a secret identity, this broadcast held significance by highlighting the value of chef networks and international trust formed within the global culinary industry. Today, gastronomy has expanded beyond simple cooking techniques into a global cultural industry that shares cultural exchange, regional identity, and creativity. The sight of top-tier chefs from different nations collaborating across borders and recognizing each other's capabilities serves as a symbolic indicator of the rising international status of the Korean food service industry.

However, the final challenge left a hint of regret. During the ultimate mission, Sam Kim presented a risotto developed with his own unique interpretation, but it was evaluated as differing from the traditional Italian culinary philosophy pursued by the local restaurant, failing to be selected as a new menu item. Nevertheless, the program left a deep impression by focusing not on a competition to find the 'right answer,' but on respect for local culture, craftsmanship, and the values of mutual respect shared by global culinary professionals.