On the episode of Channel A's 'Masked Chef' aired on the 21st, Alberto appeared as 'R Mask' and showcased his culinary talents, ultimately winning the competition.
From the moment he appeared, Alberto exuded confidence, capturing the audience's attention. His mask featured the letter 'R', and he pretended to struggle with Korean, communicating through an interpreter.
Explaining the significance of the 'R' on his mask, Alberto stated, "This program is a cooking show, and for me, cooking is about love and romance (R)." Before the first round, he expressed his excitement, saying, "I'm really happy to be here. Cooking should be fun, so I hope everyone enjoys it."
Alberto prepared his signature dish, 'Venetian-style Cuttlefish Ink', explaining, "It's a dish using cuttlefish and ink, commonly seen in the Mediterranean region and often enjoyed with wine in the evening. Since cuttlefish is also popular in Korea, I decided to present this dish."
Judge Seo Jang-hoon, after tasting Alberto's dish, remarked, "It's not easy today," expressing his admiration for the taste. Judge Kim Do-yoon added, "It's refreshing to have such a delicious and unique dish," while Kang Leo praised, "I love dishes that bring out the natural flavors of the ingredients, and this was truly delicious."
Alberto won the first round, receiving unanimous votes from judges Kang Leo, Jung Ji-sun, and Kim Do-yoon. He humbly commented, "The other contestants' dishes looked excellent, so I was quite worried. I think we were all on a similar level, but I'm grateful the chefs chose me." He added, "Cooking with a mask wasn't easy, but I did my best. Thank you."
In the second round, Alberto challenged Chef Kim Do-yoon, presenting a dish of 'Fried Anchovies with Tomato Sauce'. Judge Seo Jang-hoon, after tasting it, told Chef Kim, "You should be very nervous today," showing his admiration.
Ultimately, Alberto secured the final victory, receiving votes from judges Jung Ji-sun and Kang Leo. He won a prize of 1 million won and the title of 'Masked Chef'. After his win, Alberto shared, "I chose Chef Kim Do-yoon as my opponent because I'm a fan and was sure he would present amazing food." He added, "I can't believe I won. I think it's because I don't like tomatoes," jokingly. He also expressed his honor in competing against Chef Kim.
Although he could have continued competing without revealing his identity, Alberto chose to unmask and accept the prize. The chefs were surprised to see his identity, and Alberto greeted them warmly in Korean.
Alberto remained humble about his cooking skills and joked about his decision to stop competing, saying, "I don't use English often, so speaking English was challenging." He concluded, "From an ordinary person's perspective, cooking with a mask for 30 minutes was very difficult, and I thought, 'Let's just do this much.'"
By Chaeryeong Lim, TenAsia Reporter syjj426@tenasia.co.kr