IVE’s Rei impresses with culinary skills in chef Sung Ahn’s YouTube show.
Rei recently delighted fans by showcasing her love for cooking on the popular YouTube series 'Chef Sung Ahn’s Table.' In the episode themed around onigiri, Rei teamed up with renowned chef Ahn Sung Jae to create nostalgic Japanese rice balls while sharing personal stories.
Before starting, Rei asked if Chef Ahn knew who she was, to which he responded, “Yours might be the voice I’ve heard the most in 2024. My daughter is a DIVE (IVE’s official fandom), so we listen to your songs all the time.” This instantly warmed the mood.
Rei revealed that her love for cooking stemmed from her mother, and while she initially missed her hometown, she now enjoys dorm life with IVE members, who have become her second family. Laughing, she admitted, “We mostly order delivery, though.”
During the cooking segment, Rei made tuna onigiri and grilled onigiri, dishes from her childhood in Japan. Though she didn’t measure ingredients, Chef Ahn praised her intuitive style, saying, “Home cooking is all about feel.” She added crunchy kombu and generous katsuobushi, earning the title of a
A fan of Netflix’s ‘Culinary Class Wars’, Rei confessed Chef Ahn seemed intimidating on-screen but was warm and encouraging in person. Their mutual love for mala soup sparked unexpected chemistry.
Impressed by her creations, Chef Ahn said Rei’s onigiri felt like a comforting home-cooked meal, noting her seasoning was “perfect.” For a final twist, he introduced a “Super Tuna Melting Onigiri,” inspired by an American-style tuna melt, layering cheese and tuna between crispy grilled seaweed and rice. Rei called it “a beautifully completed dish.”
At the end, Rei shared, “This felt like a dream,” while Chef Ahn cheered for IVE’s comeback with their 4th mini album “IVE SWITCH” and title track “XOXZ,” released on July 25.
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