Joseph Ledgewood Edible Ant Controversy? Michelin 2-Star Evitt, Korean Wife

A comprehensive summary of the edible ant controversy surrounding Chef Joseph Lidgewood of the Michelin 2-star restaurant Evitt, who became a hot topic as the "Black and White Chef" on Netflix! From information about his Korean wife and the controversy over changing his story between harvesting from mountainous areas and importing from overseas, to news of his indictment by the prosecution—a complete overview!

 

1. Who is the Black and White Chef, Joseph Lizerwood?

Chef Joseph Ledgerwood is from Tasmania, Australia, and is an incredible elite who has worked at 3-Michelin-star restaurants around the world. I am a chef. I fell completely in love with K-food, so I opened a Korean fine dining restaurant called 'EVETT' in Gangnam, Seoul, at the end of 2018.

 

It received a Michelin star as soon as it opened, and recently... It is an incredible place that has been promoted to 2 Michelin stars. In particular, it made a huge impression on the public by appearing in *The Black and White Chef* as a 'foreign chef expanding the boundaries of Korean ingredients.'

2. The protagonist of the love story, Joseph Lizerwood's Korean wife

The strong pillar that enabled Chef Joseph to fully settle in Korea and delve deeply into Korean cuisine is none other than his Korean wife, Jinny.

 

During the time I was wandering(?) while running a pop-up restaurant away from home, I met my current wife and got married, His wife, Genie, is said to be Chef Joseph's best partner, having sincerely supported his gastronomic dreams and research into Korean ingredients from the closest proximity. The couple's affectionate moments were revealed in the media and on social media, drawing the envy of many people!

3. Michelin 2-Star Evitt's Signature 'Edible Ant Dish'

Chef Joseph wanted to create a sour taste using native Korean ingredients instead of imported ingredients like lemons. The unconventional cheat code I found back then was none other than 'ants.' Because of the 'formic acid' component in ants, chewing them produces a uniquely refreshing and sour taste.

 

Evit introduced a dessert featuring 3 to 5 real ants as a garnish on top of a sikhye sherbet (sorbet), which appealed to Instagram sensibilities and became incredibly popular as a "Michelin restaurant where you pay to eat ants."

4. The Edible Ant Controversy: What Exactly Is the Problem?

The problem is that our country's laws are stricter than expected!

Violation of the current Food Sanitation Act: In Korea, the number of insects legally permitted for 'edible' consumption is limited to exactly 10 species, including grasshoppers, pupae, and mealworms. Sadly, ants are not on the list of permitted foods. In other words, selling ants as food in Korea is unconditionally illegal.

 

 

Profit exceeding 100 million won: It was revealed that Evit sold this ant dessert as many as 12,000 times over approximately four years from 2021 to 2025, generating a profit of over 120 million won.

Shocking detection of heavy metals: The public was even more shocked when it was revealed that the ants used in the dessert contained up to 55 times more heavy metals than other edible insects, as a result of an inspection by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

5. Claimed to have harvested from Jirisan hills, but imported from overseas after crackdown? 'Changing their story'

The part of this incident that angered the community the most was the changing of the story regarding the source of the ingredients.

 

Existing Marketing: In restaurant reviews or media interviews so far They heavily emphasized the natural and eco-friendly image, saying, "The chef personally collects wild ants from mountains like Seoraksan and Jirisan, washes them thoroughly, and uses them."

 

Statement after the crackdown: When the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety actually conducted the inspection, Evitt stated, " "It was not harvested from domestic mountains, but rather dried edible ant products imported from the United States and Thailand via international mail." They completely changed their tune. Criticism is pouring in, suggesting that they were conscious of the fact that the penalties for illegally collecting and using domestic wild insects are much higher.

 

Ultimately, following an investigation by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office has referred Chef Joseph Lizerwood and the corporation to trial on charges of violating the Food Sanitation Act. The chef's side reportedly stated, "We genuinely did not know it was illegal in Korea because it is an ingredient used everywhere overseas."

 

📝 Joseph Ledzwood Edible Ant Controversy Q&A (SEO)

Q1. Is Evit, run by Chef Joseph Ledgerwood, currently open for business?
A1. Currently, the restaurant has been indicted by the prosecution on charges of violating the Food Sanitation Act and is awaiting trial. The restaurant is taking a cautious stance regarding official inquiries, stating that they "have nothing to say," and the problematic ant dessert menu has, of course, been completely suspended.

 

Q2. Do they really eat ants in foreign countries or at Michelin-starred restaurants abroad?
A2. Yes, that is correct. Famous fine dining restaurants abroad, such as Denmark's 'Noma,' which was once considered one of the world's best restaurants, frequently utilize the unique flavor of formic acid in their cuisine. In fact, it is known that Chef Joseph introduced it to Korea based on his experience working abroad, but it became illegal in Korea due to differing food approval standards across countries.

 

Q3. Does your Korean wife also participate in the operation of Evitt Restaurant?
A3. Chef Joseph Ledgerwood's Korean wife, Jinny, is known as a key collaborator and life partner who helped Chef Joseph deeply research Korean ingredients and establish himself in Korea.

However, the wife's direct legal responsibility in the process of the detection and prosecution of the edible ants was not mentioned.

 

 

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