Scandal puts Bulgarian chef in a stew

Mihal Spasov Ashminov from “Take Care of My Refrigerator” on JTBC / Courtesy of JTBC

Bulgarian chef Mihal Spasov Ashminov, who regularly appears on the JTBC cooking show “Take Care of My Refrigerator,” is engulfed in a scandal involving his Bulgarian restaurant and his allegedly false work experience.

Media reports said on Monday that a woman, identified only as Oh, had tipped off a media outlet that she had sold the restaurant “Zelen” in Itaewon to Ashminov for 700 million won ($600,000) in 2005, but he had not paid.

Income from his appearances on the JTBC show was being paid to Oh as a provisional attachment, the reports said.

Oh also claimed Ashminov’s purported experience as a chef at the Westin Chosun hotel during 2002-2005 was fake, because he had worked only there as a waiter.

But associates of Ashminov have denied Oh’s accusations about his work experience, reportedly disclosing a certificate of employment at the hotel.

“It appears part of Oh’s argument is one-sided,” an associate was quoted as saying.

A producer of the show has confirmed Ashminov’s employment history with the hotel and said the show would keep hiring him..

The weekly program challenges 10 “cheftainers” (chef plus entertainer) to cook impressive dishes using ingredients from inside a celebrity guest’s refrigerator.