Joon Park

Joon arrived with a single suitcase and a list of vinegars. He left with neither.

His month focused on heat — not as a tool, but as a posture. "Most kitchens are afraid of the fire they built," he said on day three. "Stop apologizing to the pan."

The Lab's induction tops were turned off for most of his stay. He cooked over flame, or he didn't cook.

By the end, the team was rearranging stations.