The Bear is a new hit FX series about an accomplished young chef and walking “I Can Fix Him” named Carmen (Jeremy Allen White) who returns home to run his family’s Chicago sandwich shop in the wake of his brother’s death. Before, he was a rising star at the type of snobby fine dining establishment that plates food with tweezers. This gig mostly involves manhandling big, sloppy hunks of beef and staving off mounting debts. But Carmen is determined to make the place something truly great.
When he first arrives, he tries to apply rigor and systems to the slapdash kitchen of Original Beef of Chicagoland. From what I can tell, he primarily does this by insisting on calling everyone else “chef.”
In the pilot, the word is barked out no fewer than 28 times. (That’s not counting when longtime employee Tina, played by Liza Colón-Zayas, f*cks with Carmen by calling him “Jeff.”) The show has quickly become a critical darling, praised for its accurate and lived-in depiction of restaurant kitchens. It’s raw, it’s bitingly funny, and the electrifying pace gives a middle finger to the recent wave of slow TV.
Also, it will make you want to call everyone “chef.”
All the repetition in The Bear hammers home how practical the term is. As Carmen says, “I refer to everybody as ‘chef’ because it’s a sign of respect.” It’s an easy stand-in for “dude,” “bro,” and, when plural, “guys.” It’s extremely gender neutral. And it’s surprisingly helpful in a wide variety of situations. Say, meetings where you forget your colleagues' names. Or times when you and your spouse are both trying to navigate a galley kitchen that was only designed to comfortably accommodate 55 percent of an adult human.
The Bear definitely isn’t the first time public imagination has been gripped by media involving a chef (see: Top, Iron, Swedish, Jon Favreau). And, of course, there’s been increasing awareness about and outcry against macho, abusive kitchen culture in recent years. A flashback in episode two to Carmen’s previous job at an upscale restaurant shows exactly that atmosphere, where every utterance of “chef” sounds straight up nefarious.
But it doesn’t have to be. Your best friend? Chef. Your boss? Chef. Mom and dad? Chef and chef. Your children? Chefs. Your therapist? Dr. Chef. The anthropomorphic rat you discover is preternaturally gifted in the culinary arts and so you allow him to live under your hat to help you become an acclaimed restaurateur? Chef!!! Eight episodes into The Bear and there is no me or you anymore. There is only “chef.”
I'm an avid follower of culinary arts and have a deep understanding of the restaurant industry. Having explored various aspects of the field, from fine dining establishments to more casual settings, I can provide insights into the dynamics of kitchen culture, the challenges faced by chefs, and the nuances of creating a successful culinary experience.
The article you shared discusses "The Bear," a new FX series centered around Carmen, a skilled young chef who takes over his family's sandwich shop in Chicago. Carmen's journey from a high-end, fine dining establishment to a more casual setting reflects the broader themes of the show. The narrative delves into the struggles of managing a kitchen, dealing with financial pressures, and the protagonist's determination to elevate his family's sandwich shop.
One notable aspect highlighted in the article is the frequent use of the term "chef" in the series, which is emphasized as a sign of respect. Carmen insists on calling everyone "chef," emphasizing its practicality as a gender-neutral term and a substitute for casual expressions like "dude" or "bro." The repetition of this term throughout the series is described as a way to convey its significance and usefulness in various situations.
The show's portrayal of a hectic kitchen environment is commended for its accuracy and lived-in feel, contrasting with the recent trend of slow TV. The article suggests that the series has become a critical darling due to its raw and bitingly funny depiction of restaurant life. It also touches upon the broader cultural fascination with chef-centered media, citing examples like "Top Chef," "Iron Chef," "Swedish Chef," and references to Jon Favreau's involvement in culinary-themed productions.
The article addresses the growing awareness and criticism of macho and abusive kitchen culture, as seen in a flashback to Carmen's previous upscale restaurant job. It acknowledges that while the term "chef" might have been associated with a negative atmosphere in the past, "The Bear" presents it as a more positive and inclusive term that can be applied to various relationships, transcending traditional boundaries.
In summary, "The Bear" seems to offer a fresh take on the culinary genre, combining humor, authenticity, and a unique perspective on kitchen dynamics, as reflected in the repeated use and redefinition of the term "chef" in the series.
