Context and Content
Context: the first chunk of this post was written literally in my journal. I took photos throughout the day and then wrote about them after I finished the show. The final few paragraphs were written in small batches more recently.
I also want to flag that this was an exceptional day for me (literally once in a year). I can’t binge watch things anymore, but The Bear is an exception that feels worth the fallout. Also I was definitely eating better because I knew I was sharing it online and also my lovely friend had brought food over the previous day. (Today I ate hot cross buns for breakfast).1 This post was proofread by my Dad, who hasn’t seen past the first season so deserves extra thanks.
Content: This piece contains pictures of food and drink and some spoilers for Season 3 [particularly ep. 8 and 10] of The Bear. These spoilers contain vague discussion of work/family cycles of abuse but nothing specific is mentioned. If you are nosy but want no spoilers for the show you will be ok just reading the photos/listicle part of the post.
A note to begin: I didn’t keep track of what I was eating when I was watching (with a couple of exceptions) - so these are not specific pairings of food/drink with each episode.
A gluten-free granola/muesli mix with chopped up apple and almond milk – because I feel weird about having oat milk with oats still. [I normally do not have the apple!]
A risky cup of tea, don’t worry, once posed I moved it right away from the laptop.
My friend visited me yesterday and brought hummus so I had this delicious, fancy red pepper hummus with corn chips. I cannot remember the last time I had corn chips. They are so good! These were just plain with salt and I had a big handful left after I ran out of dip and just snacked.
Iced chai. I started making iced chai last year. I used to go to a gorgeous local café – Craving Coffee – which had an excellent homeblend chai and made them iced. Stuck in my house, unable to get there (they have also since closed) I decided to try and recreate it using a chai mix my mum had made. Last summer, I properly cooked up the chai in a pan and poured it cooled into wide necked glass bottles through a tea strainer. This year I’ve been drinking a Tesco’s teabag chai blend – so that’s what goes into stew. I do a ¾ black chai and oat milk, which has a better notes mix, and a generous squeeze of honey. Ice blocks too of course, which today I struggle to get out of the silicone tray and we don’t have much left, and I am too impatient and I can’t find a straw. So any chance of becoming an aesthetic asmr Instagram iced coffee girlie is out. The ice melts too quickly – but it is still delicious and sometimes what you can do is more than enough. Someone should tell Carmy!
Do not talk to me about ice lolly moulds or whatever they are called where you’re from. Icy-poles, ice pops, ice lollies – whatever, we can at least agree they are delicious. Last year I also started making peanut butter/frozen yoghurt treats. This recipe is a variation on @Kaylaskitchenfix’s viral recipe from 2023.2 Unsweetened vegan yoghurt works best and proper crunchy 100% peanut butter is a necessity. Then add chunks of good dark chocolate. Once mixed they are easy to dollop into ice cube trays – though this is messy to eat. This year I splashed out on moulds and two broke within two days. But the four remaining work a treat and they are more satisfying than a vegan magnum.
GRAPES. My friend also brought me grapes (truly an abundance of novel foods). Grapes are an elite summer food. Juicy? Delicious? Absolutely so good frozen too. These were not frozen but they are still a perfect snack for watching a (super intense and emotional) show about food.
Dark 85% chocolate is my one vice. I don’t think I could ever give it up. Bonus points that it helps with nausea.
Before lunch, after episode four I try (unsuccessfully) to nap, so instead I manage a shower, dress in clean pyjamas and then sleep for a bit.
Lunchtime! Gluten-free seeded loaf – Promise is the brand. It’s very nice toasted. Another leftovers win with hummus and tomatoes and olives. And a handful of nuts: walnuts, peanuts and almonds. Let me tell you walnuts are just one of my favourites. Chuck some on a pizza and your life may be forever changed when they get lightly toasted.
Another iced chai. Was a terrible housemate and didn’t refill the ice cube tray. Writing about it now I feel guilty, but not enough to do anything about it.
DINNER. I have half a block of tofu, some spring greens and loads of nuts so I stir fry these. I make a sauce out of leftover sweet chili sauce from the takeout we had last Friday, gluten-free soy sauce and peanut butter (the cheap, smooth kind – which I also love). It’s so good! Rice noodles all folded in. I actually don’t eat this watching The Bear. I sit downstairs and use chopsticks, picking out delicious combinations of flavours and textures. It’s good. It’s really good. And I’m grateful I held out and didn’t order in food.
I have another icy-pole for dessert. It’s a good pairing with both the weather and ep. 6, ‘Napkins.’
After dinner I drink almost a pint of ginger cordial. Spicey, refreshing and almost for me hits the same spot as a G&T. I can’t really drink anymore but I have the last bit of a bottle of Aspell cider to nurture and enjoy. I’ve also drunk a lot of water today.
More chocolate obviously.
I had this idea that I would weave in reviewing the show with this but a bit like Season 3 it became a bit too much about the food. This for me wasn’t that much of an issue. I would happily watch hours of beautifully shot and edited plates. Especially if I have good snacks and fancy leftovers to eat throughout the day. I ate a fair amount of good food today and even better TV.
Season 3 of The Bear is full of small devastating moments and brilliant performances but it lacks momentum and structure and ironically, considering how frenetic it is – the timing of it is disjointed. The tensions in the kitchen are left to simmer far beyond what any of the characters would do. By Season 3 of a show we know people, we know these people and, in this case, we have known Carmy fighting his worst impulses for two seasons whilst building a new sense of purpose and family. To then see he does just that and only that for an entire ten episodes without any of them intervening is truly unbelievable. There is no tightness and sharpness to it, it is loose and arguably overworked. Chaos menu? Chaos season.
Where it sings is in the emotional honesty of ep. 8, ‘Ice Chips’ and the final confrontation Carmy has in episode 10 ‘Forever’ with his old boss, the person (other than himself) he most blames for the person he has become.
I cried multiple times and sobbed through ‘Ice Chips’. It is fundamentally life changing to witness the moment where Donna sees, feels and acknowledges the absolute truth of her daughter telling her she never felt safe growing up. Sugar has been breaking the cycle over and over, and it finally snapping as she gives birth to her own child is absolutely some of the best television I have ever seen.
It is a devastating parallel when Carmy receives nothing from his confrontation with his former boss. But also, in so many ways necessary, because ultimately the continually spiralling messiness across the 10 episodes is because of him. In many ways having this key conflict play out earlier in the season would address many of the structural, motivation and pacing issues.There is something both triggering/validating in the emotional intensity of this show. It is very tender in how it holds us for the most part – though not as consistently this time round.
But as is, we reach the end and both he and we are left with the consequences that he did this. It almost makes us feel a part of Syd’s final spiral and panic attack. You’ve watched this. You’ve eaten this. And shit, you get it, you feel it, you know it. It’s a powerful note to finish any meal on.
Well worth it.
What a fucking feast.
Thank you for meeting me where I am at.
(Currently plotting having potato waffles done in the toaster for lunch).
Love, Tilly x
Hot tip: Tesco have gf, df Hot Cross buns this season that are chocolate chip and orange so all my fellow everything intolerant girlies who hate raisins can enjoy buns for breakfast too!
I had the same feelings about S3! Also, I am now v hungry!
Hey Tilly
The show is not my cup of tea nor the earnest food diary but I enjoyed your critique of the series and feel relieved that I hadn't been tempted to watch it. Isn't it good we have such diverse tastes