Pasta (The Bear)

The Bear: "Pasta"
Company type	Television episode
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	June 22, 2023; 3 years ago
Founder	Joanna Calo (writer), Christopher Storer (director)
Headquarters	United States
Products	Television episode

Pasta serves as the second installment in the second season of the American comedy-drama series The Bear. It is the 10th episode overall, penned by executive producer Joanna Calo and helmed by series creator Christopher Storer. The episode debuted on Hulu on June 22, 2023, simultaneously with the entire season release.

The storyline follows Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, an acclaimed chef from New York City who returns to Chicago to take over his late brother Michael's struggling Italian beef sandwich establishment. In this chapter, Carmy teams up with Sydney to design the restaurant’s menu while facing obstacles such as a mold problem within the premises.

The episode received acclaim from critics, who highlighted its strong performances, nuanced character arcs, and emotional resonance.

Plot

With just 12 weeks remaining before opening day, the team encounters delays in the renovation process. Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) informs Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) and Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson) that they will be attending culinary school to prepare for the launch. Tina responds with enthusiasm, whereas Ebraheim expresses some reservations.

At Carmy’s apartment, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and Sydney collaborate on creating a menu described as "chaotic yet deliberate." Meanwhile, Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Fak (Matty Matheson) reorganize lockers; Carmy secretly opens Mikey’s locker and discovers a cap inside. Sugar (Abby Elliott) reports finding mold in the kitchen, leading to unforeseen expenses. In a private moment, Sugar confides in herself about her pregnancy but chooses to keep it hidden.

Sydney shares a meal with her father Emmanuel (Robert Townsend), where they discuss her late mother and her uncertain path ahead. Emmanuel offers Sydney a position within the family business outside of the restaurant industry. While shopping at a grocery store, Carmy runs into Claire (Molly Gordon), a childhood acquaintance now working as an emergency medicine resident who recognizes the restaurant’s name. Despite their surprise reunion, Carmy gives Claire a false phone number.

Context

The cap discovered in Mikey's locker is a memento from the Taste of Chicago, a well-known local food festival held annually since 1980 along the lakeshore at Grant Park.

The phrase "chaos but thoughtful" menu reflects a contemporary culinary approach that has replaced terms like "fusion" or "New American" when describing a restaurant’s concept.

A note on Carmy's board reads "salamander placement." In professional kitchens, a salamander refers to a compact broiler used for quickly browning or finishing dishes.

Development

In May 2023, Hulu revealed details about the second episode titled "Pasta," written by executive producer Joanna Calo and directed by series creator Christopher Storer. This episode marks Calo’s third writing contribution and Storer’s seventh time directing for the series.

Writing

This episode along with the following one, "Sundae," plays a crucial role in exploring Carmy and Sydney's dynamic as they jointly develop The Bear's menu. Sydney discloses that this will be her last dinner service before moving back in with her father. They suggest sending Marcus to Copenhagen to advance his baking expertise. When Sydney’s culinary creations do not meet expectations, Carmy attempts to reset their taste approach through food tasting exercises but finds it difficult to fully commit.

Filming

The cast took a hands-on approach by physically tearing down the Original Beef of Chicagoland set at Cinespace using tools like hammers and crowbars. This method caught the sound crew off guard, as they had anticipated that demolition scenes would be recorded separately from the dialogue sequences.

Casting

This episode introduces Molly Gordon in her debut role as Clairebear. Notably, Ayo Edebiri had previously collaborated with Gordon on the movie Theater Camp.

Costuming

Among Claire's jewelry is a Bulgari necklace designed to resemble a Roman coin.

Music

The soundtrack features tracks such as "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals, "Baby, I'm a Big Star Now" by Counting Crows, "You Are Not Alone" by Mavis Staples, and "Strange Currencies" by R.E.M..

Food

Sydney and Carmy conceptualize dishes including a veal chop accompanied by demi-glace sauce; hamachi crudo, a raw yellowtail preparation with soy and yuzu dressing; frozen Concord grapes paired with beef consommé and smoked bone marrow; Italian-style amatriciana, crafted from cured pork jowl, tomatoes, and pecorino romano cheese; as well as sardines served in a spicy piri-piri sauce.

Syd reminisces about a "lamb ragu" from her catering experience. Ragù, a hearty meat sauce originating from northern Italy, generally contains ground beef or pork, "pancetta, tomatoes, onions, celery, carrots, and garlic," often enriched with wine or cream. After an unsuccessful attempt at making fresh pasta, she resorted to serving the ragù atop King's Hawaiian rolls, a sweet bread brand from California. A recipe expert recommended toasting the rolls before adding the ragù for better texture.

During Claire’s grocery store encounter, Carmy picks up veal demi-glace intended for a savory home-cooked meal. The packaging’s resemblance to ice cream leads to a comical mix-up.

Critical reviews

"Pasta" garnered widespread critical praise. Marah Eakin of Vulture awarded it 4 out of 5 stars, observing the series’ shift from plot-driven storytelling to emotional depth and introspection, highlighting that character growth is crucial for success. A.J. Daulerio from Decider emphasized the layered nature of the characters, hinting at future complications. Arnav Srivastava of The Review Geek also gave it 4 stars, commending the episode’s sustained impact despite evolving tensions. Karl R De Mesa at Show Snob credited the episode’s focus on character development for distinguishing the show from standard culinary series.

On the other hand, Rafa Boladeras of MovieWeb regarded it as the weakest installment of the season, pointing out its emphasis on character backstories and challenges faced by the restaurant, including mold problems. Jasmine Blu from TV Fanatic placed it eighth among season two episodes, praising Sydney’s character arc and the introduction of her father, portrayed by Robert Townsend, as notable strengths.

Retrospective reviews

In 2024, The Hollywood Reporter ranked "Pasta" 24th out of 28 episodes released up to that date. ScreenRant positioned it 18th, spotlighting Fak and Richie’s comedic rapport alongside Carmy and Sydney’s professional dynamic.

By 2025, Vulture rated "Pasta" 27th out of 38 episodes of The Bear.

Sources

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