Soubise (The Bear)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Founder | Christopher Storer |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Key people | Christopher Storer (creator, director), Catherine Schetina (writer) |
| Products | Television episodes |
Soubise represents the second installment in the fourth season of the American comedy-drama series The Bear. As the 30th episode in total, it was penned by Catherine Schetina and directed by series creator Christopher Storer in collaboration with Duccio Fabbri. The episode debuted on Hulu on June 25, 2025, coinciding with the release of the entire season.
The narrative follows Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), a celebrated New York City chef who returns home to Chicago to take over his late brother Michael’s struggling Italian beef sandwich shop. Financial backing comes from his uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt), while support in operations is provided by cousin Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), sister Sugar (Abby Elliott), and chef Sydney (Ayo Edebiri). Carmy’s goal is to elevate the dilapidated Beef into an upscale dining establishment rebranded as the Bear.
Plot
Several weeks following Cicero’s ultimatum, the Bear struggles with shortages of ingredients caused by budget constraints and diminished staff morale. Carmy and Sydney work together to simplify the menu offerings. Sydney comes across news about Shapiro’s (Adam Shapiro) upcoming restaurant venture. Encouraged by Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas), Carmy finally decides to visit Natalie’s newborn daughter Sophie, a visit he had been postponing. When Carmy calls Natalie to express regret, she reassures him that it’s understandable if his enthusiasm for cooking has waned.
Filming
The bar frequented by Richie is J&M Tap on Leavitt Street, described as an "under-the-radar Ukrainian Village gem" celebrated for its jukebox, affordable drinks, and relaxed atmosphere. He spends time watching part of the 1957 black-and-white Western 3:10 to Yuma while enjoying an "Original Brew," presumably a generic version of Old Style. Before heading to sleep in his twin bed, Richie accidentally knocks over a photo frame on a bookshelf containing works by authors such as Robert A. Heinlein, Philip K. Dick, Haruki Murakami, along with The Silmarillion. In a quiet moment, he silently prays for the restaurant, which continues to be his primary emotional connection.
Sydney reads an article titled "Adam Shapiro, Former CDC at Ever, Opening New Restaurant in Avondale—Shapiro is partnering with previous investors to uphold the legacy of the Michelin-starred establishment." This article appears on "Chomp Chicago," a website modeled after Eater Chicago.
Costuming
Sydney is seen wearing a blue headscarf adorned with a print of three cherries arranged within a circular mandala design, identified as a "Double RL" indigo scarf available from MyTheresa. During a scene where she impresses Carmy with her pasta preparation, she dons a multicolored tasseled scarf featuring a woven-rug motif, sourced from Eloi.
Music
This episode incorporates tracks such as "Life's What You Make It" by Talk Talk, "The Chosen One" by Bryan Ferry, Bob Dylan's "Most of the Time", and "Mystery Achievement" performed by the Pretenders.
Food (and wine)
The episode’s title alludes to Carmy’s "delicious soubise," which Sydney mentions in connection with their Wagyu beef entrée. Soubise is a luxurious, smooth sauce crafted by blending béchamel with puréed onions and cream.
Sydney assigns Sweeps (Corey Hendrix) to receive training in food and wine pairing at Alpana, located on Chicago’s State Street, under the guidance of master sommelier Alpana Singh. Singh offers insights on pairing wines with mushroom and fish dishes, endorses pinot noir as a "sommelier’s best friend," and reiterates advice from season three about harmonizing ingredient growth. The scenes at Alpana were shot on-site in February 2025. Notably, Singh had previously taken part in a culinary event organized by The Bear creator Christopher Storer.
Key recommendations from the sommelier include:
- Mushrooms complement well with Pinot noir
- Red wine can be paired with fish when tannin levels are carefully controlled
Critical reviews
The A.V. Club awarded "Soubise" a B+, commending its blend of humor and character progression, particularly highlighting Carmy's breakthrough from his prolonged mental block and his acknowledgment of his team’s development. Vulture rated it three out of five stars, emphasizing the episode’s somber mood and pinpointing Richie’s emotional turmoil as a significant moment.
Conversely, Decider labeled the episode as a "total dud," critiquing the sparse dialogue approach and comparing the somm-training sequences to repetitive promotional content. Substream magazine described the episode’s tone as a "low point," characterized by melancholy and lacking the usual kitchen intensity.
Retrospective reviews
In 2025, Vulture positioned "Soubise" at number 22 among the 38 episodes of The Bear.
See also
- List of The Bear episodes
- The Bear season four
- Prior episode: "Groundhogs"
- Following episode: "Scallop"