Chrane's "The Bear" Test Kitchen
Episode 9 - Omelette
Recap: Season 2, Episode 9 - Omelette
It’s the morning of The Bear’s official opening. The team has prepared a nine course menu they’ll be cooking for friends and family. The weight of the world is on their shoulders.
Back at Sydney’s dad’s house, her father unintentionally undermines the situation, telling her that if she fails, she still has a place to stay. Frustrated, Sydney can’t comprehend how little her father thinks of the business opportunity at hand. She shakes her head and leaves to walk to work. On her way, she notices an unfamiliar, closed building. It’s her industry friend’s high-end restaurant Verdana that had to shut its doors. Panic sets in.
Outside “The Bear,” Carmy sees flashes from his childhood, of Mikey, and moments in his career and The Beef. He can’t seem to catch his breath, concerned… Overwhelmed.
Big sister to the rescue, Natalie sits with Carmy to pick his brain on a couple of to-do items. The Beef’s sandwich window can’t open until it’s ServSafe certified, and Ebra hasn’t done his certification yet. On top of ALL the other certifications, Carmy doesn’t even know what this one is even about.
Did you know that Cambro Manufacturing offers StoreSafe resources to train your staff on food safety guidelines and best practices? Catch it all here.
In the kitchen, Carmy and Sydney check in with each other. It’s no doubt the two have had a turbulent working relationship over the past couple of weeks, and if they want to do this, they have to get on the same page.
“How are you feeling about menu?” Sydney asks.
“Good – Just got to do it 1000 times now,” Carmy confirms.
Ritchie reviews who’s coming in tonight, assigning them to tables. For the next week, reservations will give them a full restaurant, but over the next couple of weeks? Not so much.
“I’m panicking,” Natalie says breathless.
“No, F^$% that. We got this,” Ritchie promises.
In the kitchen, the chefs fire up the burners, sharpen knives, prep veggies, taste sauces, and prep the entrees.
2 hours to open.
Marcus presents his four dishes to Sydney and Carmy: Mom’s Cinnabon, Copenhagen Sundae, Sydney’s Donut, and The Michael (a pistachio crusted cannoli topped with caviar).
“You can throw down, huh?” Carmy asks with a smile.
Carmy is pulled into a meeting room with Uncle Kalinowski, who has his official business certificate from the state of Illinois.
“Feels Heavy,” Carmy says holding the envelope.
“Heavy moment, kid.” Uncle Kalinowski says before laying everything on him, “This business, like a lot of businesses, sucks, right? But this one sucks extra hard, cause the profit margins are non-existent, right? And unforced errors, trust me, they’re contagious.”
Uncle Kalinowski tells Carmy that if has any chance of making this work, he has to dedicate 110% of his time and effort to the business. What he didn’t expect?
“I’ve actually kind of been dating someone.”
“Uh oh.”
In the kitchen, Natalie & Sydney, whose emotions are both running high, check in with each other. When Sydney hears that Natalie hasn’t eaten all day, she offers to make her an omelet. For the first time all episode, we see Sydney comfortable in her element, as she cuts a tablespoon of butter and throws it in the pan, whisks and strains her eggs before pouring them in the pan, and uses a spatula to form the base of the omelet. She then pipes in boursin cheese, folds the egg, and transfers to a plate to top with seasoning, fresh chives, and sour cream & onion potato chips.
Chrane’s solutions for the best omelet ever? Has to be the Mercer Culinary High Heat Spatula and Cambro Manufacturing CamSquares FreshPro to keep toppings fresh.
“You’re a f^$%ing genius,” Natalie says after she takes her first bite, taking the words right out of our mouths.
Carmy picks his phone up to call “Fridge Guy” right as Claire calls. He stares at his phone in contemplation. Does he choose work or his personal life? He’s immediately pulled away to taste test a sauce, and puts his phone down all together.
In the dining room, Ritchie holds a pre-dinner service team meeting. Both him and Carmy explain that this is practice, a dress rehearsal, designed to find the cracks in their processes.
When they conclude, Carmy notices one of the tables isn’t fully screwed together. As Sydney walks by, he asks for help. Sydney holds up the table while Carmy screws in a part. As they sit together, they lay everything out under the table. Carmy apologizes to Sydney, saying that she deserves his full focus. Sydney reaffirms that she wants Carmy to be happy and live his life; she didn’t want to come across bitter, she just needed him in the planning process. Even larger, she’s wondering, “What if I just f^$% up and fail?”
“I won’t let you.” Carmy affirms.
5 minutes to open. Natalie, Carmy, Ritchie, and Sydney gather near the hostess stand.
“Ready?” Sydney asks.
“Say the word, Chef.”
“Let it rip.”
The front door unlocks, and we’re left on a cliffhanger for the season finale, Episode 10.
0 minutes to open.
How do you get ahead of the pre-opening jitters? What’s the most important thing to practice or pay attention to in a friends & family service?
Products Featured Throughout The Show:
Alto-Shaam | For more product info, visit: https://www.chranefs.com/manufacturers/alto-shaam
American Metalcraft | For more product info, visit: https://www.chranefs.com/manufacturers/american-metalcraft
American Range | For more product info, visit: https://www.chranefs.com/manufacturers/american-range
Cambro Manufacturing | For more product info, visit: https://www.chranefs.com/manufacturers/cambro
ThermalRite by Everidge | For more product info, visit: https://www.chranefs.com/manufacturers/thermalrite
Mercer Culinary | For more product info, visit: https://www.chranefs.com/manufacturers/mercer-culinary
Waring Commercial | For more product info, visit: https://www.chranefs.com/manufacturers/waring-commercial
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