Exclusive

The Stars of The Bear Can’t Stop Being Told “Yes, Chef” While Out in Public

In an exclusive interview with E! News, the stars of The Bear, including Jeremy Allen White, joked about how often the show's "Yes, chef" catchphrase has infiltrated their real lives.

By Daniel Trainor Jan 18, 2023 10:55 PMTags
Watch: The Bear Cast Talks Being Referred to as "Chef"

"Yes, chef" has gone from a mantra to a movement. 

On the first season of FX's The Bear, Jeremy Allen White's Carmy creates a culinary culture of respect and precision inside Chicago's The Original Beef—with his "Yes, chef" edict becoming one of the most quotable phrases in recent TV memory.

As it turns out, the show's ensemble cast can't escape it. 

In an exclusive interview with E! News, Jeremy said, 'I get a lot of 'chef,'" when he's out in public these days. Meanwhile, Liza Colón-Zayas, who plays hard-nosed line cook Tina, said she's even getting noticed from moving vehicles.

"I won't make it sound like it's going on all the time," Liza said, "but this car was just like, ‘Chef! Chef!' and that was such a good feeling. I'm the type that always waits for the other shoe to drop, so I'm savoring and holding onto every second because I still can't believe it."

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Lionel Boyce, who plays pastry chef Marcus, said he knew The Bear was a hit when he started noticing "Yes, chef" content all over the Internet.

"It was like a week after the show came out," Lionel said. "I was like, ‘Oh, this is real.' You start seeing it on the pages you always look at it. You're like, ‘Whoa, this is crazy.'"

It was a similar experience for Abby Elliott, who plays Carmy's sister Natalie, who admitted, "I've never seen memes like this for a show that I've been a part of."

FX

What's more, Abby was treated to some real-life proof that The Bear was turning into a phenomenon—all thanks to her famous father, Schitt's Creek star Chris Elliott.

"He loves it so much. I know he wishes he was on this show," Abby said. "After he saw it, he was like, ‘Oh my god, this is so cool.' He's just a big fan. He's not someone who really follows pop culture or stuff that's in the zeitgeist and I heard him say ‘Yes, chef' to my mom in the kitchen."

That's how you know you've made it.

The first season of The Bear is available to stream on Hulu, with season two set to premiere later this year.

For more from the cast of The Bear, check out tonight's episode of E! News at 11:30 pm.

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