If You Like ‘The Bear,’ Watch This Underrated Chef Comedy Series

The Big Picture

• Whites
  , a comedy about working in a kitchen, was rich with idiosyncratic humor and unique characters.
• The main themes of the show revolve around the friendship between Roland and Bib and the hilariously dull character of Kiki.
• Whites
  stood out from other chef series by alleviating the intensity with comedy outside the kitchen and its subtle, dry British humor.

Whites, the BBC comedy from 2010 was rich with offbeat, idiosyncratic humor. In its one-season, 6-episode run, Whites managed to infuse large doses of laughs into an all too short-lived series. Much like The Bear and how it shows the inner workings of a restaurant staff, Whites follows the chaos and dismay that is working in a kitchen. Roland White (Alan Davies) is the executive chef who usually puts his self-interests ahead of his kitchen; Bib (Darren Boyd) is the no-nonsense sous chef who tries to keep things afloat in spite of Roland’s unprofessionalism. Each episode provides its own flavor. That flavor could be Roland poisoning a rival, Bib spilling something in a sports car, or shortcuts taken during a health inspection. Like a well-prepared meal, the episodes tie together so that even small details can be used for comedy.

‘Whites’ Brings the Laughs to the Cutthroat Restaurant Industry

Both Whites and The Bear pull audiences into the demanding world of culinary careers, but they do it in their own unique styles. The Bear is all about the fast-paced, high-octane chaos of a Chicago kitchen, where everyone is fiery and in-your-face. Whites, on the other hand, has a more laid back-vibe, set in a super posh, fancy country house hotel far from the city’s hustle. It’s a place where the guests are refined and respectable, and the kitchen, while still demanding, doesn’t quite have that same frenetic energy.

In The Bear, much of the initial plotline revolves around Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) trying to save The Original Beef, which he inherited from his late older brother, from the brink of collapse. The kitchen is a hazardous, unsanitary mess, the staff lacks cooperation, and they’re drowning in debt. Each episode follows Carmy and his team as they whip the restaurant into shape, trying to implement new changes while Carmy faces constant criticism for daring to break away from traditional methods. As for Whites, the heat is on, but there’s space to step outside the kitchen.

While chef shows like The Bear are of a serious nature, Whites is able to alleviate the intensity that is present in many cooking shows. Unlike the uptight Carmy, Roland is laid-back, running the restaurant without fuss and often leaving the bigger responsibilities to his sous chef, Bib. Roland can’t be bothered to introduce changes to the menu unless it’s for his self-interests, like cooking for a potential publicist that might be interested in his book. The folks in Whites aren’t required to “save” the restaurant like in The Bear, so there’s no urgency to changet things, especially since it’s already doing well.

Instead of drama, audiences are entertained by Roland’s comedic shenanigans, from accidentally causing food poisoning to an old kitchen rival to driving Bib to a fertility clinic in a sports car while precariously transporting a cup of sperm, which inevitably spills. Much of the show’s humor unfolds outside the hustle and bustle of food service, providing a delightful contrasts to the high-stakes world of The Bear.

‘Whites’ Features an Unforgettable Ensemble Cast

Much like The Bear, Whites also features an ecclectic cast, each with their own memorable personalities. Roland, an albeit lazy and self-interested person is still a talented chef who quietly laments his talent going unrecognized. He works a job he’s good at but unchallenged by, though he doesn’t do much to challenge himself either and cruises on predictability. He is a common character encountered in many shows–a person grappling with time and talent wasted, or at least not living up to their full potential. Nonetheless, Roland can be endearing despite his negative qualities.

Bib, though Roland’s sous chef and best friend, is in many ways his opposite. Where Roland is lackadaisical, Bib is alert. Roland can be apathetic, Bib is devoted. Bib is like many chefs who are obsessed with their work and pine to build upon their skills. His character embodies the kind of dedication necessary to excel in a career that is all-demanding. Yet despite his intense loyalty to his chosen field, he’s still a person who lacks self-confidence whereas Roland is brimming with it. The two (mostly) work so well together because of the power of the opposite providing what the other needs. Towards the end of the series, it’s clear that their friendship is one of the main, if not central, themes of the show.

It’s not just the main duo who steal the show. Skoose (Stephen Whight) is a cocky, young chef who is eager to usurp Bib to become sous chef; Caroline (Katherine Parkinson), the manager who has to, like Bib, contend with Roland’s lack of reliability meanwhile having a will-they-or-won’t-they relationship with him; Kiki (Isy Suttie), a dim, doe-eyed server; and Celia (Maggie Steed), the quirky owner of the White House hotel in which the restaurant is located.

Perhaps one of the greatest gems of the series is Kiki. Kiki is perfect. Whether she’s drawing magical snail archers in the reservation book or telling a health inspector about her “famous” cousin, she’s a complete joy to watch. Her absentminded good nature is executed perfectly — a woman oblivious to her own obliviousness. Isy Suttie, the actress who plays her, excels at making Kiki hilariously dull without making her a caricature. Many series include a character who is comically dense, but few actually achieve animating a character who is funny without the aid of a laugh track. She is one of the most reliable sources of humor for the series. Her sweet, unassuming demeanor balances perfectly with her simplicity.

‘Whites’ and ‘The Bear’ Showcase a Dynamic Duo in a Love-Hate Work Relationship

Whites mainly centers on the witty and eccentric executive chef Roland White and his steadfast but socially meek sous chef Bib, while The Bear features the intense Carmy and the ambitious but pragmatic Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri). Both duos are the driving force behind their kitchens, blending their brains, hearts, and years of professional culinary training to run their restaurants. But no matter how well they connect over food, each pair experiences issues that make or break their relationships, both in the kitchen and outside of it.

While Roland and Carmy are undoubtedly talented, it’s Bib and Sydney who do most of the heavy lifting in the kitchen. As sous chefs, Bib and Sydney are the right-hand people to their executive chefs, conducting the chaotic orchestra that is their kitchens while harboring big ambitions for their workplaces. They are go-getters who love taking the initiative. Bib dreams of earning a Michelin star for the White House hotel, which translates into him eagerly creating new menus whenever the opportunity arises. Sydney aims to elevate The Beef into something more structured. In addition to cooking, she often tackles the administrative tasks that Carmy detests.

With heavy responsibilities, often exceeding those of their executive chefs, Bib and Sydney eventually reach their breaking points, feeling underappreciated in the kitchen. Bib constantly manages the entire ktichen while Roland broods over his personal affairs in his office. Initially tolerant because he respects Roland as his superior and firned, Bib’s patience wears thin when Roland fails to give him the appreciation he deserves, prioritizing his own interests intead. Meanwhile, in The Bear, with Carmy’s attention pulled in many directions, he throws Sydney into the deep end without proper support, leading to her breaking point and almost causing her to leave The Beef.

‘Whites’ Was Chopped After One Season

It’s disappointing to know that the series wasn’t renewed for a second season. Even with its reliable laughs, Whites wasn’t given the opportunity to cook up more comedy for an audience who had an appetite for it. Even more disheartening is the missed opportunity to further develop its characters. In constrast, The Bear, with its three seasons, has the luxury of standalone episodes that go deeper into its characters. For instance, Season 2, Episode 4, “Honeydew”, directed by Ramy Youssef, takes Marcus to Copenhagen to hone his baking skills. In Edebiri-directed Season 3, Episode 6, “Napkins”, audiences get to explore Tina’s backstory before she joined The Beef. Unfortunately, with Whites cut short, viewers won’t get to learn more of its characters’ personalities and stories.

This cancellation might seem unsurprising now, at a time when genuinely good series are getting the ax, but over ten years ago, shows were given more leeway to gain an additional season. The Office (U.S.) had a first season that wasn’t greatly praised, yet it was granted a second season which led to more, until it eventually became a television favorite. Even Seinfeld took a couple of seasons to truly hone its brand of humor. Perhaps if Whites was given another season, it could have been able to make more of a mark in television history.

We Love Cooking Shows, Whether They’re Live or Fictional

With the popularity of cooking shows (how many cooking competitions are there?) Whites could have survived for longer. The Bear‘s success exemplifies public taste for shows based in the kitchen. It’s not hard to see why these shows garner so much attention: the fast-pace chaotic environment that is working in a kitchen is interesting to observe. Cooking requires skill, dedication, and precision, all while being under the most unforgiving timer of all: a person’s limited patience for food when hungry. Cooking shows are also enjoyed because of the vicarious nature of seeing food crafted carefully and thoughtfully.

For those who can’t take the heat and, therefore, stay out of the kitchen, a cooking series is a window into a world where pressure abounds but viewers are comfortably distant from. And maybe one of the greatest draws to restaurant shows is that viewers are able to see someone engage with their passion in a real setting. As intimidating as Gordon Ramsay can be, there is a thrill in watching someone care so much about something. As particular as judges from food competitions are, it stems from a love of their craft. Gastronomy can be some of life’s greatest experiences. For many, cooking brings great joy. Humans have a connection to food; it’s cultural, familial, and essential.

Our admiration for cuisine is evident by the amount of entertainment dedicated to it. Julia Child has a movie, Julie & Julia, and a TV series, Julia, about her. Disney’s Ratatouille was well-received and introduced children to the craft of cuisine through animation. Even The Menu combined a love of cuisine and love of horror. Whites effectively mixed kitchen chaos with the ingredient of comedy. Whites is a comedy that avoids outlandish humor, instead opting for much of its comedy to be created in the dialogue. It’s a show for people who despise the laugh track, and it doesn’t lend itself to garish humor. Whites is full of dry British humor, it’s a show that faithfully and consistently provides chuckles throughout each episode. And if you’re done binge-watching The Bear, Whites might be just the comedic follow-up you need.

The entire season of Whites is free to stream on Prime Video.

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