I Tried Jeremy Allen White’s Favorite Condiment
As a food writer and a former Chicago resident, I can proudly say that I am obsessed with The Bear. It sure is stressful to watch, but given how accurate this show portrays restaurant culture, I find the entire thing fascinating. And that isn’t just because of a particular broody, good looking chef. (Okay, I lied, it is.)
Jeremy Allen White plays Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto on the show, and while there’s lots of high stakes drama, there’s also a seriously impressive amount of cooking he does on screen. To prepare him for the show, White attended a 14-day boot camp at the Institute of Culinary Education at their Los Angeles campus alongside his co-star Ayo Edebiri to better understand the basic techniques that it takes to cook in the kitchen, which certainly pays off when you watch the two “work” on screen. But White’s new skills aren’t the only thing I’m impressed with; the actor also has particular tastes when it comes to his condiments, and claimed in an interview with GQ that he always has a jar of S&B Crunchy Garlic with Chili Oil on hand.
In the interview, White explains he found this crunchy garlic oil during the pandemic when it came in one of his grocery orders. He likes to put it on sandwiches, eggs, and rice and noodle bowls. While he does admit that he’s learned a thing or two since then in preparation for The Bear, he’ll still have this condiment on him to make his meals even tastier.
S&B chili oil w/ Crunchy Garlic 3.9 oz (Pack of 2)
Amazon
$13.99
My Honest Review of Jeremy Allen White’s Favorite Condiment
Well, you know I had to give it a try. Now I’ve had versions of a chili crisp before; I’m partial to Momofuku’s Chili Crunch and tend to throw it in almost everything, from stir-fries to egg skillets, pasta dishes and more. But White was particular about the S&B brand, so I ordered it.
To keep things simple, I made a sunny-side up egg, then added small dollops of this Crunchy Garlic with Chili Oil on top. My first impression was, “Wow, that’s a lot of garlic,” which I’m not complaining about in the slightest. I’m a big fan of garlic, so a condiment that really gives what I’m eating that extra flavor of my favorite aromatic is already a winner for me. Compared to my usual chili crisp, I enjoyed the fact that this condiment focused more on the crunchy garlic rather than crunchy chili, and the oil isn’t as spicy as other chili crisps I’ve tried. This condiment starts with that powerful garlic taste and kick of spice, but has a pleasantly balanced umami finish, leaving my taste buds satisfied instead of scorching from the spice. Does my breath smell like garlic after eating this? Absolutely. Do I care? Not even in the slightest.
So, is it worth the hype as White’s favorite condiment, and even one of his 10 things he can’t live without? I would say “yes, chef,” it absolutely is.
Buy: S&B Chili Oil With Crunchy Garlic, Pack of 2, $13.99
This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: I Tried Jeremy Allen White’s Favorite Condiment, and I Get Why He “Can’t Live Without” It
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