Understanding C-Folds and Other Terms in “The Bear.”

As “The Bear” wrapped up its second season and the trailer for the upcoming third season was released, it became evident that Chef Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) would be in pursuit of Michelin stars for the new phase of his restaurant. Despite the transformation of the previously casual eatery into a fine dining establishment steeped in chaos cooking, the staff continued serving sandwiches through a side takeout window during the day, which necessitated certain supplies to be on hand. Among these essentials are C-folds, which Natalie (Abby Elliott) is shown replenishing several times in Season 3, Episode 7.

If you haven’t worked in a restaurant, you might not be familiar with the term C-fold. It’s simply a colloquial term for tri-folded paper towels. These towels, when unfolded and viewed from the side, resemble the letter C, as their two ends are folded inward. Other common paper towel folds include the V-fold and the Z-fold; the former is folded in half, while the latter’s ends are bent in opposite directions. While the restaurant could be offering C-folds with their takeout, they are typically used in commercial kitchens for drying hands or cleaning up spills—much like paper towels in any household.

Since its debut, “The Bear” has showcased the hectic environment that exists in restaurant kitchens, while also bringing kitchen terminology to the forefront. Viewers unfamiliar with the kitchen culture might easily guess the meaning of commonly used phrases like “yes, Chef,” “behind,” and “heard,” yet some terms can be harder to comprehend. For example, “in the weeds” doesn’t refer to actual weeds, but signifies being overwhelmed with orders. The kitchen can certainly feel burdened if there are too many orders “all day,” which means they need to be completed immediately rather than at leisure.

Another term that can confuse is “dying on the pass.” Understanding that “the pass” refers to the expediting station clarifies that this phrase pertains to a dish that should have been served but is instead languishing on the station. Furthermore, while it might seem odd to shout “fire” in a kitchen, it actually indicates that the cooking process for a dish should commence.