Christopher, also known as "Chi-Chi" is a minor character in the first and third seasons of the comedy drama The Bear. He is a childhood friend of Carmy and Mikey, and worked in The Original Beef of Chicagoland for some years. He is portrayed by Christopher Zucchero.
Background[]
Personality[]
Physical Description[]
Throughout the Series[]
Season 1[]
In "System", Carmy calls Chi-Chi for help when he learns the Original Beef does not have enough meat for service. He later meets Chi-Chi in the parking lot outside the Bear to trade some of his vintage denim items which Chi-Chi can sell, as well as the coins from the Ball Breaker arcade game. Chi-Chi points out Carmy is still short, so Carmy reluctantly throws in an additional vintage denim jacket. Satisfied, Chi-Chi hands over the meat Carmy needs.
Season 3[]
In "Next", Carmy is doing R&D on dishes for The Bear when Chi-Chi arrives with a delivery of micro radishes. Chi-Chi comments on the price of the radishes before picking up his mail from the counter. He offers to share a smoke with Carmy, only for Carmy to reveal he has quit smoking, to Chi-Chi's bemusement. He informs Carmy that the Original Beef's former regulars have been complaining to him about the sandwich window not being open, to which Carmy promises to open it the next day. They reminisce on their past days working in the Original Beef: Chi-Chi comments on his admiration for Carmy's singular drive, before heading out, saying hello to Natalie as he leaves.
In "Violet", Chi-Chi peeks into The Bear's sandwich window while Carmy is helping a severely overwhelmed Ebra. Chi-Chi complains about the way the window is set up and gives Ebra some tips on how to make his system easier on his life, including getting rid of the baskets: he recalls how he, Mikey, and Chuckie had a good system, like General Hospital. Ebra replies that he once worked in a hospital, but many people died, weirding out Chi-Chi.
In "Children", Carmy and Natalie discuss the fact that Ebra is clearly overwhelmed working the sandwich window: Carmy proposes re-hiring Chi-Chi and Chuckie to work the window, to which Natalie quickly agrees as the window is the only part of the business that makes money.
In "Napkins", Chi-Chi is shown working the counter at the Original Beef alongside Richie and Chuckie in 2018 when Tina comes in. When a customer does not pick up their order of a dipped Italian beef sandwich, Chi-Chi overhears Richie giving Tina a free coffee and kindly offers her the sandwich on the house. He then teases a customer for ordering a "number seven", claiming they should go to McDonald's. He takes over the register while Richie plays Ball Breaker with Neil Fak.
In "Legacy", Chuckie and Chi-Chi arrive at The Bear to help Ebra at the window. They explain their system to Ebra, which he quickly takes to, and the window soon starts running like clockwork.
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Trivia[]
- Chi-Chi's portrayer, Chris Zucchero, is the real-life owner of Mr. Beef, having inherited it from his father Joseph Zucchero.
- Zucchero is credited in Season 1's "Hands" and "Brigade" but does not appear.