- Comedian Steve Martin sparked a viral debate after posting a photo of a gourmet grilled cheese and tomato soup, sarcastically complaining about modern food.
- The dish was from celebrity chef Alex Guarnaschelli’s NYC restaurant, Clara, and she playfully responded by taking the “blame.”
- Many fans and followers took Martin’s complaint seriously, failing to recognize it as part of his long-running social media gag of satirizing fancy cuisine.
- This is a recurring bit for Martin, who has made similar jokes about everything from raspberry soufflé to ahi tuna towers.
Steve Martin’s Culinary Crusade or Comedy Gold?
An innocent-looking lunch of tomato soup and grilled cheese has sent the internet into a frenzy, all thanks to a post from legendary comedian Steve Martin. The “Only Murders in the Building” star shared a photo of a decidedly gourmet version of the classic comfort food, sparking a debate that tricked many of his followers.
On October 9, Martin took to his social media with a picture of a perfectly seared grilled cheese sandwich next to a bowl of tomato soup adorned with a swirl of olive oil. His caption, in all caps, read: “SO THIS IS WHAT PASSES FOR TOMATO SOUP AND GRILLED CHEESE???? I FEEL SORRY FOR TODAY’S KIDS.”
A Chef Steps Forward
Fans immediately jumped into the comments, many agreeing with his sentiment. “Campbell’s is the only tomato soup!” one user declared. Another asked, “Where are the triangles? Where’s the pickle spear?” But the plot thickened when celebrity chef Alex Guarnaschelli reposted Martin’s photo, claiming responsibility.
“This is my fault, Mr Martin. At Clara. Please enjoy,” she wrote, identifying the meal as a dish from her New York City restaurant. The restaurant’s own Instagram account followed up, writing, “@stevemartinreally we are honored to be featured in your dynamic food series. Thank you. Please enjoy.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/DPm0xDhkmtc
Not His First Food Fight
The key phrase in the restaurant’s response is “dynamic food series.” As it turns out, Martin has been doing this for years. The comedian uses his platform to poke fun at high-end gastronomy by pretending to be a cranky old man, yearning for the simpler (and often non-existent) foods of his youth.
He’s made similar jabs at a “raspberry soufflé,” a salad with “single swirl of lemon aioli pickled mustard vinaigrette,” and even his own birthday cake. In one particularly hilarious post, he bemoaned a modern Ahi Tuna Tower.
“Sorry, but today’s Ahi Tuna Tower can’t compare to the Ahi Tuna Towers I had as a child in Texas,” he wrote. This is a classic comedic setup, considering ahi tuna was largely used for pet food in the 1950s and not the delicacy it is today.
Just a Wild and Crazy Guy
So, the next time you see Steve Martin seemingly complaining about his food online, remember to take it with a grain of salt. He isn’t actually upset; he’s just a master comedian using his deadpan wit to execute a perfect, long-running gag. He is, and always has been, just a wild and crazy guy.
Image Referance: https://www.today.com/food/people/steve-martin-grilled-cheese-tomato-soup-rcna236716