Taylor Sheridan giving Bella Hadid a shot as his Yellowstone girlfriend might’ve turned heads, but Jon Favreau’s cinematic love life? Pure blockbuster gossip. The man didn’t just cook up a hit in this film; he whipped up a storyline where he, the humble cook, had not one, but TWO on-screen romances with Sofia Vergara and Scarlett Johansson.

Sheridan’s move with Hadid was cool, sure. But Favreau turned his kitchen dream into every guy’s fantasy while keeping it all buttery smooth (Gabriel from Emily in Paris, anyone?)

From cowboy hats to chef aprons: Why Jon Favreau’s recipe beats Taylor Sheridan’s swagger

Taylor Sheridan casting Bella Hadid as his Yellowstone girlfriend clicked cowboy boots indeed, but Jon Favreau’s Chef romance arc was a whole different recipe.

You see, Sheridan’s Yellowstone persona screams “pinnacle of cowboys.” Favreau, on the contrary, played a flawed, relatable character that made Chef a standout. Also, Favreau’s casting choices don’t feel like a vanity project. He’s not out there pretending to be Tony Stark, folks; he’s happy playing Iron Man’s funny bodyguard.

In the 2014 film, Favreau cooked up a role as Carl Casper, a top-tier chef turned food truck owner, balancing a messy career and family life. Unlike Sheridan’s self-indulgent cowboy swagger, his character was messy, authentic, and, most importantly, believable.

Even professional chef Paul Liebrandt gave Chef a thumbs-up, calling its overnight cooking scenes “realistic” and the infamous food critic blowout “relatable.” An 8/10 from a real-life chef? That’s no small garnish.

Critics agreed, too. Chef pulled an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences following close at 85%. Its authenticity — be it in the sizzling dishes or Carl’s simmering frustrations — made it a hit. The film grossed $48.4M globally on an $11M budget.

While Sheridan is out here crafting cowboy fantasies, Favreau grounded his story in real, human struggles. His casting of Scarlett Johansson and Sofia Vergara as romantic interests didn’t feel forced; it just worked. Favreau wrote and played a role he could genuinely pull off, creating a film that’s still celebrated a decade later.

Taylor Sheridan may wear the cowboy hat, but Jon Favreau’s chef apron wins this round. As the saying goes, you’ve gotta cook what you know. And Favreau plated up perfection.

Fans say Favreau’s Chef delivers heart, while Sheridan leans on swagger

Taylor Sheridan and Jon Favreau both wrote themselves into their stories, but the execution couldn’t be more different. Sheridan’s self-insert feels like a flex, while Favreau’s flawed, growth-focused character in Chef added heart and authenticity to the story.

While Sheridan leaned on swagger, Favreau delivered a genuine, relatable journey that resonated with fans and food lovers alike. Chef wasn’t just a movie; it was a heartfelt ode to creativity and second chances, making it a timeless favorite.