Chowder characters are some of the strangest, most lovable weirdos Cartoon Network ever put on TV. I watched this show as a kid and loved it. Then I rewatched it as an adult and loved it more. The art is wild, the humor is surreal, and every single character is named after a food. It also breaks the fourth wall constantly, so adults catch jokes that kids miss.
So here is my full guide to the Chowder characters, with quick facts, a few honest opinions, and trivia you probably did not know.
Let us head to Cartoon Network’s Marzipan City.
The Main Chowder Characters
Let us start with the core cast. These are the Chowder characters who carry the whole show.
Chowder
Chowder is the heart of the whole thing. He is a sweet, scatterbrained kid who wants to be a great chef. He also wants to eat everything in sight.
- A 12-year-old apprentice at the Mung Daal Catering Company
- A purple cat-bear-rabbit hybrid, which the show really does confirm
- Also has a bottomless appetite and can cough objects back up on cue
- Voiced by Nicky Jones, with creator C.H. Greenblatt voicing his adult self in the finale
My take: Chowder is pure id. He is what happens when a toddler’s appetite gets its own cooking show.
Shnitzel
Shnitzel might be the fan favorite, and I get why. He barely speaks, yet he is the funniest one in the kitchen.
- A grumpy gray rock monster who works as Mung’s main chef
- Still says almost nothing except “Radda radda”
- Also overworked, underpaid, and always cleaning up Chowder’s messes
- Voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson
My take: Shnitzel is all of us at work. He loves these people. Still, he is completely exhausted by them.
Panini
Panini is Chowder’s self-declared girlfriend, whether he likes it or not. He does not.
- A pink rabbit-cat-bear and the apprentice of Ms. Endive
- Has a huge crush on Chowder, who shouts, “I’m not your boyfriend!”
- Started as a meaner character before Greenblatt made her sweeter
- Voiced by Liliana Mumy
My take: Panini gets a bad rap. Still, she is one of the most determined Chowder characters in the cast.
Mung Daal
Mung Daal is the old chef who runs the show and treats Chowder like a son. He is also a hopeless flirt.
- The elderly head chef and owner of the catering company
- Kind and patient, until you insult his cooking
- Also a self-styled “ladies’ man” who loves to show off
- Voiced by Dwight Schultz
My take: Mung is the fun grandpa who should not be left unsupervised. So of course I love him.
Truffles Daal
Truffles Daal runs the money and the marriage. And she does not take nonsense from anyone.
- Mung’s wife and the catering company’s no-nonsense cashier
- A short-tempered pixie with a powerful glare
- Also tougher and more competitive than her husband
- Voiced by Tara Strong
My take: Truffles is the one truly keeping the business alive. So everyone is a little scared of her, including me.
Ms. Endive
Ms. Endive is the closest thing the show has to a villain. So she is a snobby rival chef with a giant ego.
- A master chef and Mung Daal’s bitter rival
- Panini’s strict, self-important mentor
- Also desperate to get married, and not picky about how
- Voiced by Mindy Sterling
My take: Endive is gloriously petty. So the show gets better every time she storms in.
More Chowder Characters Worth Knowing
The world of Chowder is stuffed with side characters. Here are more Chowder characters I love, from rivals to a literal stink cloud.
Ceviche
Ceviche is one of the sweetest side characters in the show. So he just wants everyone to have a good time.
- A young yellow goat who trains as a dancer under Paté
- Panini’s best friend, introduced in “The Apprentice Games”
- Also kind to a fault, always helping others
- Later becomes a dance teacher by the finale
My take: Ceviche is the friend everyone deserves. No notes.
Gazpacho
Gazpacho runs the produce stand, and he is Chowder’s go-to for advice. The advice is usually terrible. Still, his heart is always in the right place.
- A big, blue, woolly produce vendor in the Marzipan City market
- One of Chowder’s closest adult friends outside the catering company
- Also loves to gossip and overshare with his mother on the phone
- Voiced by Dana Snyder
My take: Gazpacho is pure comfort. So I smile every time he shows up.
Gorgonzola
Gorgonzola is Chowder’s grumpy rival. And his backstory is sadder than you would expect.
- A surly green rat and the apprentice of Stilton
- Also jealous of Chowder for landing a better job and a kinder master
- Also wears a melted candle on his head, just like his mentor
- Voiced by Will Shadley
My take: Gorgonzola acts tough, but he is lonely. So the show sneaks in real heart with him.
Kimchi
Kimchi is Chowder’s best friend and pet. He is also a sentient cloud of stink.
- A brown stink cloud who “talks” entirely through farts
- Still Chowder’s loyal companion, smell and all
- Voiced by creator C.H. Greenblatt
- Still, his name was muted on Cartoon Network in South Korea
My take: It should not work. Still, it does. Kimchi is weirdly endearing.
Mr. Fugu
Mr. Fugu is the red balloon guy. But yes, that is the cleanest way to describe him.
- A floating red balloon and Mung’s most loyal customer
- Also has an endless appetite and a fancy valet named Foie Gras
- Named after fugu, the pufferfish
- Pure chaos at the dinner table
My take: If you love a good quirky character, Mr. Fugu is peak Chowder. He is also the answer to that “balloon character” question fans always ask.
Stilton
Stilton is the rich, greedy merchant who makes Gorgonzola’s life miserable.
- A wealthy, miserly businessman and Gorgonzola’s master
- Also always scheming to outdo Chowder and Mung
- Also a candle holder, hence the flame on his head
- Voiced by John DiMaggio
My take: Stilton is a great low-key villain. Still, John DiMaggio voicing him is a nice bonus.
Pate
Pate is the smooth musician of Marzipan City, and Ceviche’s mentor.
- A musical performer and Ceviche’s master
- Shows up for the joy of the game, not the prizes
- Also has a memorable run in “The Apprentice Games”
- Named after pate, the savory spread
My take: Pate is all vibes. So he floats through the show being effortlessly cool.
Kiwi
Kiwi is the show breaking its own fourth wall on purpose. So he is a tiny commentator who pops in between scenes.
- A photorealistic stop-motion creature
- Also gives cutaway commentary on the action
- Voiced by creator C.H. Greenblatt
- Debuted in “Burple Nurples”
My take: Kiwi is the show winking at you. So he is peak Chowder energy.
Chestnut
Chestnut is a tiny villain with a big attitude and a great pair of purple shoes.
- A small, blue-haired creature with horns and a beard
- One of the series’ recurring troublemakers
- Also has an odd square-circle body shape
- Proof that small characters can cause big problems
My take: Chestnut is silly, but he commits to the bit. So I respect him.
Reuben
Reuben is the calm, smooth-talking schemer. So he gets what he wants without ever raising his voice.
- A pig-like character with a soothing voice
- A cunning manipulator under a chill exterior
- Debuted as a cooking instructor in “Certification Class”
- Also appears a handful of times across the series
My take: Reuben is quietly one of the most dangerous Chowder characters. So watch the calm ones.
Every Chowder Character Is Named After Food
Here is the detail that makes this show so much fun. Every name on the menu is a real food. Once you notice it, you cannot unsee it. So here is a quick rundown of the Chowder characters and the foods behind their names:
- Chowder, a thick soup
- Mung Daal, mung dal, a lentil dish
- Shnitzel, a breaded cutlet
- Truffles, the fancy fungus
- Panini, an Italian pressed sandwich
- Ms. Endive, a leafy green vegetable
- Gazpacho, a cold tomato soup
- Ceviche, a citrus-cured seafood dish
- Gorgonzola, a blue cheese
- Kimchi, fermented Korean cabbage
- Mr. Fugu, pufferfish
- Stilton, an English cheese
- Pate, a savory meat spread
- Kiwi, the fruit
- Chestnut, the roasted nut
- Reuben, a grilled deli sandwich
That is the whole gimmick. And I think it is genius.
Where to Watch Chowder
Want to revisit Marzipan City? Good news. Chowder is easy to stream today.
You can also buy or rent episodes on Amazon and other digital stores. So a full rewatch is just a few clicks away. For the complete episode list, check Wikipedia.
Chowder Characters and Their Voice Actors
A big part of why these characters land is the voice cast. So here is who played the main Chowder characters:
| Character | Voice actor |
|---|---|
| Chowder | Nicky Jones (adult Chowder by C.H. Greenblatt) |
| Mung Daal | Dwight Schultz |
| Shnitzel | Kevin Michael Richardson |
| Truffles | Tara Strong |
| Ms. Endive | Mindy Sterling |
| Panini | Liliana Mumy |
| Gazpacho | Dana Snyder |
| Kimchi | C.H. Greenblatt |
| Gorgonzola | Will Shadley |
| Stilton | John DiMaggio |
| Ceviche | Elan Garfias |
| Kiwi | C.H. Greenblatt |
About the Creator: C.H. Greenblatt
Chowder came from the mind of C.H. Greenblatt, and his resume explains a lot.
- He storyboarded and wrote for SpongeBob SquarePants, including the classic episode “Band Geeks”
- He also worked on The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
- Chowder, from 2007, was his first show as creator
- He later created Harvey Beaks for Nickelodeon and developed Jellystone! for HBO Max
Greenblatt built Chowder around food, surreal jokes, and squeeze-toy character designs. So that wild style is no accident. It is exactly what he set out to make. The show even won a Primetime Emmy during its run. You can read more about his career on Wikipedia.
For me, the Chowder characters are proof that weird wins.
The show was loud, gross, and surreal.
It was also full of heart, and it still holds up.
So go rewatch it, then tell me your favorite. Mine is Shnitzel!
Radda radda.
