Food Porn: Hannibal Serves Exquisite Dishes For the Not So Squeamish

By Shandana A. Durrani July 2, 2013

food porn hannibal serves exquisite dishes not for the squeamish lungs

Coquilles. Amuse Bouche. Buffet Froid. French culinary terms that would make any gourmand worth his or her weight in black truffles salivate. But they have a deeper meaning to fans of “Hannibal,” the NBC cult sensation that follows the exploits of Dr. Hannibal Lechter and his nemesis Will Graham.

Much has been said about the excellent cast, pacing, set design, cinematography and music but the breakout star of the show has to be the food. During each episode, Hannibal cooks exquisite, elaborate dishes that would make Eric Ripert and Thomas Keller jealous. But this being a show about Hannibal “the Cannibal” things are never quite as they seem. Food stylist Janice Poon has the enviable task of designing meals made to look as if they are from human flesh.

Related Videos

World-renowned Spanish chef Jose Andres consults with Poon on dishes so exact and beautiful, you’d be hard pressed to find a flaw. Hannibal (Mads Mikkelsen) is a fan of offal, so most of the fare is sourced from lungs, liver, kidneys and other organs. The character can be seen nonchalantly slicing and dicing his way through various body parts from his recent kills, sprinkling herbs and spices on top and sautéing his concoctions in olive oil and garlic.

In the second episode of the season, “Amuse Bouche,” Hannibal serves FBI agent-in-charge Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) and his wife a roast of jeune filles, although they are led to believe it’s a perfectly cooked pork loin. They wax rhapsodic over the flavor and texture of the dish all while Hannibal looks on with a hint of a nefarious smile. Poon used three different pork thigh muscles and stuffed them with spinach and mushrooms. She encrusted the dish in prosciutto to, as she says on her blog, Feeding Hannibal (janicepoonart.blogspot.com), “make it look like it has a thin skin.”

Hannibal finished its season recently and won’t be back until 2014. But viewers can recreate some of the dishes thanks to Poon’s blog, which posts recipes from each episode. As Hannibal would say, tonight, have an old friend for dinner.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Food & Drink

How to make the perfect shepherd’s pie, according to a cookbook author

Cookbook author Licia Kassim Householder shares her delicious recipe, guaranteed to be a hit

shepherds pie recipe untitled 14

Although Saint Patrick's Day has come and gone, it doesn't mean that we want to stop eating delicious Irish-American dishes. Hence, the reason you sought out a shepherd's pie recipe. We don't want to burst your bubble, but shepherd's pie isn't a traditional Irish dish. But, for that matter, neither is corned beef. However, this colcannon version of shepherd's pie really ups the level of the dish's Irishness.

Shepherd's pie has its roots in English cuisine. Dishes like corned beef and shepherd's pie have found their way into Irish-themed menus thanks to Irish-American celebrations, with emphasis on the American part. However, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a delicious shepherd's pie on St. Patrick's Day or any day. It's a hearty and filling comfort food for the chilly winter and spring months.

Food & Drink

This is how to freeze-dry food and preserve the first produce of the year

Ever wanted to preserve some fresh produce? Freeze-drying is an excellent way to do so — here's how

If living through a global pandemic taught us anything, it's that it's probably a good idea to keep some non-perishable food around the house in case of nationwide shutdowns (or climate change-related natural disasters.) Knowing that you and your family would be able to sustain yourselves through times of hardship is a comforting feeling. One of the best ways to preserve food for the long-term is by freeze-drying it, and you don't have to wait for the apocalypse to enjoy freeze-dried foods.

Food & Drink

Cook perfect meat every time with this Ninja indoor grill and save $80

ninja foodi smart xl indoor grill with air fryer deal best buy february 2023

Are you ready to get your grill on? If there's snow outside, you don't have to forego grilling your favorite foods and snacks, especially with a Ninja indoor grill. Best Buy has a tantalizing deal today for the Ninja Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 indoor grill with an integrated 4-quart air fryer. Ninja's versatile kitchen countertop appliance can grill, air fry, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate. If you score this deal today, the Ninja Foodi Smart XL is yours for $180, an $80 savings from the regular $260 cost.

Why You Should Buy the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Ninja Indoor Grill
The concept of a combined grill and air fryer may sound kludgy, but when you cook with this multifunction cooker, one of the best Ninja air fryers, you'll quickly realize the Ninja Foodi Smart XL indoor grill is designed to help you turn out snacks or meals perfectly, every time, with no guesswork or hassle. You can easily select the type of food you're about to cook and then choose from nine levels of doneness. The Foodi Smart Cook System includes a smart thermometer that monitors the cooking progress, so you don't have to cut or stick a manual thermometer in your food to be sure you don't under-cook or overcook it. Want to save even more hassle when you grill? You don't have to flip to food while grilling because the Ninja Foodi Smart XL has a cyclonic air system that surrounds the food with 500-degree heat to match the 500-degree grill surface temperature.