Food in The Series of Unfortunate Events
by: Manvitha Katta
|
Although the Series is filled with gloom, hopelessness, and tons of gloom, the books are surprisingly intended for children. The three Baudelaire orphans and Count Olaf but there are definitely some memorable dishes.
Most of the time the food just as miserable as the conditions the Baudelaires had to live through. They ate a lot of bland and unappetizing food like cold oatmeal, boiled potatoes, and boiled chicken. Even delicious recipes are transformed into pathetic dishes because of the the circumstances. One such example is chilled cucumber soup. This soups sounds delicious, healthy and refreshing especially on a hot summer day. However, the Baudelaires had to eat this soup in a cold drafty room in the middle of an impending hurricane because their guardian at the time, Aunt Josephine was deathly afraid of stoves (and practically anything that moved or had a purpose) and refused to turn on the stove. Pasta Puttanesca is perhaps the most iconic dish in the series. It was the first food ever mentioned in the series and the food adds to the misery of the children. After losing their parents in a fire, the siblings are placed in the care of sinister Count Olaf. Instead of providing a safe, welcoming environment for the orphans, Count Olaf orders them to clean and cook for him and his theatre troupe on his very first day as their guardian. So in an attempt to satisfy their new guardian, the children make Pasta Puttanesca. Count Olaf rejects all of the hard work of his children and instead screams at them for not making roast beef. All of the ingredients in the pasta are delicious but because of Count Olaf's reaction, the recipe is forever ruined for the Bauelaires and further adds to their misery. |