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Illustration: Chef José Andrés Shares Creative Process for 'Hannibal'
As we mentioned previously, chef José Andrés was selected as a Food Consultant for the new show on NBC, "Hannibal," to help the director illustrate just how big of food sophisticate Lecter really was. The show airs on Thursdays at 10 p.m. on NBC.
In true foodie fashion, the folks at NBC have launched a blog to accompany the show called Settling the Table. Andrés wrote a guest post for last night's episode recap, where he goes on to describe his creative process.
"I immediately thought of what a menu from Hannibal would look like. You see, his mind operated very methodically, mathematically, organized… he is highly strategic - so the meal would have to be quite sophisticated yet simple. This is really how chefs have to think…"
The post features some really gorgeous illustrations, like the one above, as to how Andrés and the team put together the plates and setting for the cannibal's dinner table, where he's serving Jack, an FBI investigator, at his dinner table for the first time.
The menu consists of lion -- which Hannibal tells Jack is pork -- with apples and a sanguine-colored Cumberland sauce made with red fruits.
A video released to Eater National shows the dinner scene, and what strikes us most is how Hannibal is able to carry the dishes to the table balanced on his arm like a real restaurant pro, and the methodical and pensive way which he cuts his food dabs his mouth with the napkin. It's just so creepy, but also so familiar.
Of course, most actors spent some time serving, but this guy really does come off as a (very scary) sophisticate.
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