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Title | Fictional Food in Reality

Fictional food is literarily food from fiction or imaginary and unprecedented dishes, not limited to fictions only, but also from animations and television drama. The former, moreover, functions as reflecting the society, the “extant socio-economic spheres”, the social class and setting a background in literature. The recreated fictional and fantastical dishes might have the ingredients changed to fit in with the reality.

The Legend of the Condor Heroes
“Twenty-four Bridges in a Bright Moon Night” is an imaginary dish from the Legend of the Condor Heroes by wuxia novelist Jin Yong. It is about how the Chinese patriotic protagonist, Guo Jing, turned against the Mongolian invasion. The dish is actually “steamed whole leg of Jinhua ham with tofu”, created by character Huang Rong by using kungfu. Yung Kee Restaurant, a famous Hong Kong restaurant, revived the fantastical classic for the author’s banquet. To make the dish, scoop twenty-four holes out from the cured pork, place in tofu balls and steam.

Hong Kong chef Margaret Xu has remake the dish herself and commented in an interview with Ming Pao, “Actually this dish is impossible! It is because Jinhua Ham is too hard to be scooped and tofu would be overcooked if steamed for too long. … But food in literature gives me the inspiration to improve them.”

The Dream of the Red Chamber
Red Mansion Feast is a banquet with Chinese culinary culture-reflected imaginary dishes in the Dream of the Red Chamber which depicted the Chinese aristocratic life. Redologists studied over decades to bring the literary tastes to life, such as “pearl-in-the-bosom-of-an-aged-clam” and “fragrant eggplant with assorted nuts”. The latter, commented as flavoursome but not quite like eggplants in the 18-century novel, is often remade, such as in China’s first international food conference in July 1991. To recreate, fry eggplant mince in chicken fat, mix with chicken, vegetables and dried fruits and bake in chicken broth.

Harry Potter
Bertie Bott is a kind of fantasy sweet with special flavours include earwax, rotten egg, earthworm, dirt, vomit, soap, black pepper and booger from the Harry Potter series written by J.K. Rowling. It appeared in the scene of Professor Albus Dumbledore visiting Harry Potter in the hospital and trying the earwax one. Warner Bros introduced the treat with packages similar to the film while Jelly Belly sold it in newly designed boxes. The weirdly flavoured beans stirred the trend of “Bertie Bott Challenge” – uploading videos of tasting the candy on YouTube.

The Hunger Games
Basil-wrapped Goat Cheese is the literary food mentioned in the Hunger Games. It represents the gift for Katniss Everdeen from her youngest sister Prim on reaping day because she voluntarily replaced Prim as the participant in the dangerous Hunger Games. After publishing the Hunger Games trilogy, some gourmets and food bloggers tried to revitalise this novel food. The preparation time required for making the cheese with herbs from scratch is approximately 20 minutes.

Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma
“Gotcha Pork Roast” is a dish appears in Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma. It was created by protagonist Sōma Yukihira when he was challenged by the urban residential planner, Yaeko Minegasaki. She was trying to destroy the restaurant, Yukihira, to get the land but promised not to bother anymore if Sōma could provide juicy meat without proper meat. The dish is mashed potato with onions and mushrooms wrapped in bacon. Then pour cooked red wine with sake and soy sauce on it. The texture is crispy outside and juicy inside as described by Sōma. Some audience recreated it and posted their attempts online.

South Parks
“Cheesy Poofs" is a snack from American animation South Park which Eric Cartman, the protagonist, had been eating them through Episode 1 to 10. The green packet has a rocket image on it. Cartman auditioned for the chance to sing the “Cheesy Poof Theme Song ” for the advertisement:

“I love cheesy poofs, you love cheesy poofs, if we didn't eat cheesy poofs, we’d be LAME! I am talking nightcore in its 5th season lame.”

Cheesy Poofs is actually cheese puffs. Snack manufacturer Frito-Lay launched a mimic of this fictional food out in Wal-Mart in 2011. The package design is similar with the original version.

Hannibal
“Bedelia’s Leg” is a dish from Season 3 of Hannibal (TV series) which is based on Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon. Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier, the main character’s leg was cooked and consumed in the story. The imagined food was created by Janice Poon, a food stylist for the television drama. "Bedelia’s leg" does not contain any cannibalistic ingredients: pork loin replaced human flesh while beef and lamb leg bones as human leg bones. The Kalua-style roast is wrapped in greens and decorated with tropical fruits.

Game of Thrones
"Goose sauced with Mulberries" is an imaginary dish for the imperial household in the drama series Game of Thrones. The dynastic struggles between the royal families during Iron Throne is the main storyline of the drama. In making of the dish, prick the goose’s skin to allow extra fat to run off, stuff the bird with herbs and roast for 2 hours. To finish, drizzle Maestro Martino-inspired mulberry sauce on the roasted goose.



Star Trek
Gagh is one of the several dishes originated from “Star Trek”, a drama series produced by Gene Roddenberry. The plot pertains to the interstellar adventure of James T. Krik who attached to Starship Enterprise. Gagh is a pile of worms which served alive in the drama. Nevertheless, it grants the squirmy, glossy sensation inside the gourmet mouth. The recreated dish in reality is “Beets Pasta with Herbs”, to make the “worm” acceptable to diners. Beets provide a natural reddish colour to the pasta. It is a vegetarian dish.