“The Menu” ate and left no crumbs

brE gaLLaghEr bgaLLaghEr@daiLyEgyptian com

Satirical dark comedy “The Menu” is a commentary on consumer culture and misinterpretation of value in a craft. It can apply to many aspects of life in a consumerist driven world, not only in food service. However, the choice of using an elitist restaurant provides an interesting approach to the concept of the wealthy taking advantage of the service industry and ruining the meaning of art and artist.

We follow as celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) hosts a highpriced exclusive event for hand-picked guests including critics, investors, self proclaimed foodies, actors and people so rich that it’s as if this experience is equivalent to going to an Applebee’s.

Slowik uses every dish as a learning tool. He uses his time with the patrons to point out how they don’t care about the art form or the taste of his creations, such as when he serves a bread plate with no bread because in his words:

“Bread has existed in some form for nearly 12,000 years especially amongst the poor, flour and water could it be simpler….It is, and has always been the food of the common man. But you, my dear guests, are not the common man and so tonight you get no bread.”

He also states in his speech, “Even today, grain represents 65% of all agriculture; fruits and vegetables only 6%.” As many will state, that is a reference to the 1%.

While the patrons are a fan of the conceptual piece, they still are not fully understanding as some guests try to ask for bread, some are displeased by the quantity and some are trying to look deeper into the “theme of the meal.” The only one who truly notices that they are being called out is Margo (Anya Taylor-Joy), who wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place. The course after that is framed around a story from the chef’s childhood of a lower class family and domestic abuse. While the guests are quite literally eating it up, he serves them a taste of their own realities showing them they are not much different and they are in fact not untouchable even though they have money and fame.

SPOILERS AHEAD:

It’s at this point that the chef realizes he and Margo have something in common, and he forces Margo to pick which side she will be on: the side of the service workers or the side of the consumers. The guests begin realizing something is wrong once death and violence begin to ensue, yet they still continue to eat.

The chef then takes time to point out all of their flaws and tells them why they deserve what is awaiting them. Then he shocks them with the chance to escape they have not yet truly attempted. While he gives the men a head start, pointing out the injustices towards women, the men ultimately go through more strife while their attempts fail, and they are brought back to square one.

Once everyone is back in their seats, the chef then reveals a truth to the guests and a trial to the self proclaimed foodie to further prove that it is an art and cannot so easily be done as it can be discussed and used to put others down. Much is true with many art forms and having this brought to the attention of the guests further proves the point of the event.

After realizing there is no escape and they all begin to accept their fate, Margo tells the chef exactly what she thought of the night and asks for a proper meal, allowing the chef to feel excited to cook for someone again which he had mentioned was missing from his life.

Once Marwgo takes her bite and pays her bill, she takes her food to go and leaves watching as they accept their fate with burger in hand as she is the only one who understood the true value.

Staff reporter Bre Gallagher can be reached at bgallagher@dailyegyptian.com