The Simpsons continually has its pulse on pop culture. Through creative storytelling, the celebrated FOX animated series weaves a current trend into its Springfield world. In this week’s episode, “Stew Lies,” the world of food television gets its moment to shine. Will food or the “dude” reign supreme in this moment of culinary glory?
From Hell’s Kitchen to MasterChef, the kitchen is no longer a secretive world where few people dare to enter. Chefs are as popular as rock stars, movie stars, and other celebrity icons.
As food lovers travel the world to sit at those esteemed restaurants and devour the dishes they have seen on television, it makes sense that The Simpsons will delve into that delicious domain and offer its own spin.
Check out this exclusive clip from The Simpsons, "Stew Lies."
In the upcoming Simpsons episode, "Stew Lies,” Homer gets an opportunity of a lifetime to have one of his favorite food shows, Dude vs Food, visit Springfield. Through a clandestine meeting, Homer befriends Thad and helps the “Dude” recover from his arduous filming schedule.
Following a tempting aroma, Homer and Thad arrive at Fat Tony’s house and cannot wait to eat the scrumptious dish that lured them from the valley. The recipe for recovery comes from Fat Tony’s coveted Gewalnteintopf. How to make the special dish has been a coveted secret, but Thad has other plans.
With Thad choosing to divulge that recipe on the show, “Kitchen Betrayals,” Fat Tony seeks revenge. Only time will tell if Homer and Fat Tony can keep the Chew Network from sharing the recipe. Even if all is revealed, the final result might be more satisfying than anyone could have imagined.
While this episode has all the humor, twists and turns fans expect from The Simpsons, the Gewalnteintopf is a real dish. Chefs Kenji Lopez-Alt (New York Times, The Food Lab, multiple cookbooks) and Deb Perelman (Smitten Kitchen, many cookbooks) created the recipe for this episode. Although this dish might not be served at the Duff Beer Garden at Universal Orlando Resort, it is a perfect example how the iconic FOX animated series stays food culture revenant.
More importantly, it is another example of creating connections through food. Homer’s refuge in Springfield’s Tight Mountain , where all the aromas soothe his soul, is relatable to many people. Whether it is the scent of cinnamon buns in the oven or a stew simmering on the stove, that first wife can have memories come flooding back. The Simpsons capture the nostalgia food trend perfectly in this moment.
Will people pause to make the Gewalnteintopf for themselves? Everyone will have to wait and see. Until then, it is time to savor another new episode of The Simpsons.
The Simpsons episode "Stew Lies" airs Sunday, May 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.