The emotional life of the average Whovian is not a relaxed, reassured one. We get emotionally annihilated with regularity. If the plot teases weren’t enough, we also have to wait until Spring for new episodes. 9 months of silence. It’s our reality and we have to find ways to cope. We can watch old episodes to comfort our aching hearts, but how about also using food as a coping mechanism?
Food pops up periodically in Doctor Who in memorable ways. It’s quirky and part of why we love the show. Grabbing the Jelly Babies and sipping tea are excellent reminders that the show (and its culture) are always nearby. Here are some ideas to help you survive the next murky 9 months. Dig in and eat happily, because as the good Doctor says: “Lack of food makes you obstreperous.”
“A soufflé isn’t a soufflé; a soufflé is a recipe.” – Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman)
Never show a soufflé fear. Soufflés know when you’re afraid and they fall accordingly. It’s best to never take your eyes off of them, not even for a second. You, like myself, might need 9 months to 9 years to perfect this dish. There will be a lot of failures but sometimes, very rarely, impossible things just happen – like a soufflé not falling – and we call them miracles.
“A hot dog… it’s the Cybermen of food, but it’s tasty.” – Tenth Doctor (David Tennant)
Call them K9 dogs if you like. Mass-produced mishmashes of dead parts, pulled back together and made into unfeeling products. Cybermen, hotdogs, same thing. The main differences are that hotdogs/K9 dogs are delicious with mustard, aren’t bent on transforming you into a kill-thirsty automaton, and are a staple food when it’s time to chow down on some lonely feelings.
“Always take a banana to a party, Rose. Bananas are good.” – Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston)
Good source of potassium!
But, if you draw on them with a toothpick, you can have these on-point reminders of better, more joyful times. Bananas are good food, good art, and good for the soul. If you point a banana the right way, it even looks like a big smile.
“Man falls out of a box, eats fish custard.” – Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith)
How could anyone look past this epic food reference?
Matt Smith was adamant that fish fingers and custard made for a great meal and that he was happy to scoff them on set. But listen here, I read that was a quite the lie! The ‘fish fingers’ were actually sponge cake, rolled in coconut.
My suggestion to making this dish is to buy ready-made trifle sponge. Cut it into fingers and roll them in a little cream and then in a mixture of finely ground up dessicated coconut and gingernut crumbs. Bake for about ten minutes until browned. Make a thick, eggy custard or grab a carton from the shops.
In this form, it is actually a tempting dish. Impress your friends, and soothe your soul.
So, here we are. Companions, millions of us, waiting to hear those old gears turning. Waiting for our Doctor. At least we’ll be well-fed and ready for new adventures when he finally falls out of his box.
