Chapter 10

Hubert Pong

Wilde's Bistro

WELCOME to Wilde Bistro. We are thrilled to share with you the foods related to Chapter 10 of The Picture of Dorian Gray. The range from vibrant starters to exquisite main courses and to our rich desserts, the food reflects the true meanings behind this chapter.

In this chapter, Oscar Wilde explores the themes of secrecy, appearance vs reality and the corruption of the soul. Through the use of vivid imagery, symbolism and allusion, Wilde highlights the destructive consequences of hiding one’s true self and the internal struggle between preserving a facade of innocence and embracing the ideas of hedonism.

Behind The Bistro (Contemporary)

In today's society, the influence of aestheticism is unmistakable. We are immersed in a culture that places great value on appearances, driven by platforms like Instagram and TikTok. People meticulously curate their lives, presenting carefully selected moments that adhere to societal expectations of beauty and perfection. This emphasis on aesthetics can create an illusionary world where everything must look flawless, pleasurable, and visually appealing. This reflects a modern culture where aesthetics is valued above authentic experience. We can see many examples such as commercial ads, where they don't even use real ingredients to perceive you. We place value on how things appear, living vicariously through social media and through the inauthentically presented lives of influencers. This in turn cultivates a world in which everything has to look perfect, and everything has to appear pleasurable. This prioritises pleasure over morals. We don't care that the food was cold or that the service was rude, only that the environment fits a visual aesthetic that translates well to digital media.

Influencers are paid by restaurants to take photos of them dining there, creating an illusion of a certain atmosphere (fun, warm, beautiful - if you eat here your life will look like this as well). These influencer recommendations are then inauthentic because they are essentially paid advertisements. For example, the famous Salt Bae Restaurant, Nusr-Et Steakhouse. Many influences visit this restaurant, often showing an exciting and warm atmosphere, with great food and staff. But in reality, this restaurant is just a commercial establishment like any other, aiming to attract customers and generate profit. It's not uncommon for restaurants or other businesses to collaborate with influencers as a marketing strategy to increase their visibility and reach a wider audience. One of the most famous and expensive steaks at Nusr-Et Steakhouse is covered with edible 24k gold and costs $2500 but a Tiktoker made this just with $100. In fact, to cover a whole tomahawk steak with gold leaf only costs around $40. This isn't much different from a scam. People overpay for what they see online but in reality it is a fraction of the price.

Starters

The Childhood Memories Salad

A mix of fresh crisp green lettuce and sweet cherry tomatoes along with croutons and a splash of olive oil and homemade salad dressing

"Every moment of his lonely childhood came back to him as he looked round. He recalled the stainless purity of his boyish life, and it seemed horrible to him that it was here the fatal portrait was to be hidden away."

The “Childhood Memories Salad” is a starter dish that symbolises Dorian Gray’s longing for the innocence of his earlier years as he “recalled the stainless purity of his boyish life”.

Behind The Dish
Oscer Wilde uses hyperbole and exaggeration to convey the idea that Dorian's childhood was lonely and sheltered. The phrases, "Every moment", "stainless purity of his boyish life" and even the word "lonely" emphasises the intensity of his experience which leads to his naive and emotionally disconnected personality and this amplifies the sense of isolation he experienced during his childhood. The use of hyperbole, Wilde shows the significance of Dorian's childhood memories and the contrast between his innocent past and the impending corruption represented by the hidden portrait. The exaggerated language heightens the emotional impact on the reader, emphasizing the horror Dorian feels at the thought of the portrait being concealed in a place associated with the purity of his childhood. This highlights the profound impact of his childhood experiences and sets the stage for the exploration of the corrupting influence of aestheticism and immoral choices.

The salad includes fresh and vibrant ingredients, such as the cherry tomatoes, that reflect the untainted nature of Dorian’s childhood. The crisp lettuce leaves signify the vitality and purity of his early years, untouched by the corrupting influences from various people that will later shape his life. This purity is further reinforced by the colourful cherry tomatoes, representing the joyful moments and innocence of childhood.

Dorian throughout the novella was always portrayed as an impressionable character and from this quote we can suggest that he did not have a parent figure as he had a “lonely childhood”. The absence of a parent figure could have contributed to his naivety and when he first encounters Lord Henry, who embodies hedonistic ideas, he becomes so fascinated and attracted to him. The infatuation also reflects on the salad as when presented, you will feel astonished and amazed.

The Noble Herb-Crusted Bruschetta:

Warm bread topped with freshly picked sundried tomatoes and corriander on the top with a splash of olive oil

"Basil would have helped him to resist Lord Henry’s influence, and the still more poisonous influences that came from his own temperament. The love that he bore him—for it was really love—had nothing in it that was not noble and intellectual."

The "Noble Herb-Crusted Bruschetta" is a starter dish that represents the positive influence Basil could of had on Dorian's life and how much Basil loved Dorian's true self.

Behind The Dish

Just as the noble herb-crusted bruschetta is composed of wholesome and organic ingredients, Basil's love for Dorian is described as noble and intellectual. The dish embodies the qualities of purity, goodness, and intellectual nourishment that Basil's guidance could have provided.

Oscar Wilde uses antithesis to present a contrast between Lord Henry's influence and Basil's potential influence by highlighting their opposite natures. Lord Henry is described as a "poisonous influence" while Basil's potential influence is characterised as "noble and intellectual".

This characterisation implies that Lord Henry's influence corrupts Dorian's morals, leads him to live a hedonistic life and increasingly abandon his sense of morality and ethical standards. Lord Henry influences Dorian to embrace a philosophy that champions the pursuit of pleasure where beauty is the most important thing in life. He promotes the idea that one's actions and choices should be guided solely by personal gratification and the pursuit of individual desires, without considering the moral implications or the impact on others.

On the other hand, Basil's influence is characterised as "noble and intellectual." The word "noble" implies that Basil's influence is virtuous, honourable, and guided by high moral principles. It suggests that Basil's guidance would have encouraged Dorian to make ethical choices, pursue intellectual growth, and maintain a sense of integrity.

The antithesis between a "poisonous" and a "noble and intellectual" influence emphasises the stark difference between these important characters. It presents as a choice between a corrupting and hedonistic lifestyle or a life guided by high morals and intellectual growth which could have been guided by Basil.

Main Course

Surprise Stuffed Ravioli

The Surprise Stuffed Ravioli features delicate pasta pockets filled with a tantalizing blend of savory ingredients, creating a burst of flavors and textures in every bite.

"It was the strangest book that he had ever read. It seemed to him that in exquisite raiment, and to the delicate sound of flutes, the sins of the world were passing in dumb show before him. Things that he had dimly dreamed of were suddenly made real to him. Things of which he had never dreamed were gradually revealed."

The Surprise Stuffed Ravioli represents the "Yellow Book" in chapter 10 by concealing a tantalizing surprise within its delicate pasta. Just as the book reveals hidden sins and unimagined realities, the dish invites diners to savor unexpected flavors that enchant and captivate the senses.

Behind The Dish

Oscar Wilde uses juxtaposition to highlight the profound impact of the Yellow book. He describes the book as "exquisite", though it is describing "sins of the world". This contrast between perfection and sin introduces a central theme of hedonism, suggesting that sin and beauty can coexist in the same place. Furthermore, the metaphorical phrase, "the delicate sound of flutes, the sins of the world were passing in dumb show before him". By invoking the "delicate" music of flutes, Wilde shows that Dorian Gray is associating sin with beauty. As Dorian becomes enthralled by the book's influence and its portrayal of hedonism, it fuels his own desires for a life of uninhibited enjoyment.

Wilde uses juxtaposition and syntactic framing to convey how Dorian is having his world opened to things that were only dreams before. Dorian had only "dimly dreamed" of the book's perspective and content but now it made "real" to him and leads him into a realm of hedonism. The use of juxtaposition between "things that he had dimly dreamed of" and reality is contrasted by the syntactic framing whereby those "things [...] were suddenly made real to him", which emphatically emphasis the imagery and the transformative power of the Yellow book on Dorian.

Just as the book in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" introduces the reader to a world of hidden sins and unexpected revelations, Surprise Stuffed Ravioli embodies a similar sense of discovery and intrigue. Like the reader who experiences the unknown filling within the ravioli, the book's protagonist unravels secrets that were previously unimaginable. Both the book and the pasta dish offer a transformative journey, enticing individuals to explore the mysteries that lie beneath the surface.

Dessert

Chocolate Lava Cake of Temptation

A decadent delight of moist, velvety chocolate layers that seduce your taste buds with their irresistible flavors. A true temptation for chocolate lovers.

"What the worm was to the corpse, his sins would be to the painted image on the canvas. They would mar its beauty, and eat away its grace. They would defile it, and make it shameful. And yet the thing would still live on. It would always be alive."

The Chocolate Lava Cake of Temptation entices with a flawless exterior, concealing a sinful chocolate molten center. Once pierced, the luscious lava symbolizes the marred beauty of the sins that cannot be hidden, forever altering the dessert's appearance.

Behind The Dish

Oscar Wilde uses metaphors of worms infesting a corpse to convey the theme of sin and illustrate the destructive impact his sins would have on the painted portrait of himself. The quote suggests that sins are portrayed as harmful forces that damage and ruin the grace of the portrait. They defile and bring shame upon it, reflecting the corrupting influence of immoral actions. They not only diminish its beauty and grace, but they contaminate and pollute its essence. The sins bring a sense of moral corruption of the soul, staining its purity. As a result of this, the portrait of Dorian Gray no longer represents the idealised image but serves as a reflection of his immoral action and the consequences they entail. The portrait stands there as a visual reminder of who he truly is behind the mask he wears. Moreover, the symbolism of worms eating away at a corpse parallels the decaying effects of sin on the painting. Just as worms are crucial to the ecosystem in their role of decomposing organic matter, the worms defile the corpse, representing sin decomposing Dorian Gray's portrait. This highlights the presence of sin within Dorian, manifesting as worms that live in his true self. It emphasises that sin is a natural part of the cycle of life, much like worms are crucial to the environment. The novel also explores the idea that good and evil exist within every individual. This is seen through Basil's mention of heaven and hell. This duality reflects the complexity of human nature, where moral sins blur the lines between good and bad. While the portrait dies, the sins thrive, symbolising the decay of Dorian's true self as he is consumed by the sins within him.

Wilde uses gothic symbolism to create a sense of darkness, decay, and hidden truths. The description of the portrait as something that "would still live on" and "It would always be alive" Firstly, the notion of the portrait being "alive" adds a supernatural and mysterious quality to the story. It suggests the presence of something beyond the ordinary, something that transcends the boundaries of reality. This infusion of the supernatural is a key characteristic of Gothic literature.

A melting chocolate lava cake is visually appealing at first, with a perfectly formed exterior that hides a molten chocolate centre. It represents the beauty and grace of the painted image described in the passage. However, once the cake is cut into, the luscious chocolate lava oozes out, symbolising the sins that slowly mar and defile the original perfection. The sins, like the melting chocolate, cannot be undone or hidden, and they continue to affect the dessert's overall appearance, showing its true self and what the soul really looks like.

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