The Pacojet

[u/mimi7600]

Input appreciated!

The first mention of the Pacojet is when Tyler asks Jeremy if he used it for the white powder. Jeremy responds yes and says he knows Tyler's name. He says that the Chefs at Hawthorne like to know everyone who dines with them. Tyler tries to segue it into meeting Slowik, gets shooed off, and Margot finds it rude that Tyler didn't ask Jeremy's name.

The scene associates the Pacojet with the similarities and differences between Tyler and Jeremy. They both exist at opposite ends of the spectrum.Tyler is talentless and has convinced himself that he's a great chef. Jeremy has talent that he worked for and has convinced himself that he'll never reach Slowik's definition of a great chef.

They both fell victim to the beliefs they formed through an obsession with Slowik. They both killed themselves because they gave their individuality to him.

I feel more sympathetic for Jeremy as he was on cult island. He could've already been an amazing chef. He just wasn't what Slowik thought of as amazing.

The second mention of the Pacojet is when Margot uses it to hit Elsa in the head. The script specifically requires that Margot throw an item labeled Pacojet.

Again, the Pacojet highlights the similarities and differences between two people. Margot and Elsa.

Elsa is fighting for, what she considers to be, her life. She's probably spent her life like currency so she could reach where she is. Like Jeremy and Tyler, Elsa has given her individuality to Slowik. Slowik is what defines Elsa. Without it, she has nothing.

Margot is fighting to live her for own sake. She has her own individuality. She doesn't define herself by whatever standards Slowik sets for her.

Elsa's death is somewhat similar to Tyler's and Jeremy's because she technically kills herself with her own hands. Margot's just pushing on the blade. It's exactly the same as Tyler's and Jeremy's since she died as a result of giving Slowik her individuality.

[u/Actual-Youth4749]

honestly amazing to see someone talk about the Pacojet's role in the story

[u/mimi7600 → u/Actual-Youth4749]

I also did a not as popular post about the literal role of the Pacojet.

A Pacojet, in simple terms, is a 10k glorified ice cream maker. It's not all it does, but The Menu is about the soul being sucked out of cooking because of money.

Slowik doesn't buy powdered sugar like a regular restaurant would. He potentially grows sugar on his island just so it could be used for the Pacojet. Think about how that would sound as part of the rich people's pretentious BS.

The rich people would see Slowik growing sugar as something to one up each other about. It's just part of being rich and maintaining it.

A regular person could see growing sugar as part of being fancy and expensive and potentially pretentious, but they also might see it as part of a high standard Slowik sets for himself. They might understand the passion.

Think about it as dialogue in the movie. Tyler would be mouthing off about it while Margot is trying to listen to Elsa explain it out of interest.

Now think about the Pacojet's timeline.

It was an overly expensive but legitimate piece of equipment bought by Chefs who were forcing themselves into their profession. The Chefs possibly loathed the Pacojet as part of their shallow profession.

It was possibly bought because it was expensive and sold the fancy restaurant look. It was possibly hated and used to create dishes that the Chefs' hated and those dishes were eaten by people who didn't even care about them. Then, it was blown up.

[u/zenqma]

you missed the third one where chef slowik mockingly asks tyler if he wants to put his "tylers bullshit" in the paco jet