Daphne Does Dinner

A tableau vivant ('living picture') is a static scene containing one or more actors or models, used as a form of artistic presentation, popular since the 18th c…

“I have come up with the perfect entertainment for our little art crowd. It's a radical tableau vivant troupe.”— Frasier

American artist (1928-1987) and leading figure of the Pop Art movement, known for works such as Campbell's Soup Cans and Marilyn Diptych.

“Come on, tell us. What do you think of Warhol? Martin: Crap.”— Thad

American installation artist (1927-1994) known for large-scale tableau sculptures that were often controversial and critical of modern life.

“Kienholz? Martin: Crap.”— Thad

A fictional artist invented for this episode of Frasier, whose painting Niles is donating to a museum.

“You know the Mike Shaw painting that I'm donating to the museum?”— Niles

A 2000 film directed by Robert Zemeckis starring Tom Hanks as a FedEx employee stranded on a deserted island who befriends a Wilson volleyball.

“Where's the video? I thought you were going to rent "Castaway". / If I wanted to watch someone talk to a volleyball for two hours, I would have stayed in Manchester with your Aunt Evelyn.”— Daphne

A Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon character, a Mexican mouse known for being 'the fastest mouse in all of Mexico.'

“Slovotkin: These things take time, miss. Who do you think I am, that mouse in the cartoons that goes fast? What's his name? Roz: Speedy Gonzalez? Slovotkin: No. The little mouse, big hat and he goes v…”— Roz

A traditional British beef dish, referenced here as one of Daphne's less impressive culinary offerings.

“It's called Piccadilly Beef, and I talked her out of it, thank God.”— Niles

Small young chickens (typically Cornish Cross breed) weighing about 2 pounds, often served as individual portions at elegant dinner parties.

“We're having Cornish game hens, wild rice stuffing, wonderful sides and all heat-and-serve.”— Niles

A dish of thinly sliced raw yellowtail fish, typically served as an elegant appetizer in upscale dining.

“Frasier and yellowtail carpaccio. Has the world gone mad?”— Jeremy

French for 'sea salt,' a gourmet finishing salt harvested from evaporated seawater, used in fine cooking.

“I need you to run to the grocery store for me and pick up some sel de mar, some olive topinade, balsamic vinegar, and some English Stilton cheese.”— Frasier

A Provençal spread made from finely chopped olives, capers, and anchovies, commonly served as a condiment or appetizer.

“I need you to run to the grocery store for me and pick up some sel de mar, some olive topinade, balsamic vinegar, and some English Stilton cheese.”— Frasier

A dark, concentrated, and intensely flavored vinegar originating from Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy, used in fine cooking and as a condiment.

“I need you to run to the grocery store for me and pick up some sel de mar, some olive topinade, balsamic vinegar, and some English Stilton cheese.”— Frasier

A famous English blue cheese produced only in the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire, known for its rich, creamy flavor.

“I need you to run to the grocery store for me and pick up some sel de mar, some olive topinade, balsamic vinegar, and some English Stilton cheese.”— Frasier

A sweet and tart sauce made from pomegranate and honey, described here as Frasier's 'signature' dish accompaniment.

“I have brought everything I need to make my signature pomegranate honey sauce, all right?”— Frasier

A small ceramic dish used for baking and serving individual portions, commonly used in French cuisine for soufflés and custards.

“I will need a ramekin for each of your guests.”— Frasier

British author (1859-1930) best known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Here humorously described as a 'notorious water hog' based on his utility bills.

“did you know that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a notorious water hog? But, you don't have to take my word for it!”— Niles

Irish playwright and critic (1856-1950), winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925, known for works such as Pygmalion and Man and Superman.

“So it actually took George Bernard Shaw longer to rectify his billing error than it did for him to write "Man and Superman".”— Niles

A four-act drama written by George Bernard Shaw in 1903, exploring themes of evolution, philosophy, and the battle of the sexes.

“So it actually took George Bernard Shaw longer to rectify his billing error than it did for him to write "Man and Superman".”— Niles

The fictional island of tiny people in Jonathan Swift's 1726 novel Gulliver's Travels, which inspired the name 'Liliputia' for the miniatures shop.

“miniature easels abound at Liliputia Dollhouse and Miniatures.”— Frasier

Household utility bills from the Edwardian era (1901-1910) in Britain, collected here as historical ephemera by Niles.

“Is it true that you still collect Edwardian utility bills?”— Antonia

A fictional miniatures shop referenced by Frasier as a source for miniature easels.

“if he had any resourcefulness at all, he'd know that miniature easels abound at Liliputia Dollhouse and Miniatures.”— Frasier

A neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics, including sometimes involuntary swearing (coprolalia).

“And I bet you don't even have Tourette's Syndrome!”— Mimsy

Italian greeting meaning 'good day,' used here as Martin plays an Italian Count character at the dinner party.

“Martin: Bongiarno!”— Martin