I can’t believe that theMCUmanaged to pull off making a plate of pasta a key part of a big plot twist in one of the franchise’s best villain stories, but it very much did - and I am excited to see how it follows up further on this story moment. Withthe MCU timelinenow steadily approaching the second decade of its real-world run, the franchise has had its fair share of major plot twist moments, both on the big and small screens. However, some of these moments hit harder than others.
WhileThe Avengers' shawarma scene appears to hold the crown for the most memorable use of food in an MCU release, the franchise has also managed to use its on-screen meals for some more dramatic moments, including making a big plate of pasta a central element of one of its most shocking recent plot twists. This is arguably only enhanced by the fact that this specific moment builds on roughly ten years of set up, thanks to the originalDaredevil’s approach to food and howDaredevil: Born Againtook this idea and ran with it in a major way.
Kingpin’s Food Scenes Go Way Back To The Original Show & Its Symbolism
As far back as 2015,Marvel’s shows have tied Kingpin’s arc symbolically to the preparation and choice of food he is shown with. In the originalDaredevilseries, this is primarily through us watching Kingpin prepare and eat a notable number of perfect-looking omelets, which Wilson Fisk is shown making with a meticulous kind of attention to detail that shows this aspect of the character is present even when he’s simply cooking up a tasty meal.
With that said, the Marvel villain’s love of an omelet also manages to have more depth than just this, with his decision to have one in prison reflecting this ritual’s importance to him - especially in a time where the rest of his life as he knows it has been altered - and being one prime example. Similarly,Daredevilseason 3 seeing Kingpin change up the precision and specificity with which he makes the meal to suit Vanessa serves to reinforce the idea of this relationship being massively important to him, and something he’s ultimately willing to sacrifice bigger things than omelets for later down the line.
That said, our culinary understanding of Kingpin isn’t limited to delicious-looking omelets alone. One of the most important scenes inDaredevilseason 2 - wherein Kingpin begins cementing his power once more from inside prison by having his main opponent killed via setting up the Punisher to do so - comes in episode 9, and sees Kingpin sit over the dying body of his enemy while eating a steak dinner, both establishing the power he’s now found himself as a result of this, and reinforcing his absolute ruthlessness, since he clearly feels the need to demonstrate his victory in such a stone-cold way.
Daredevil: Born Again’s Pasta Scene Continues This Symbolism
Daredevil: Born Againfollows up on the way in whichDaredeviluses food in Kingpin’s story in much the same way the original did. Kingpin even directly uses a Philly cheesesteak to set up a threat aimed at Commissioner Gallo, with him eating one during the meeting wherein Gallo attempts to resign to lead the conversation into the reveal that Fisk has a photo of Gallo’s secret child eating at a Philadelphia diner. This prevents the Commissioner from leaving his post, which then sets up his brutal death in theDaredevil: Born Again season 1 ending.
However, despite this being a perfect example of how Kingpin is constantly vying for power - as he even admits he doesn’t like the sandwich - this isn’t the biggest moment in this sense in the 2025 MCU show. Instead, this title goes to an earlier scene in the series, whereinit’s first confirmed that Kingpin has not changed his ways as much as he’d like the public to think he has, as we watch him begin eating a big plate of pasta and sausages while sat in front of the man Vanessa had an affair with, who we learn he’s had locked away in a small cagefor some time now.
This scene takes place at the very end ofDaredevil: Born Againepisode 4, which was released on July 24, 2025.
Much like the cheesesteak, the food choice here is interesting in that it’s pretty at odds with the past decade of on-screen depictions of Kingpin’s choice of meals. That said, this seems to confirm that he’s eating this for spite perhaps more than preference, with the overall scene showing just how off the power balance is between him and the disheveled-looking Adam at this point, and appearing to be extra cruel in terms of him being kept in such unpleasant conditions while also likely starved too.
That said, it does appear this is the same as the omelette, steak, and cheesesteak scenes in terms of what all of them are centered on: Fisk’s unquenchable thirst for a sense of control and power. It seems it isn’t enough for Kingpin to simply have Adam as his captive, and rather that he needs to try and enjoy the experience in a way that also rubs it in on his prisoner even further - despite the fact that we see later that this also wasn’t enough for him, with him then physically fighting Adam further on in the story before Vanessa kills Adam.
Daredevil: Born Again’s Food Scene Is Arguably One Of The Show’s Most Important Scenes So Far
Prior to the ending of season 1, theDaredevil: Born Againepisode 4pasta scene serves as one of the best examples that Kingpin is still very much stuck in his ways before we learn the ins and outs of his other deeply questionable dealings. Up until Adam’s death, it also looks like it might be what helps cement Kingpin’s next downfall, though the character being killed now makes that a much harder avenue for the story to make into reality. As it stands, even after the ending of season 1, this moment still looks considerably important in terms of what it means for Kingpin and his MCU arc.
ThroughoutDaredevil: Born Again, Kingpin is shown with the exact kind of power we’ve seen him crave, and finds himself decidedly unsatisfied with it - horrified at the choirs he has to listen to, uncomfortable with the many demands and meetings put on him by his new station, and seemingly only just able to tamp down on his immense rage when things go wrong more than once. While he posits that this is the road he’d prefer to walk, Fisk kidnapping a person and keeping them hostage for the purpose of taunting them and eating a meal with their suffering as the entertainment suggests the exact opposite.
This also suggests that Fisk’s endeavors as New York’s mayor will likely follow the same trajectory - with him upping the ante and the means he can use to have a position of power and control over others indefinitely, since it seems there’s no specific point at which he will be happy with what he’s got or done. While this bodes very poorly for the future of New York inDaredevil: Born Againseason 2, it also suggests a tense and exciting second chapter of theMCUseries is on the way too.
