‘The Umbrella Academy’: Klaus Hargreeves’ Affinity for Menudo Makes a Lot of Sense
The Umbrella Academy fans may have noticed Klaus Hargreeves’ (Robert Sheehan) mention Menudo in the Netflix series. The dish comes up in a significant scene in season 3 of The Umbrella Academy as well as another episode of the show. Find out what the dish is and why it makes sense that it’s Klaus’ favorite.
[SPOILER ALERT: Major spoilers ahead for The Umbrella Academy Season 3. ]
Klaus Hargreeves eats Menudo with his biological mom in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 3
The Umbrella Academy Season 3 reveals Klaus’ abilities go beyond communicating with the dead. He’s capable of dying and coming back from the dead himself.
In the third season, Klaus seizes the opportunity to meet his biological mother, an Amish woman from Pennsylvania. She died in a mysterious accident, but Klaus speaks with her after he is accidentally killed by Stanley (Javon Walton). While sitting at a table on the beach, Klaus and his mother enjoy one of his favorite dishes, Menudo.
Menudo is a hangover cure in Mexico
Menudo, also known as pancita (“little gut”) or mole de panza (“stomach sauce”), is a Mexican stew. The primary ingredient is beef tripe (cow stomach). The stew also includes red chili pepper paste, hominy, lime, onions, and oregano. It’s considered a hangover cure in Mexican culture. Klaus may not be of Mexican heritage, but his love of alcohol lends itself to his penchant for the dish.
“People believe that because it’s made from the stomach lining, the Menudo absorbs all the [alcohol] in your stomach,” says Dan Garcia, vice president of operations and part-owner of Garcia’s Kitchen in Albuquerque, New Mexico (via 10 Best). “I don’t know if that’s really true, but usually if you believe something works, it does.”
‘The Umbrella Academy’ Season 3 isn’t the first time Klaus mentions the dish
Previously, Klaus used drugs and alcohol to quiet his ability to speak to the dead. In the first season of The Umbrella Academy, Klaus works on his sobriety to better access his powers. In season 2, Klaus struggles with his sobriety.
Klaus wakes up at Allison’s (Emmy Raver-Lampman) house hungover in season 2 episode “The Majestic 12.” She’s panicking about her husband, Ray (Yusuf Gatewood), after the riot at Stadtler’s Restaurant. Meanwhile, all Klaus can think about is the perfect hangover cure — a bowl of Menudo.
“First thing we’re going to need is coffee, vitamin B12, and a piping hot bowl of Menudo and then we’re going to sort all of this stuff out,” Klaus tells his sister. After regaling her with a fable about a scorpion and a frog that makes no sense, Allison walks away. In desperation, Klaus utters, “Menudo…”
“As a Mexican, I found [it] hilarious how Klaus wants some Mexican ‘Menudo’ the number one cure for a hangover here in Mexico,” said an Umbrella Academy fan on Reddit.
While Allison goes after Ray, Klaus searches for Dave (Cody Ray Thompson), who he met in season 1 while he was in Vietnam. After failing to make a breakthrough with Dave and ultimately prevent him from joining the military to save his life, Klaus goes into a liquor store, buys a bunch of alcohol, and gets very, very drunk.
See more from Klaus in season 3 of The Umbrella Academy on Netflix.
