Strange New Worlds Season 3 Delivers Hilarious Nod to Classic Star Trek Food!

Season 3 of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” brings back a humorous reference to a specific dish from the original “Star Trek” series. The third season will become available on Paramount+ in summer 2025, following its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 14. Continuing the genre-blending adventures of the USS Enterprise, “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” season 3 builds upon its prequel status to connect with 1960s “Star Trek” in an unexpected manner.

On the USS Enterprise, which boasts a crew of several hundred (expanding to over 400 in Star Trek: The Original Series), it’s clear that every member needs to be fed. In Star Trek’s 23rd century, before the invention of food replicators, meals were prepared using matter synthesizers. However, everyone on board has a preference for authentic food cooked by a real chef, such as Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Dining in the captain’s quarters is a sought-after privilege, enjoyed by the senior staff of the USS Enterprise and esteemed guests.

Strange New Worlds Season 3 Brings Back Star Trek: The Original Series Colored Food Cubes

Captain Pike Has Colored Cubes In His Chef’s Repertoire

In the sneak peek for season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, there’s a hint of another gathering in Captain Pike’s quarters, with an intriguing twist – vibrant food blocks in his kitchen. A colorful feast reminiscent of Crayola colors is displayed on a kitchen island as Captain Pike lifts a large chunk of roasted meat. These colored cubes were once considered food in the Star Trek: The Original Series, a creative yet budget-conscious effort to give the food a ‘space-age’ appearance during the 1960s.

In the classic Star Trek: The Original Series, it was often seen that USS Enterprise crew members would partake in meals featuring colorful blocks, often accompanied by a glass of milk. However, these cubes were never actually consumed in Star Trek. It’s interesting to note that similar colorful blocks have resurfaced in the kitchen of Captain Pike in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3. Given that Strange New Worlds is a prequel, it makes sense that these cubes would be part of the menu on the Starship Enterprise, as depicted in Star Trek: The Original Series.

Star Trek Introduced Real Cooking To Replace 1960s Colored Food Cubes

Replicators & Real Cooking Abound In Star Trek

In the continuation of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, exotic, squid-like dishes from other worlds remained on the menu aboard the USS Enterprise during Klingon dinners. However, starting with Star Trek: The Next Generation, meals that looked appetizing and appealing became standard, whether they were organically grown or replicated dishes. Interestingly, in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) was revealed to have a culinary talent, being descended from a long line of Cajun cooks.

Star Trek: Enterprise takes place a century before the original Star Trek series, and Captain Jonathan Archer’s (Scott Bakula) NX-01 Enterprise had a versatile chef who could whip up dishes like fried catfish and pecan pie. However, it’s intriguing how these colorful blocks became common meals on starships a century later. It’s quite possible that we’ll discover an explanation for why these colored cubes are present in Captain Pike’s kitchen in the third season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

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2025-04-26 17:19