It’s been 35 years since movie audiences first met FBI trainee Clarice Starling and cannibalistic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The Silence of the Lambs premiered on February 14, 1991, and it would become the third film in history to sweep the Academy Awards’ top five categories: Best Picture, Best Director (Jonathan Demme), Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins, Hannibal Lecter), Best Actress (Jodie Foster, Clarice Starling), and Best Adapted Screenplay. And parts of it were filmed right here in Western Pennsylvania, which you can learn how to visit in our feature from Arts and Entertainment Editor Sean Collier.
To celebrate the anniversary, TABLE gathered eight of our favorite lamb recipes for a dinner party worth screaming about. They come from some of the region’s most talented chefs, including several winners from TABLE’s Lamb Fest competitions, and range from party bites and an elegant braised shank dish to a lamb and kidney bean stew. We’ll leave the fava beans to Dr. Lecter.
Where Was The Silence of the Lambs Filmed?
Although the story is set primarily in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, and Ohio, director Jonathan Demme shot parts of the film in and around Pittsburgh. Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum’s grand ballroom famously stood in for the Memphis courthouse where Lecter is held in a towering cage. The hall’s first floor also appears in the film, and Pittsburgh horror legend George Romero makes a cameo.
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s Invertebrate Zoology department was the backdrop for Clarice Starling’s meeting with entomologists to identify a moth left in a victim’s throat.
A 1910 Victorian house in Fayette County was used as Buffalo Bill’s home. Only the foyer and dining room appear in the movie. (The infamous basement pit was built on a soundstage.) Today, fans can book a stay at Buffalo Bill’s House, a rental filled with nods to the film.
Lamb Recipes at a Glance
Lamb Lettuce Cups With Curry Aioli: a make-ahead appetizer
Gluten-Free Lamb Croquettes With Yuca: a crispy, gluten-free finger food for passing around
Lamb Sloppy Joes With Crème Fraîche: a fancy-casual sandwich
Irish Lamb Stew With Curry and Guinness: a cozy, one-pot main for a chilly fall night or St. Patrick’s Day celebration
Persian Lamb and Kidney Bean Stew: a crowd-feeding (and crowd-pleasing) stew
Burgundy Braised Lamb Shanks With Gribiche: an elegant sit-down dish before the movie
Lamb Loin With Green Chile Harissa: a dinner party main that comes together in under an hour
Grilled Lamb Scottadito: a main or side? You decide!
8 Lamb Recipes to Celebrate The Silence of the Lambs Anniversary
1. Lamb Lettuce Cups With Curry Aioli
Best for: a make-ahead appetizer and the evening’s showstopper
Makes: about 30 lettuce cups
The winning dish at TABLE’s 2021 Lamb Fest belongs on any table that’s celebrating lambs. Created by Chefs Chris Bonfili and Cory Hughes, this recipe calls for braising Elysian Fields lamb shoulder in Pinot Noir until it falls apart, combining it with toasted yam, pomegranate seeds, curry aioli, then placing the into crisp iceberg cups before topping with an almond brittle crumble. The lamb rests overnight, so most of the work is done before the opening credits roll.
2. Gluten-Free Lamb Croquettes With Yuca
Best for: a crispy finger food to pass during the first act
Makes: 24 croquettes
Inspired by Brazilian coxinha, these croquettes from Joey Hilty of The Vandal and Keyla Nogueira Cook of Mercearia Brasil bundle spiced lamb with a naturally gluten-free yuca dough, which is fried until golden. Shape and freeze them ahead, then fry from frozen as guests arrive. Serve with a bright green sauce for dipping.
3. Lamb Sloppy Joes With Crème Fraîche
Best for: casual movie-night food that’s easy to eat from the couch
Makes: 12 sliders
Another Lamb Fest favorite, these sliders from the team behind The Speckled Egg update the beloved picnic staple. Simmer ground lamb with smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, allspice, and cinnamon, then pile it onto tiny buns with crème fraîche and tangy pickled vegetables. Keep the filling warm in a slow cooker and let guests build their own.
4. Irish Lamb Stew With Curry and Guinness
Best for: a cozy, one-pot main for a chilly fall night
Makes: 6 servings
Chef Veda Sankaran gives Irish stew a pub-curry twist with Madras curry powder, ginger, jalapeño, and a bottle of Guinness. The stew bakes hands-off in the oven, tastes even better the next day, and leaves five bottles in the six-pack for you and your guests.
5. Persian Lamb and Kidney Bean Stew
Best for: a make-ahead main that feeds a crowd
Makes: 6 servings
Developed by Chef Palak Patel, this recipe requires braising lamb shanks with dried Omani limes, saffron, turmeric, and a full bottle of dry red wine for a deeply aromatic stew. Make it a day ahead and serve it with saffron or jeweled rice.
6. Burgundy Braised Lamb Shanks With Gribiche
Best for: an elegant main dish before the movie
Makes: 4 servings
For a more refined evening, this recipe by Chef Kevin Hermann involves slow-braising lamb shanks in red Burgundy until they slide off the bone, then serving them with roasted beets, sweet potatoes, and asparagus under a tangy herb-and-egg gribiche. Dr. Lecter would surely approve of the wine.
7. Lamb Loin With Green Chile Harissa
Best for: a dinner party main that comes together in under an hour
Makes: 4 servings
Pair seared lamb loin with smoky roasted green chile harissa, chickpea purée, preserved lemon, and fresh mint. The harissa and chickpea purée can be made days ahead, leaving only a quick sear and roast before serving.
8. Grilled Lamb Scottadito
Best for: finger food for guests who can’t wait
Makes: 4 to 6 servings
Scottadito means “burned finger” in Italian, a fitting name for a party where nobody can keep their hands to themselves. Season lamb chops with Herbes de Provence, grill them in minutes, and serve them over blistered cherry tomatoes, olives, and pine nuts with feta and mint. No grill? A cast-iron grill pan works just as well indoors.
How to Plan a Silence of the Lambs Dinner Party Menu
Pick one recipe from each part of the menu: lamb lettuce cups and croquettes to pass during the opening scenes, lamb sloppy joe sliders for casual grazing, and a stew or braised shank for the main course.
Get a head start. Several recipes require some prep ahead of time. The braised lamb for the lettuce cups needs an overnight rest, both stews and the lamb shanks taste better the next day, the lamb sloppy joe filling keeps for four days, and the croquettes can be shaped and frozen for up to three months.
Save the last-minute work for the fun parts. Fry the croquettes, grill the lamb for the scottadito, and assemble the lettuce cups just before serving so everything stays crisp and hot.
Tips for a Silence of the Lambs Movie Night
Pour the right wine. Chianti isn’t the only wine that flatters lamb: Consider Pinot Noir, Grenache, and an Italian red such as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo all beautifully complement the gamey meat.
Set the scene. Dim the lights, cue up the film, and serve food that’s easy to eat without looking away from the screen. The croquettes and lettuce cups are perfect for the couch.
Know your audience. The Silence of the Lambs is rated R for violence and disturbing content, so save this watch party for adults.
Make it a road trip. Visit Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland, which has marked past anniversaries with screenings and a replica of Lecter’s cage, or book a night at Buffalo Bill’s House in Fayette County.
The Silence of the Lambs and Lamb Recipe FAQs
Where was The Silence of the Lambs filmed?
Much of the film was shot in the Pittsburgh region. Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Oakland stood in for the Memphis courthouse where Hannibal Lecter is caged, and a Victorian house in Fayette County was used for shots of Buffalo Bill’s foyer and dining room.
Can you visit the Silence of the Lambs house?
Yes. The house operates as Buffalo Bill’s House. Fans can book an overnight stay. Check its listing for current availability.
When did “The Silence of the Lambs” come out?
The film was released on February 14, 1991, making 2026 its 35th anniversary.
Which of these lamb recipes are gluten-free?
The lamb lettuce cups, lamb croquettes, Persian lamb stew, braised lamb shanks, lamb loin with green chile harissa, and grilled lamb scottadito are naturally gluten-free. The Irish stew and sloppy joes include gluten-free substitutions.
Which lamb recipes can I make ahead?
You can make both stews, the braised shanks, the sloppy joe filling, and the lettuce cup lamb 1-3 days ahead. The croquettes can be frozen before frying.
Who developed these recipes?
The recipes come from TABLE contributors and regional chefs, including Chris Bonfili, Cory Hughes, Joey Hilty, Keyla Nogueira Cook, Jacqueline and Nathan Schoedel, Veda Sankaran, Palak Patel, Kevin Hermann, and Gabe Gomez.
Looking for more? Try our Halloween party recipes, Halloween cocktails, Ultimate Halloween Party Playlist and Menu, and Ultimate Guide to Halloween in Pittsburgh.
About the Author
Amanda Reed has written for Popular Science, Pittsburgh Magazine, Pittsburgh City Paper, Very Local Pittsburgh, GearPatrol and TheStreet. Amanda earned the 2021 Ray Sprigle Best of Show Award from the Western Pennsylvania Press Club for a story on stressed-out college counseling centers. She lives in Bloomfield with JunkJunk, a handsome, sad-looking tuxedo cat who wants only wet food and attention.
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