I know, there’s nothing actually satanic about deviled eggs. That’s just some 18th-century word for “spicy” and those eggs are pretty much the last surviving dish to hold that moniker. But while I’ll eat a whole plate full of deviled eggs on Thanksgiving with abandon, I can’t help but wonder what those with a more personal connection to the devil might think. Do worshippers of satan enjoy deviled eggs? Do they applaud the sheer hedonism of their addictiveness? Or, perhaps, are they wildly offended by such a casual reference to the prince of darkness?
There’s only one way to find out: Contact the Church of Satan — and, for good measure, a few other satanists, too — and get their thoughts on that most delightfully devilish of appetizers.
On Deviled Eggs
Bill M., Magister of the Church of Satan: I personally love deviled eggs. I can’t speak for all Church of Satan members, as some may be vegan, but I’ve always liked them.
Aria deSatanas, satanist blogger and BaphoNet co-founder: I don’t think my being a satanist has anything to do with my taste in food, other than I choose to enjoy what I choose to enjoy and deviled eggs to me are really yummy. I grew up on deviled eggs, my mom made them, I make them now, I eat too many of them and then I eat some more.
When I make them, I tend to play the recipe by ear. I tend to use common things like mayo, dijon mustard, relish and a bit of Worcestershire. But I often add in a bit of cayenne pepper and garlic powder as well, maybe a little bit of salt, pepper and paprika.
Tabitha Slander, satanist, head of graphic perdition for Satanic Bay Area and co-host of the Black Mass Appeal podcast: I love deviled eggs. I would eat them daily if they didn’t make my guts fall over. My secret to making them — and the most satanic spice — is paprika!
Daniel Walker, satanist, organizer for Satanic Bay Area and co-host of Black Mass Appeal: I love deviled eggs. I associate them with a lot of positive memories. When I was a kid and we had family get-togethers, it was one of my mom’s go-to dishes.
The way I like to do it is to take the egg yolks, add some brown mustard, but do not add mayonnaise! I know that is many people’s go-to, but that just dilutes everything. Then you add a little tabasco sauce, sweet pickle relish, and once you’re done filling them, a little paprika brings it home.
On Using the Devil’s Name for an Appetizer
Bill M.: That’s a very good thing actually. We like the novelty of those little whimsical reminders. To us, satan isn’t a literal deity, but a metaphor for some of those dark and devilish things in life.
Simone Lasher, satanist, administrator for Satanic Bay Area and co-host of Black Mass Appeal: In doing some research, I found that “deviled” just meant any food that white people considered spicy. Other than the colonialist connotations of the spice trade, I’m not offended by “deviled” at all.
Walker: You probably shouldn’t make the mistake that we take the word “deviled” seriously in the slightest. We take satanism seriously where it’s appropriate, but we don’t take ourselves seriously.
Slander: I actually think more things should be called “deviled.” There’s deviled ham, why not deviled turkey? Or deviled oat milk?
On What Satan’s Favorite Appetizer Is
Lasher: Anything covered in chocolate, because it’s considered indulgent.
Slander: It would probably be something with a lot of butter.
Bill M.: That comes down to the individual satanist. We’re very much about personal indulgence, so it’s whatever you as an individual find to be the most satisfying.
deSatanas: Since satan is a concept of rebellion and knowledge — I’m satan. And so, I’d have to say satan’s favorite appetizer is a blooming onion with spicy dip. That and hot wings, because, y’know, they’re hot.
Walker: The historically contextualized answer would be babies, of course.
Slander: Dang it! I forgot babies!
On Deviled Ham
Slander: I brought deviled ham to one of the Satanist Bay Area events one time, but I didn’t bring it again if that tells you anything.
deSatanas: I do not like it, Sam I am. I do not like deviled ham. I do not like it here or there. I do not want it anywhere. I do not like deviled ham. I do not like it Sam I am.
On Devil’s Food Cake
Bill M.: I think it’s appropriately named. It’s something sweet and indulgent and we’re all about the dark impulses in life. We do like the seven deadly sins and gluttony is one of them, but so is pride, so you have to balance them out.
deSatanas: It’s rich. It’s moist. It’s very fulfilling of my dark desires, and fulfilling desires is important to me as a satanist. Or, I’m a woman and I just love chocolate. Whether those two are connected I don’t know.
On Angel Food Cake
deSatanas: It’s dry, spongy and always needs something else to be enjoyable. I am not a fan.
Lasher: It sucks on its own but it’s a good palette for other flavors. As someone who’s spent a lot of quarantine watching The Great British Bake Off, that shit is hard to make! It’s difficult to get it that light and spongy! So, if you can do it, you must be calling on some darker powers.
Slander: I like it defiled. I grew up with my grandma having it with strawberries in the middle and dusted with powdered sugar.
Walker: I like fallen angel food cake — that’s when it’s covered in chocolate.
Bill M.: I admittedly like angel food. My favorite cake is angel food with chocolate frosting, which I guess is a reminder to have both the angel and the devil in life — and to keep dessert interesting.
Brian VanHooker
Brian VanHooker is a staff writer at MEL specializing in pop culture, food (especially pizza) and long form oral histories. He is the co-creator of the comic book "Barnum & Elwood" and "The Tramp," a comedy pilot starring John O'Hurley. He also hosts a TMNT interview podcast called "Turtle Tracks" and was once called a "Good Guy" by Mr. T.
