These “The Silence of the Lambs” Desserts Are a Scream

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANIE RAWLINS

In her 35 years as a chef, Tiffanie Rawlins has worked just about everywhere, from high-end restaurants to Three Rivers Stadium.

But her biggest culinary thrill came from cooking in Buffalo Bill’s House.

“I’m not, in general, a fan of horror movies,” she says, “but I have a very specific and deep-seated affinity for ‘The Silence of the Lambs.’”

Released on Valentine’s Day 1991, the Oscar-winning film stars Jodie Foster as FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who is hunting a serial killer known as “Buffalo Bill.” The fictional murderer’s abode, located in Perryopolis, about 30 miles outside of Pittsburgh, is now an immersive tourist destination that offers overnight stays.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANIE RAWLINS

Since 2021, the 116-year-old Queen Anne Victorian-style home has welcomed hundreds of fans.

After gathering information about their food allergies, preferred color schemes and favorite characters, Rawlins makes custom pastries for the cinephile guests.

The creations include Death’s Head Moth shortbread cookies and edible tributes to Hannibal “the Cannibal” Lecter, an imprisoned serial killer who assists Agent Starling in her quest to capture the bad guy.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANIE RAWLINS

“In three years, I’ve never done the exact same cake twice,” Rawlins says. “I always want people to know that it was made specifically for them.”

Her partnership with Buffalo Bill’s House started when she sent photos of her “Silence”-inspired handiwork to owner Chris Rowan, a longtime film industry professional whose experience as an art director and prop stylist helped give the home Hollywood-caliber flair.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANIE RAWLINS

Rawlins — who once used the famous kitchen to prepare a sumptuous feast for her book club that included fava bean mashed potatoes — is working on a special treat for actress Brooke Smith, who played Buffalo Bill victim Catherine Martin.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary, Smith will return to the Fayette County filming site Sept. 18-20 to meet fans, sign autographs, lead house tours and pose for “in-the-pit” photo ops. On Sept. 19, visitors can watch “The Silence of the Lambs” with her on the lawn. It’s the first time that Rowan will screen the film on the property. Tickets to the rain-or-shine weekend events are available online.

Unable to catch Catherine Martin this month? You can still get into the spooky spirit by signing up for a Halloween house tour Oct. 23-25.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANIE RAWLINS

For super-fans such as Rawlins, “The Silence of the Lambs” is more than a movie; it’s a precious memory of her late mother, who watched it so many times she wore out the VHS tape.

Rawlins, who runs Chef Tiff’s Mason Jar Market out of Rustic Roots Home and Body in Monongahela, is about to add a Buffalo Bill-themed blend to her popular line of 615 Seasonings. (615 was the number on her childhood home in Monessen.)

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANIE RAWLINS

Combining her favorite flick with familial love helps her cope with the loss of her parents and adds flavor to other people’s lives.

“It’s surreal to think back to when the movie first came out,” she says. “I never could’ve imagined how many times ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ would come up in my life through the years. Buffalo Bill’s House is my Graceland.”