Today we are pleased to present and interview Mr. and Mrs. Muki, owners and operators of the "Muki's Kitchen" web site. If you are not familiar with Muki's Kitchen, you must read this interview. If you are familiar with their site, read the interview anyway, to get a personal insight into this kinky pair of 'Hungry' fetishists.

H.: Mr. and Mrs. Muki, Be Well Come to Horrotica and my thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for us today.

Mr. & Mrs. Muki: Our pleasure! Thank you for inviting us.

H.: Some of our readers may not be aware of your web site. Could you tell us what Muki's Kitchen is all about?

Mr. Muki: Muki's Kitchen is an erotic cannibal-fantasy site. We cater to people who find the fantasy of cooking a delicious girl to eat, a turn-on.

Mrs. Muki: Or to women who enjoy the fantasy of being prepared as the main course, to be so completely ravished and consumed! But definitely only as a fantasy. We go to great lengths to make it clear that we are only about make-believe...

Mr. Muki: It's definitely kinky, but all in good fun!

Mrs. Muki: So what we do is create photo-stories that illustrate cannibal cooking and preparation situations. We sell these online, as pay-per-portfolio photo sets.

Mr. Muki: At the risk of inserting such an obvious plug, the best way to see what we are all about is to go to www.mukiskitchen.com and look around.

Mrs. Muki: Start with our "About" page and explore. We pretty much spell it all out right there!

H.: If it's not too personal, how long have been involved with this fetish?

Mr. Muki: For me personally, it goes back as far as I can remember. My sexual awakening was always intertwined with cannibal fantasy, though I can only guess at why.

Mrs. Muki: After we had been dating for a while and things looked like they were definitely getting serious, Mr Muki came clean and told me all about it.

Mr. Muki: Thank God she didn't run out of the room screaming.

Mrs. Muki: I actually thought it was rather cute! It also answered a lot of unasked questions for me and explained your sexual style.

Mr. Muki: I have a sexual "style?"

Mrs. Muki: Well, you know how you get so into it when you're giving me oral pleasure ;-)

Mr. Muki: Now you're just making me blush.

H.: Uh, me too. And how long have you run your site?

Mr. Muki: We first put it up in September of 1999 -- so almost nine years now.

Mrs. Muki: I read someone who described it as being "old as dirt."

Mr. Muki: In internet terms, I guess we are.

H.: The photographs which accompany this interview were taken from the Free Gallery on your site. Although there are some pictures in the Free Gallery that are more graphic than these, what else do you offer members?

Mr. Muki: The first thing you need to realize is that there aren't any "members" -- at least in the traditional sense. We sell photo-stories on a pay-per-portfolio basis. There's no monthly subscription and no recurring billing.

Mrs. Muki: We did it that way because we felt that it would be more fair to our customers. They could buy only what they wanted.

Mr. Muki: And it would give us the freedom to pace updates the way we wanted to. Since no one was paying a monthly subscription, we don't need to stick to any kind of firm production schedule.

Mrs. Muki: Though we've been pretty consistent at putting out a new photo set each month.

Mr. Muki: But getting back to your original question, since what we do is create photo stories, our customers get a more complete scene with each portfolio.

Mrs. Muki: Our samples only show a shot or two from a set, so there's not much sense of a story from that.

Mr. Muki: And of course, the pictures in the paid portfolios are much larger and better quality. Our customers place a high value on that.

H.: Is there a growing market for this particular fetish?

Mrs. Muki: I don't think there's a growing market. We've definitely gotten a certain amount of notoriety for what we do, and more people come to check us out as we get famous, but I don't think the actual market is growing.

Mr. Muki: It's not like a whole bunch of people see our site and suddenly realize they're into something they never were before.

Mrs. Muki: As with most fetishes, this is either something you get --it pushes your buttons--or you don't. I guess that's what I mean by the market not growing.

Mr. Muki: But everyone knows that the internet didn't invent weird fetishes (though it does sometimes seem that way) -- it just makes them more accessible. As people find us, our hits go up and our sales do too. In that sense it does grow.

Mrs. Muki: A little. For the most part, as new people discover us, older customers get more selective about which portfolios they choose to purchase...

Mr. Muki: That's true. We haven't really seen much growth for the last three years or so and sales have remained pretty steady -- not increasing or decreasing much.

Mrs. Muki: There's enough of a market for us to continue, but we definitely couldn't stop doing all the other work we do just to make ends meet.

Mr. Muki: Perhaps I can elaborate on a tangent to your question. While our market isn't exactly experiencing runaway growth, our public acceptance is steadily increasing.

Mrs. Muki: That's definitely true. People see that we're really just about the fun and the fantasy and tend to accept us as harmless -- kinky, but harmless!

Mr. Muki: And this interview is actually a pretty good example of that.

H.: Do you have more male or female customers?

Mr. Muki: Definitely male -- though we do get quite a lot of women who visit and buy too. Let's face it, we're a porny site and visual pornography probably appeals more to men than to women.

Mrs. Muki: In terms of ratios, we probably have a higher percentage of female customers than your average adult site.

H.: Why do you think that is?

Mrs. Muki: Well, in addition to what Mr Muki just said, I think we get more than the usual percentage of women because of our style. Mr Muki's photography is very theatrical and I think that appeals to women.

Mr. Muki: I prefer to make it clear, visually as well as by our overall tone, that this is all just a fantasy. Besides, it's more fun and creatively stimulating for me that way.

Mrs. Muki: Your readers who pop over to Muki's Kitchen while going through this interview might not realize right away that Mr Muki does almost no Photoshop work on the pictures. Of course he uses it to adjust basic things like contrast, image size, and enhancing the pictures to look their best on a computer monitor, but there's no altering individual elements and the pictures you see are really what the camera "saw" at the moment of exposure!

Mr. Muki: I guess I like the challenge of trying to pull it off without resorting to digital manipulation. We actually started doing it that way because there are so many manipulated images out there already.

Mrs. Muki: Especially with cannibal fetish! When we were still just discussing the possibility of starting up a site of our own, almost all of the pictures being circulated were manipulations of pin-up shots -- with the model cut out and placed into a fake cooking scene. Some were pretty well done, but most just looked silly and obvious.

Mr. Muki: And there was a mental aspect to it too. We wanted our customers to know that our models were fully aware that they were posing as food!

Mrs. Muki: That's what was missing in everything else that had been done before and since. And I also think that is another thing which makes us more appealing to women!

H.: Just out of curiosity, and you don't have to give out any names, but are there other similar sites out there?

Mr. Muki: There are a surprising number of forums and discussion groups related to cannibal fetish. Also a few sites that feature photo-manips, artwork, and stories -- mostly free. I think we are the only commercial site that specializes exclusively in staged cannibal fantasy photos.

Mrs. Muki: Rue Morgue has occasionally put out a cannibal set but they are more into the death and horror aspects of it, while we try to keep it light and sexy.

Mr. Muki: It's risky to mix graphic gore with very explicit nudity (stuffed twat?). We are often criticized for not being bloody enough, but that's just not what we are all about.

Mrs. Muki: There's even a new term I've seen, that describes cannibal scenes that are light and fluffy -- "Muki-esque!"

Mr. Muki: So, yeah, there are a few others out there that do cannibal fetish but nothing exactly like us and no direct competitors...

H.: Do you by chance have any historic background for the Cannibalism Fetish?

Mr. Muki: Not really sure what you mean by historical. I'm sure there have been people who fantasized about cannibalism in a sexual way as far back as you can go...

Mrs. Muki: There certainly have been some notorious serial killers who made cannibalism a part of their crimes, but we prefer to distance ourselves from those wackos.

Mr. Muki: We won't even discuss specific cases. These nut-jobs get enough press as it is and that's definitely not what we are all about.

Mrs. Muki: I'm sure you can imagine that there are conservative types who would try to blame us for inspiring that kind of heinous crime, but shit like that has been around much longer than we have and exposure to a fantasy image does not turn a normal person into a monster.

Mr. Muki: Look, we're not trying to avoid social responsibility, but real-life cannibalism is something that we just don't want to be associated with. Our fantasy is very intentionally sexy and pin-up oriented and reality can't live up to what we imagine.

Mrs. Muki: And really, we see our work more as a safety-valve than as an inspiration to murder. We provide images that keep it sexy and fun, hopefully blowing off steam and preventing the kind of act that comes from repressed, pent-up frustration.

H.: I understand, and was not talknig about 'Killer Cannibals,' but merely the fetish itself. Sorry if you misunderstood. In the same vein, many sexual fetishes and fantasies can be traced back to a childhood trigger. What do you think might be a trigger for this type of fetish?

Mr. Muki: Absolutely. I've already stated that my cannibal fantasies go back as far as I can remember. Though self-analysis is fraught with error, I have given it a lot of thought and I think I can guess what triggered it for me personally. I think it's fear. I can only describe it from my own perspective and I certainly don't want to claim that it was this way for everyone who dabbles in cannibal eroticism. When I was just a kid and experiencing my first feelings of sexual arousal, I think they got mixed up with the kind of feelings I also experienced when I was afraid -- like when I knew I did something wrong and would be punished for it. By imagining a peril situation, like being caught by a tribe of cannibals who planned to eat me, I could trigger the same types of physical feelings that happened when I felt arousal. I know it sounds crazy but that's my own take on it.

Mrs. Muki: The whole fear thing can also help explain why some people are so into horror films. Sometimes it's just fun to be a little scared -- especially when you know that it's all just play and you're in a safe place.

Mr. Muki: Yes, that's definitely it. In my case the feelings got wired into my sexuality, so I guess that's a little freaky.

Mrs. Muki: But in a charming sort of way.

Mr. Muki: Another important aspect of it all, for me personally, is that I completely identify with the women in my fantasies -- whether they are the chefs or the main course. It's a little hard to explain, but my male-self doesn't even exist in my sexual fantasies! I identify with the girl who is about to be cooked and eaten, as well as the girl who's job it is to prepare the victim for the feast -- always knowing that tomorrow it might be her turn to be served! It's weird as all hell but, in my mind, I'm both of these women.

Mrs. Muki: Sometimes I think my hubby's a lesbian trapped in a man's body!

Mr. Muki: That's probably a stretch, but sometimes I believe it myself. I'm definitely secure enough in my own masculinity to be completely comfortable with my inner femininity. Does that even make sense?

Mrs. Muki: I have no problem at all with that! It's funny--when I was still dating and experimenting I always wondered about the real reason guys are willing to "eat out." Was it because they know that it's pleasurable for us, because they just want us to give back, or do they actually enjoy it? In my sweetie's case, I certainly know and I'm not complaining! There are definite advantages to being with someone who's as orally fixated as Mr Muki! :-)

Mr. Muki: Thank you, dear. I have to add that Mrs Muki is absolutely delicious, from the tips of her toes to the end of her little nose!

H.: If I may, Mrs. Muki, some time ago I saw you on a Documentary program talking about cannibalism as a fetish. At one point a camera followed you around a store as you purchased...well, garnishes I suppose you would call them, to be used later that evening in a cannibalism fetish. Is this aspect an integral part of the fantasy preparation?

Mrs. Muki: That was Megh!

Mr. Muki: One of our models. That wasn't Mrs Muki.

H.: Oh. Well, I apologize for that. They were talking about 'Muki's Kitchen' and I don't remember if the lady was identified, so I may have simply assumed. My mistake.

Mrs. Muki: We're actually quite camera-shy and have rarely allowed our faces to be shown on TV or in pictures. But Megh is totally into it!

Mr. Muki: Most of our models are professional bondage and fetish models. They do this for their modeling fee and they do it well, acting the part and making it all look good. Megh is the real exception. She contacted us and showed us some of her own artwork.

Mrs. Muki: She's an artist herself and does some really cool and sexy cannibal-themed comic stories. The funny thing about them was that you could clearly see that she was very inspired by Mr Muki's photos.

Mr. Muki: She included a snap of herself and she looked pretty delicious, so we asked her if she would be willing to pose for Muki's Kitchen. That was a few years ago and she's appeared in several of our portfolios now.

Mrs. Muki: Always as the entree! She definitely sees herself as food and craves all the special attention that a thanksgiving turkey gets when it's being prepared, basted, cooked, and served. She's so cute about it! I think she actually experiences a "happy ending" as the shoot finishes up.

Mr. Muki: I'm not sure about that. I know it's been said so often that it must seem like a cliche, but doing a photo session is a lot of work and there are many very practical concerns that have to occupy your attention. But I do think she enjoys it and she has said that she replays the experience in her mind when she's alone and... uh...well, you know.

Mrs. Muki: Nothin' wrong with that...

H.: Not at all. And are the garnishes used in the 'foreplay' aspect eventually eaten as part of the fantasy?

Mr. Muki: Well, why not?

Mrs. Muki: What two consenting adults do in the privacy of their own kitchen is strictly between them and just fine with us!

Mr. Muki: Why waste good food?

H.: Why, indeed? This fantasy/fetish seems to incorporate elements of Bondage, Domination and even some S&M, is that correct?

Mr. Muki: A little. In cannibal play, it's more like trussing. We don't do really extreme bondage situations and almost all of our ties are really just for show. To begin with, I'm not really a good rigger and can just barely tie my own shoelaces. If we're doing a shoot that requires suspension or something really complex, I always hire a professional rigger.

Mrs. Muki: Most bondage-oriented sites tend to go to extremes that we just don't find all that sexy.

Mr. Muki: Yes, that's true. Nothing wrong with it if that's your thing, but I like to keep my models looking sexy and more like pin-ups. The real bondage folks are often into images that distort parts of the body, look very uncomfortable, or even painful. I prefer a look that's much more like a Vargas paintin. I like that kind of exaggerated sexiness.

H.: From what I have seen on your site, you do an excellent job.

Mrs. Muki: Mr Muki definitely makes the models look good. He wants them to be pretty!

Mr. Muki: And delicious looking! A pretty girl is a good start but I've seen lots of unflattering shots of models who have all the right qualifications but were just badly photographed. We've probably gotten off the original point, but I guess we're just saying that we don't emphasize the extreme bondage aspects of a cannibal scene in our own photos.

Mrs. Muki: Though a lot of our models are professional bondage people and do some pretty intense stuff for other sites.

H.: Are there any physical dangers involved in this type of fetish activity?

Mr. Muki: Not really. The shoots are very well controlled and there's hardly more risk for the model than there would be for any other type of shoot. Since we're only doing stills, we don't even need a safe-word. The model can just tell us when she's feeling uncomfortable or needs something to be adjusted.

Mrs. Muki: I think he means in private re-enactment, dear.

Mr. Muki: Oh. Well, it's not dangerous in the way that breath-play or asphyxiation fantasy might be. If you're going to do bondage and want to play it out with the "victim" pleading for mercy, it might be a good idea to have a safe-word.

Mrs. Muki: For those who don't know about BDSM play, a safe-word is just any word that can be used by the sub to bring the session to a halt. Since these scenes often involve a simulated peril situation and phrases like "No, please..." or "Stop" or "Help!" might be part of the game, you want to have something completely out of context to indicate that the dominated partner is getting genuinely uncomfortable needs to pause or end things right now.

Mr. Muki: I guess the only danger I can think of is if the cannibal partner gets a little carried away in the heat of the moment and bites just a bit too hard!

Mrs. Muki: Yes, I can attest to that first hand!

Mr. Muki: But you're so yummy.

H.: Forgive me if this question seems indelicate or even ignorant, but some other fetish followers get a bit further into their chosen fantasy. Some Vampires actually drink human blood, for instance. Are you aware of any Cannibalism Fetishists who might actually do more than pretend to cook a human for eating?

Mr. Muki: Well, I'm the original "cannibalist" in our union and I can say with complete conviction that it's strictly a fantasy thing for me -- one that I am not even slightly tempted to play out.

Mrs. Muki: And I'm definitely not into pain, so that's just not a place I would go.

Mr. Muki: For me it's purely mental; a trip into a scary place in my imagination, with an emphasis on the sensual.

Mrs. Muki: If couples actually do a bit of actual eating of each other, I'm not sure I even want to know about it.

Mr. Muki: Yeah, that's definitely beyond our own personal limits.

H.: And where might our readers find out more about Muki's Kitchen?

Mrs. Muki: Well, www.mukiskitchen.com of course!

Mr. Muki: And we do have a very popular "Links" page, where you can find forums and other stuff.

Mrs. Muki: Yes, Muki's Kitchen is often brought up in these places and sometimes we even participate in the discussions ourselves.

H.: Is there anything we have not covered that you wish to share with our readers?

Mr. Muki: I think this has been a pretty thorough interview.

Mrs. Muki: Your readers have probably learned way more about cannibalism-as-a-sexual-fetish than they ever wanted to know -- or even imagined!

Mr. Muki: And probably bored stiff too.

H.: Not at all. Horrotica is all about erotisim, fetishes and horror, so I think many our readers learned something interesting and new today. I would really like to thank you both again for spending time with us and enlightening us about this fetish. Maybe we can sit down and talk again some time.

Mr & Mrs. Muki: Thank you! It's been a pleasure!

H.: For me, as well. I enjoyed spending time with you both and I appreciate your honesty and candor. For our readers, I suggest you visit Muki's Kitchen and look over their site. It's a real feast for the eyes...and quite savory, too. Many thanks, Mukis, and we wish you much success.

All photographs copyright by Muki's Kitchen