If there’s one thing The Kitchen Conversation stands for, it’s good eats. What originally started as a food blog grew to a community of writers who have conversations around various topics, but food has always and will always be the center of our brand. So I’m a bit excited about this week’s watchlist: Food in Cinema.
Very few things in life connect us quite like food. Whether it’s a lovingly prepared meal at home, a perfectly plated aesthetically-pleasing dish at your favorite restaurant, or a messy late-night snack, food has the power to spark conversations, evoke memories, and most importantly – bring people together.
Cinema has long recognized this and every now and then we have a film where food is a main character. From the kitchens of Paris in Ratatouille, to the bustling food trucks of Los Angeles in Chef, filmmakers use the ambiance and comfort of a well-cooked meal to tell stories about our shared human experience. Watching these films is like indulging in a multi-course feast for your heart, body, and mind. In this week’s “What to Watch,” we’re diving into cinematic stories where food takes center stage.
So grab a fork and dine in with these character’s delicious tales served up on screen.
Julie & Julia
This culinary biopic intertwines the true stories of two women who are both connected by a love of French cooking. Set 50 years a part, at the same time Julia Childs starts her iconic culinary journey, Julie Powell challenges herself to cook all 500+ recipes from Childs’s cookbook in a single year. Tune in for dishes like Boeuf Bourguignon, Chocolate Cream Pie, and Roast Chicken.
Director: Nora Ephron / Starring: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci
Eat, Pray, Love
A film adapted from Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling memoir of the same title. Eat, Pray, Love is a romantic drama filled with moments of self-discovery. After Liz Gilbert’s divorce, she embarks on a year-long journey travelling through Italy, India, and Bali while indulging in delicious food, spiritual awakenings, and an unexpected romance. Foods like Spaghetti all’Amatriciana, Gelato, and traditional Neapolitan Pizza exist in this adventure-filled film.
Director: Ryan Murphy / Starring: Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem, Viola Davis
No Reservations
A talented, and passionate chef runs her Manhattan kitchen with absolute precision. Her perfectly detailed world is turned upside down when her young niece comes to live with her alongside a free-spirited sous chef joins her staff. Look out for dishes like seared scallops and handmade pasta.
Director: Scott Hicks / Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin,
Ratatouille
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and a cinema classic, Pixar’s Ratatouille tells the story of Remy, a rat with a refined palate and a dream of becoming a great chef in France. He teams up with a less-talented, a bit clueless, and shy kitchen worker at a famed Parisian restaurant for this epic journey about trust, friendship, and following one’s true passion. Of course, the film is named after the iconic dish:
Ratatouille
Director: Brad Bird / Voice Cast: Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano, Ian Holm
The Menu
A new couple travels to a remote island and dine at an exclusive restaurant where an enigmatic celebrity chef has prepared a lavish curated menu. As the evening unfolds, the restaurant give way to sinister surprises, revealing a twisted game of revenge. The best dish in this entire film is a classic American Cheeseburger.
Director: Mark Mylod / Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult
Chef
A chef walks away from his high-profile restaurant job after a public meltdown. He launches a food truck and takes a cross-country journey serving up Cuban sandwiches (and yucca fries), connecting with his roots, and rediscovers his love for food along the way.
Director: Jon Favreau / Starring: Jon Favreau, Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman
Spanglish
Flor, a Mexican single mother, becomes a housekeeper for an affluent Los Angeles family. Through cultural differences and language barriers in her new position, food becomes a bridge (especially through the connection between Flor and the family’s chef father). Fun fact? I became obsessed with Sandwiches after this film (an ultimate BLT Sandwich with Fried Egg and Cheese is the best takeaway!).
Director: James L. Brooks / Starring: Adam Sandler, Paz Vega, Téa Leoni
Burnt
A rising star in the culinary world implodes his career through his self-destructive behavior. He stages a high-stakes comeback in London and assembles a talented team whilst battling his own demons in the process. These chefs are cooking up meals like Sole with Hollandaise and lobster-dishes.
Director: John Wells / Starring: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl, Omar Sy, Uma Thurman, Emma Thompson
Sitting in Bars with Cake
A shy but talented baker’s outgoing best friend, Corinne, orchestrates a year-long experiment: bringing a homemade cake to a different bar each week to help her break out of her comfort zone. What started off as a fun experiment turns left when Corinne is diagnosed with brain cancer. Satiate your sweet tooth with the numerous layered cakes this baker whips up.
Director: Trish Sie / Starring: Yara Shahidi, Odessa A’zion
