Who doesn’t remember their first date as a teenager? For many it was probably an invitation to go to the movies, maybe even with a group of friends. It was easier that way. Today, as it’s Valentine’s Day, I think about it because we are not always looking forward to going out in these dates now categorized as the ones preferred by marketers, even though we do want to cuddle with that special person and why not watch one of those movies we have watched one hundred times and which we know the dialogues by heart, if there aren’t any new ones still to be watched and which have arrived to our preferred streaming service.
Today I will be alone at home, since a business trip had to take place and our romantic date had to take place prior to the trip, and will surely enjoy one among my favorites… the question is, which one?
True it is that the kitchen and the stories around the great cooks and chefs have become quite popular in recent years, and thus, this blog post has been in the making for quite some time, but I had to wisely make my selection, since, even though there are many options out there, I am not sure all of them are my go-to options to watch once and again. I, however, think that the first one which was a great success when I was a teenager was the adaptation of the novel by Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate. I watched it once more recently having found it on Netflix, and you know what? I confirmed that it’s a masterpiece, but, for me, with a definitely uneducated opinion whatsoever regarding the movies, I think it’s lacking light and will stick to the written original.
More than ten years later the subject became fashionable in the big screen, if I recall correctly, and if my memory serves me right, the next culinary film I watched and which I liked was the one with the Parisian mouse named Remy and his friend Linguini. Yes, you nailed it. It’s Ratatouille. And frankly, more than the great success of the film, I think it attracted a lot of attention to the culinary arena. I dare to say that this may have been the movie which inspired many others later produced, and even inspired searching new formulas around food for TV.
I can’t, obviously, skip Julie & Julia, which also has literary support. Nonetheless, I have to say I prefer the movie to Ms. Julie Powel’s book, since the material Mrs. Julia Child’s pen provides through My Life in France is of a greatly superior quality than that of the blogger and writer for my taste.
In time, with the subject in question being more popular, and me being more involved in the kitchen, I found Chef with Jon Favreau and Sofia Vergara. This story made me conscious that food critics may destroy the career of anyone who’s dedicated their whole life to what might be their greatest passion. This film, I have to say, is one of my favorite ones from Hollywood.
Then, of course, I have to mention the French influence in Les Saveurs du Palais, which appeared in the United States as Haute Cuisine. This story taught me so much and helped me enormously to understand the French culinary arts as well as their pride towards dishes, ingredients, and even wines. I can watch it over and over. I will laugh out loud and even shed a tear or two. If you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend it. (If not through Netflix, surely iTunes will have it…). I have to confess that this was not a movie I went to watch at the cinema, but which we discovered at home one Sunday evening as it was aired on TV and totally fell in love with it.
Coincidentally, when I was finishing culinary school another story came out: Burnt. Wow! This film was so controversial. Some people loved it, others felt angry for how it was all portrayed. However, in all defense to the filmmakers, I think this movie was the one responsible for attracting our society’s attention to the lifestyle of cooks and chefs, both men and women, especially at the restaurants searching to receive industry’s accolades. I thought the story was good as it was presented, that it was entertaining, and not exaggerating whatsoever, given there are places where the cook’s lifestyle is exactly as it was portrayed for better or worse. Hey, it is what it is!
Evidently, I think that the most recent productions have been for TV rather than for the movie theater, however, I should not and cannot ignore there are classics that I’m not a fan of such as Babette’s Feast, or that there are other more modern like The 100-foot Journey which do not fully convince me to take a stand, since there are some aspects I like and some others which I think are exaggerated.
Now, of course, we shall talk soon about TV, without a doubt… even if it takes me more than one entry. In the meantime… enjoy your evening’s choice!
