Whether you’re looking into getting your foot in a restaurant job or anxiously perfecting a scrambled egg recipe, there’s no denying that food in movies and TV is fail-proof for attention.
Ask a stranger about the best scene in “Birds of Prey” and the majority will likely respond with the bodega scene where a cook prepares a sumptuous grilled cheese with egg sandwich in front of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn.
Love around food on film is sometimes inevitable—out of control even. There was a time in the late 2000s when fans of the “Twilight” series rushed to Italian restaurants to order a plate of mushroom ravioli, for the sole reason that it was the same dish eaten by the characters in the movie.
This article is a love letter to a specific obsession: the obsession for movie and TV food. Here, we list down some essential viewings and other culinary things you can check out. Think of it as your unofficial syllabus to become a Master of Food in pop culture.
The Bear
At this point, it’s obvious to start a food-themed write-up about “The Bear”. But it’s deservedly so. The series, which is currently running for three seasons (with a fourth in the pipeline), goes through kitchen chaos from the point of view of a renowned chef and his rookie restaurant staff.
With emphasis on chaos, “The Bear” gets intense. Too intense for some. Depiction of restaurant operations is sometimes glorified, but the series has been lauded for doing their homework and offering an authentic take on the profession.
But more than its fast-paced setting, “The Bear” is a show about fostering kindness in the kitchen. Because being a server in the food industry demands 10% skill and 90% compassion or love for the people.
Ratatouille
The undisputed best Pixar film is still “Ratatouille”. The film’s message about how anyone can cook continues to resonate, but the underlying thesis about how every food has its own story to tell is a brilliant way of presenting the power of food.
What I appreciate about “Ratatouille” is how all of this is presented in a manner that is accessible and relatable to viewers of all ages, especially kids. I can’t help but recall our toddler trying out a few food-themed games from CulinarySchools.org because he wanted to become a great chef like Remy from the movie.
We bond over cooking and kitchen work games that are simple but packed with useful information about the basics of cooking. The Boiled Eggs is exciting because it lets you know how boiling eggs requires focus, while The Bento Box goes through the joys of designing your food.
The website, like “Ratatouille”, is a great resource to kickstart everyone, especially kids, to develop their culinary knowledge.
Tampopo
There is a Japanese film from 1985 that deserves more credit: Juzo Itami’s “Tampopo”.
The film is a breeze to watch, following vignettes of food stories. At its center is an underdog ramen shop’s journey to success, defying the odds to become the crowd’s champion.
The adventure leading to the climactic win is awe-inspiring, and something that’s been replicated in many food films we have here, while also feeling very singular in its creative vision. Highly recommended.
The Founder
A film that leans into the operations side of running a food empire, “The Founder” tells the humble beginnings of McDonald’s as a community sensation before becoming THE biggest fast food chain in the world.
The film has great life lessons about business, but the film effectively shares the importance of resourcefulness to efficiently run it. McDonald’s may be lauded for creating mass-produced recipes, but it is innovative for leveraging the most important resource of all: time.
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
How could we create a list of food-themed movies and series without mentioning Anthony Bourdain and his “No Reservations” documentary show?
Before social media erupted with countless food vlogs, there was always Bourdain championing different countries’ cuisines. As a Filipino, I vividly remember him releasing an episode of the Philippines where he toured the country to taste popular dishes. It’s all fun seeing him react to our food, but what’s striking is his takeaway from the experience: how food isn’t just a product of multiple ingredients cooked together, but the years of memories and experiences that were infused leading to it.
It's only apt we finish the list with this. “No Reservations” is available on Netflix, and it’s a no-brainer recommendation.
What other films and TV shows should we add to the list? Comment down below!
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