Dinner and a movie
March 8, 2017 1:15 PM Subscribe
The Best Food Scenes from Oscar-Nominated Movies of Yesteryear 🍒 The 50 best food-on-film moments of all time 🍔 Definitive Ranking of the 10 Funniest Food Scenes on TV 🍰 32 Movies With The Most Memorable Food Scenes 🍜 Top 10 Food Preparation Scenes in Movies 🍕 Bonus: The Ultimate Food in Movies - Supercut
When Eat Drink man Woman was in theaters, I went to see it with a friend. We watched through it, and then walked out of the theater together - and then both of us stopped dead on the sidewalk and looked at each other.
"I don't know about you," my friend said, "but I'm really hungry after watching that."
"Me too."
And so we went to Chinatown and spent about $30 each on dim sum, the end.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:52 PM on March 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
"I don't know about you," my friend said, "but I'm really hungry after watching that."
"Me too."
And so we went to Chinatown and spent about $30 each on dim sum, the end.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:52 PM on March 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
The bang bang scene in Louie is one of my all-time favorite food scenes. I would do something like that. In fact, I have done something like that. I'm not proud.
posted by bondcliff at 2:04 PM on March 8, 2017
posted by bondcliff at 2:04 PM on March 8, 2017
Checked for Big Night, and found it in the "50 best..." category. It should be better known.
Also checked for Parents, and didn't see it. (Still find it amusing that it was in theatres at the same time as Parenthood, and woe to those who were expecting a delightful Ron Howard production.)
posted by 1367 at 2:13 PM on March 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Also checked for Parents, and didn't see it. (Still find it amusing that it was in theatres at the same time as Parenthood, and woe to those who were expecting a delightful Ron Howard production.)
posted by 1367 at 2:13 PM on March 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
See also: this Ask where verbyournouns was planning a Mildred Pierce dinner party and I didn't have anything to do so I watched the movie and noted every mention of food.
Which reminds me, it's been an awful long time since I watched that movie...
posted by phunniemee at 2:14 PM on March 8, 2017
Which reminds me, it's been an awful long time since I watched that movie...
posted by phunniemee at 2:14 PM on March 8, 2017
Wow - no mention of Big Night in any of these, either... Even without the amazing food scenes, I'd have included it just for how Tony Shaloub says "hot dogs."
posted by Mchelly at 2:15 PM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Mchelly at 2:15 PM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ah, missed it - thanks 1367. I feel better now.
posted by Mchelly at 2:15 PM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Mchelly at 2:15 PM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is this the thread where we get to talk about Tampopo? Because I am always looking for an excuse to talk about Tampopo...It certainly ought to be.
For those who haven't seen it, Juzo Itami's comedy "Tampopo" is a delightful film about food and movies and you will absolutely crave a bowl of noodles afterward.
posted by Nerd of the North at 2:19 PM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
The bang bang scene in Louie is one of my all-time favorite food scenes.
Whereas for me, that scene just about put me off eating food altogether.
Similarly, the scene from Hook where the Lost Boys are tearing into an imaginary feast that at first Peter can't see but then suddenly—through the Power of Imagination—he can! I think that food is supposed to look enticing to a child, but even as a dumb kid, I would have thought it looked disgusting. Like a horrible fake food buffet made entirely out of Play-Doh.
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:25 PM on March 8, 2017
Whereas for me, that scene just about put me off eating food altogether.
Similarly, the scene from Hook where the Lost Boys are tearing into an imaginary feast that at first Peter can't see but then suddenly—through the Power of Imagination—he can! I think that food is supposed to look enticing to a child, but even as a dumb kid, I would have thought it looked disgusting. Like a horrible fake food buffet made entirely out of Play-Doh.
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:25 PM on March 8, 2017
I was also surprised that Big Night wasn't more prominent.
A lot of these lists has the first French toast scene from Kramer vs. Kramer but you really need to see it with the heartbreaking second one (at 1:50).
Juan Loves Rice and Chicken, the tv show Documentary Now's spot-on homage/spoof of Jiro Loves Sush, is streaming free on IFC's site.
posted by Room 641-A at 2:38 PM on March 8, 2017
A lot of these lists has the first French toast scene from Kramer vs. Kramer but you really need to see it with the heartbreaking second one (at 1:50).
Juan Loves Rice and Chicken, the tv show Documentary Now's spot-on homage/spoof of Jiro Loves Sush, is streaming free on IFC's site.
posted by Room 641-A at 2:38 PM on March 8, 2017
Some links malfunctioned for me. No mention of Gummo spaghetti?
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 2:58 PM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 2:58 PM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
I saw Big Night in the theatre. When they served il Timpano, people in the audience audibly gasped in admiration.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 3:00 PM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 3:00 PM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
No "The Party"? No "PlayTime"? This town deserves a better class of clickbait.
posted by lagomorphius at 3:02 PM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by lagomorphius at 3:02 PM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Imma let you finish, but the best scene in *Big Night* is the ending ... greatest expression of love via eggs of all time. OF ALL TIME.
posted by shiny blue object at 3:03 PM on March 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by shiny blue object at 3:03 PM on March 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Haven't checked the links but the final scene from The Cook, the thief, his wife and her lover is there, right?
posted by Dr Dracator at 3:10 PM on March 8, 2017
posted by Dr Dracator at 3:10 PM on March 8, 2017
> Checked for Big Night, and found it in the "50 best..." category. It should be better known.
So it should, but you know what's even more firmly in that category? The Chinese Feast (1995, produced and directed by Tsui Hark). I saw it in New York the year it came out and I've been recommending it to everybody ever since. If you like food, you will like this movie. I'd mention one of the most stunning, unforgettable scenes I've ever seen in a movie, but I don't want to spoil it for you. Go see this movie!
posted by languagehat at 3:27 PM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
So it should, but you know what's even more firmly in that category? The Chinese Feast (1995, produced and directed by Tsui Hark). I saw it in New York the year it came out and I've been recommending it to everybody ever since. If you like food, you will like this movie. I'd mention one of the most stunning, unforgettable scenes I've ever seen in a movie, but I don't want to spoil it for you. Go see this movie!
posted by languagehat at 3:27 PM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
I am disappointed that none of the links mentioned the pie fight scene from The Great Race.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 3:48 PM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 3:48 PM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
I came across this channel recently: Binging with Babish in which a torso and arms recreates food items from films & television.
posted by juv3nal at 4:57 PM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by juv3nal at 4:57 PM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
"Babette's Feast" should be at the top of every list. Also, the birthday feast cooked up for Judy Dench's character in "Chocolat" (that gravy!) is pretty amazing as well.
posted by h00py at 5:17 PM on March 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by h00py at 5:17 PM on March 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Possibly the most misquoted line about food in movies: "How much for one rib?"
posted by Room 641-A at 5:43 PM on March 8, 2017
posted by Room 641-A at 5:43 PM on March 8, 2017
Came for Babette's Feast, see h00py covered it, carry on. (I too reject all food-on-film lists that do not start with Babette's Feast.)
Now I kind-of want to watch Julie and Julia, though. Great comfort movie.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:10 PM on March 8, 2017
Now I kind-of want to watch Julie and Julia, though. Great comfort movie.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:10 PM on March 8, 2017
We always think about The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie when it comes to movies and food.
They are always trying to eat, but they never get to.
posted by MtDewd at 6:35 PM on March 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
They are always trying to eat, but they never get to.
posted by MtDewd at 6:35 PM on March 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Why Old Boy isn't #1 on every single list is beyond me.
posted by tavegyl at 6:45 PM on March 8, 2017
posted by tavegyl at 6:45 PM on March 8, 2017
Those burgers that Tim Roth & co. are eating in Reservoir Dogs are certainly my Platonic ideal of burgers. And those meatball sandwiches Gary Busey obsesses over in Point Break. Also, any time a really floppy, greasy New York pizza slice is shown on screen, I basically get angry at anything that isn't that for like a full week.
GARLIC DOESN'T LIQUEFY, IT DOESNT WORK THAT WAY
Pretty sure garlic liquefies bro as it's an inert gas and Martin Scorsese is one of the true cinematic visionaries of our age or whatever and also is Italian so he definitely knows.
Babette's Feast, as mentioned above, is the best food movie.
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:10 PM on March 8, 2017
GARLIC DOESN'T LIQUEFY, IT DOESNT WORK THAT WAY
Pretty sure garlic liquefies bro as it's an inert gas and Martin Scorsese is one of the true cinematic visionaries of our age or whatever and also is Italian so he definitely knows.
Babette's Feast, as mentioned above, is the best food movie.
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:10 PM on March 8, 2017
Babette's Feast is back on DVD in the US again (for a while you couldn't get it for under $80) and I put it on my Christmas list and got it this year, and my whole family was bemused and like, "What's it about?" and I was like, "So it's about this French gentlewoman who flees the Terror and ends up working for these maiden sisters in Denmark who are like super-austere because their father founded an ultra-strict Protestant sect, and she works for free as their cook and housemaid, and then she wins the lottery -- no, stay with me -- and cooks them a celebratory meal, and it's about like love and fellowship and devotion and eating turtles, and like the relationship between earthly and spiritual joy, and art, and pleasure ... I'm not explaining it right, just, you have to see it, it won an Oscar and it's the Pope's favorite movie!"
(He even talked about it in an Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, in the first reference to a film in any Papal document! "Since we were made for love, we know that there is no greater joy than that of sharing good things: “Give, take, and treat yourself well” (Sir 14:16). The most intense joys in life arise when we are able to elicit joy in others, as a foretaste of heaven. We can think of the lovely scene in the film Babette’s Feast, when the generous cook receives a grateful hug and praise: “Ah, how you will delight the angels!” It is a joy and a great consolation to bring delight to others, to see them enjoying themselves.")
NB, you can also rent it for streaming at amazon. And probably your library has it, but maybe on VHS.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:28 PM on March 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
(He even talked about it in an Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, in the first reference to a film in any Papal document! "Since we were made for love, we know that there is no greater joy than that of sharing good things: “Give, take, and treat yourself well” (Sir 14:16). The most intense joys in life arise when we are able to elicit joy in others, as a foretaste of heaven. We can think of the lovely scene in the film Babette’s Feast, when the generous cook receives a grateful hug and praise: “Ah, how you will delight the angels!” It is a joy and a great consolation to bring delight to others, to see them enjoying themselves.")
NB, you can also rent it for streaming at amazon. And probably your library has it, but maybe on VHS.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:28 PM on March 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
What?? Where is Tom Jones?
For some reason I've never figured out how to successfully link to a clip on this site. :-/
But here's the address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tezjznL9NzM
Or just google "Tom Jones eating scene"
Now that's an eating worth watching, children.
And okay, Eyebrows, granted it's not as good as getting mentioned by the Pope in an Apostolic Exhortation, but still .... I'm sure this scene has led to a fair amount of delight over the years.
posted by kestralwing at 8:56 PM on March 8, 2017
For some reason I've never figured out how to successfully link to a clip on this site. :-/
But here's the address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tezjznL9NzM
Or just google "Tom Jones eating scene"
Now that's an eating worth watching, children.
And okay, Eyebrows, granted it's not as good as getting mentioned by the Pope in an Apostolic Exhortation, but still .... I'm sure this scene has led to a fair amount of delight over the years.
posted by kestralwing at 8:56 PM on March 8, 2017
Jackie Chan goes out for dinner in Drunken Master.
A film that celebrates all extremes of the body.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 9:20 PM on March 8, 2017
A film that celebrates all extremes of the body.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 9:20 PM on March 8, 2017
My favorite moment from the criminally underrated BBC show, Whites.
Spinal Tap - "It's a complete catastrophe."
posted by Room 641-A at 9:53 PM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Spinal Tap - "It's a complete catastrophe."
posted by Room 641-A at 9:53 PM on March 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Looked for Mr. Creosote's wafer-thin mint in "The Ultimate Food in Movies - Supercut" and didn't find it. I wasn't surprised: it's hard to think of that scene in any Best Of context.
However, it certainly belongs in any compilation of Memorable Food Scenes.
posted by fredludd at 11:01 PM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
However, it certainly belongs in any compilation of Memorable Food Scenes.
posted by fredludd at 11:01 PM on March 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
What?? Where is Tom Jones?
.....On two of the lists linked up above?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:26 AM on March 9, 2017
.....On two of the lists linked up above?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:26 AM on March 9, 2017
Last weekend I introduced my wife to Tampopo and we immediately regretted our plans to roast a chicken that night and seriously thought about just leaving it to marinate in the fridge for one more day and just go out for noodles. It had been easily ten years since I had last seen it, but I'll always remember and appreciate Tampopo gets that preparing food ought to be governed by rules, formulas, and technique; but eating food should just be no holds barred. Rules and guidelines serve the goal of creating pleasure in food form, but once that pleasure is unleashed, you do you.
Also, one thing that I totally forgot about with that movie is that it stars a young (and baby faced!) Ken Watanabe as the comic relief/side kick. It's amazing seeing him in a comedic role when I'm just so used to him being so serious and so sad usually.
I saw Big Night when it appeared in the theaters just as I was graduating from college. I had moved into an apartment with three other young twentysomethings, and we developed a reputation for hosting huge, crazy, all night, open-to-everyone house parties. I have had more than one 5am moment where I'm walking over bodies passed out and intertwined on our living room floor, then going into the kitchen to pull out a carton of eggs. I'd scramble all of the eggs into a bowl, stir fry some leftover rice in garlic, make coffee. Then when the pan of scrambled eggs was done, I'd just start serving it up on to paper plates and whoever was left in the party would just help themselves to breakfast and then it'd be 6am. The buses are running again. Go home. Every time I did that, it's the omelette scene in Big Night running in the back of my mind.
Also I just want to mention that my favorite stealth foodie movie is Munich. It is still very much a film about Heroic Israelis Killing Bad People Who Are Bad; but they convene their team meetings over a dinner table with a home cooked brisket. They nibble on baklava while they're casing a PLO safehouse. A centerpiece of the second act of the film is a dinner in a French farmhouse with a Knower of Secrets who also loves to nerd out on boudin noir and how to properly cook a fig while simultaneously grousing about the Hipster Intifada kids on his lawn. It felt like Spielberg wanted to make a foodie film but not have it be Yet Another Movie About A Chef In Crisis, so that's weird but also fascinating.
posted by bl1nk at 4:43 AM on March 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Also, one thing that I totally forgot about with that movie is that it stars a young (and baby faced!) Ken Watanabe as the comic relief/side kick. It's amazing seeing him in a comedic role when I'm just so used to him being so serious and so sad usually.
I saw Big Night when it appeared in the theaters just as I was graduating from college. I had moved into an apartment with three other young twentysomethings, and we developed a reputation for hosting huge, crazy, all night, open-to-everyone house parties. I have had more than one 5am moment where I'm walking over bodies passed out and intertwined on our living room floor, then going into the kitchen to pull out a carton of eggs. I'd scramble all of the eggs into a bowl, stir fry some leftover rice in garlic, make coffee. Then when the pan of scrambled eggs was done, I'd just start serving it up on to paper plates and whoever was left in the party would just help themselves to breakfast and then it'd be 6am. The buses are running again. Go home. Every time I did that, it's the omelette scene in Big Night running in the back of my mind.
Also I just want to mention that my favorite stealth foodie movie is Munich. It is still very much a film about Heroic Israelis Killing Bad People Who Are Bad; but they convene their team meetings over a dinner table with a home cooked brisket. They nibble on baklava while they're casing a PLO safehouse. A centerpiece of the second act of the film is a dinner in a French farmhouse with a Knower of Secrets who also loves to nerd out on boudin noir and how to properly cook a fig while simultaneously grousing about the Hipster Intifada kids on his lawn. It felt like Spielberg wanted to make a foodie film but not have it be Yet Another Movie About A Chef In Crisis, so that's weird but also fascinating.
posted by bl1nk at 4:43 AM on March 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
I hear you on Babette, and sonny, true love is the greatest thing in the world - except for a nice MLT - mutton, lettuce, and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomatoes are ripe. They're so perky, I love that.
posted by Muddler at 5:25 AM on March 9, 2017
posted by Muddler at 5:25 AM on March 9, 2017
Jimmy Cagney's prison lunch scene in White Heat.
Echoed by Leslie Nielsen in Naked Gun: 33 1/3.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:42 AM on March 9, 2017
Echoed by Leslie Nielsen in Naked Gun: 33 1/3.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:42 AM on March 9, 2017
God of cookery is an underappreciated gem that I've come back to a couple of times.
posted by Dmenet at 7:18 AM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Dmenet at 7:18 AM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
TV, food, supercuts? This sounds like a job for the most refined home chef I know: Hannibal Lecter.
posted by marcin_zissou at 7:47 AM on March 9, 2017
posted by marcin_zissou at 7:47 AM on March 9, 2017
I'm surprised Big Night's final scene didn't get more mentions (thanks, bl1nk) -- in spite of all life's troubles, and how badly you may have been betrayed, ya gotta eat ...
posted by milnews.ca at 10:52 AM on March 9, 2017
posted by milnews.ca at 10:52 AM on March 9, 2017
Imma let you finish, but the best scene in *Big Night* is the ending ... greatest expression of love via eggs of all time. OF ALL TIME.
... but Tampopo also has an egg-based love scene ...
posted by aws17576 at 10:16 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
... but Tampopo also has an egg-based love scene ...
posted by aws17576 at 10:16 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Are we not doing documentaries? Because Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 6:35 PM on March 12, 2017
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 6:35 PM on March 12, 2017
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posted by Mchelly at 1:48 PM on March 8, 2017 [12 favorites]