With the holidays upon us, it’s time to focus on the important things in life — peace on earth, goodwill towards men, time spent with family, etc. All of those things are extremely important during the holiday season, but there is one thing that is even more important. It’s the one thing that means the most during those Thanksgiving and Christmas months. It’s the thing that warms our hearts and speaks to our souls the most. Food. It’s food. Everybody knows food is the best part of this season. So why not celebrate one of the best parts of the season with a film or five that is sure to leave you hungry for more?
5) Ratatouille (2007)
As the only animated feature on our list, Ratatouille is a typical Pixar movie — funny with heart. It provides a unique twist though, as the only love story in this film is that between a chef and his profession. Ratatouille tells the story of Remy, a cook who dreams of being a chef and moves to Paris in order to achieve that dream. The only problem is, Remy’s a rat. Ratatouille is a unique take on somebody trying to achieve their dreams, and it features (albeit in an animated way) a variety of foods that Paris is so well-known for. This film is also a perfect segue for children to enter the world of foodie-ism.
4) Sideways (2004)
Of course, the best thing to serve with holiday meals is wine. The best movie to pair with your food and wine is Sideways. Adapted from the Rex Pickett novel of the same name, Sideways is about two best friends, Miles and Jack who spend a weekend in the California wine country. It’s Jack’s bachelor party and Miles is intent on showing him a good time, full of good food and good wine. Jack has other plans, most of which involve banging as many women as he can before getting married. Regardless, the film showcases wine in a way that has literally turned viewers into wine-lovers. Sideways stars Paul Giamatti and Thomas Hayden Church as the two best friends. This movie features excellent performances from both stars and it features a variety of delicious wines that you’ll be aching to pair with your turkey and green bean casserole.
3) Julie and Julia (2009)
Of course, when one thinks of food, one cannot help but think of the Godmother of butter herself, Julia Childs. Again, this film was a novel first but it is the movie that really showcases The Art of French Cooking. Julie and Julia focuses on dual narratives — one which focuses on Julie Powell, a discontented woman looking to spice up her life, and one which focuses on Childs as she develops her famed cookbook, The Art of French Cooking. Though never meeting, the two forge a bond — not with each other but with the food they are both creating. It’s a film about food, but it’s also a film about never settling, about following your dreams and about believing in yourself, even when nobody else does.
2) Eat Pray Love (2010)
Eat Pray Love is a movie (and a book!) that focuses on Liz Gilbert (played wonderfully by Julia Roberts). Newly divorced and looking for something different, Gilbert begins a trip to self-discovery that includes stops in Italy, Bali, and India. Throughout her travels, she begins to view things in a different light, namely food, love, and God. Eat Pray Love is not about going outside of your comfort zone or traveling to an exotic location to find happiness. It’s about finding happiness in the simplest of things, whether it’s a bite of pasta or holding hands with somebody new. This is a movie for lovers of food and of life. And it teaches audiences that the most important love is the love of one’s self.
1) Chef (2014)
Chef is the greatest foodie movie of all time. End of story. Written, directed and starring Jon Favreau, Chef features everything people love about food, the restaurant business and staying true to one’s self. Chef is about a, well, chef named Carl Casper. Casper is an extremely talented chef that continues to be harnessed by his controlling, overbearing boss (played by Dustin Hoffman). It’s a situation most chefs in the restaurant business have found themselves. Fed up, Casper quits his job and opens up a food truck. We cannot say enough good things about Chef. It’s acted well. It’s written well. It has one of the best cameos of all time. And it shows how important food can actually be to a person. The food that is featured is delicious as well. There are scenes of Casper preparing everything from pasta, to grilled cheese, to eggs and bacon and more. Chef is a great story, but it’s also one of the best films to watch when you’re hungry — either for food or for something more in your life.
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