In the age of technology, it’s a wonder teenager’s eyes aren’t square by now as all we do night and day is look at screens. However, screens can be a great utensil for learning, and the life and learning of us chefs has, in turn, inspired many of the greatest Hollywood movie makers.
Here are my top five must see movies for chefs…
- Ratatouille
Ok maybe this is the best one to start with as (save the blaring hygiene issues) it is a charming and inspiring movie. As the only animation to make my list, I’d say it’s well deserved as Remmy as a character is totally lovable as well as entertaining. I’d say for any wannabe chef this is a basic place to start as a newcomer (it sounds stupid, but I’m being serious). During scenes in the film important facts can be taken such as the hierarchy within a kitchen, relationships between restaurants and critics as well as how the media responds to the rise of a new chef. So put your feet up and go to Paris.
- Today’s Special
Available on Netflix, this film for me is a newly discovered gem. It centres around the life of a talented sous chef who quits his job after being neglected for a promotion. As the predominant culture in this film is Indian (much like the Hundred-Foot Journey) it has amazing colours and music as well as being a heart-warming story. In this film I loved the romance element as it wasn’t flashy and typically Hollywood, it was more real which was so refreshing.
- Eat, Pray, Love
Julia Roberts! Do I even need to say anything else?
Who would have thought one woman could make so many exceptional films? Notting Hill? Pretty Woman? Steel Magnolias? Runaway Bride? My Best Friend’s Wedding? It’s fair to say I adore Julia Roberts. So Eat, Pray, Love had to come fairly high up in my foodie favourite films. The thing that probably makes this film is the many weird and wonderful faces Julia pulls when eating pasta. I never knew you could enjoy pasta that much till I watched this film!
- The Hundred-Foot Journey
The Hundred-Foot journey is a movie I came across completely by chance. One of my mum’s friends lent us the DVD and the rest is history. This movie has literally no faults, the acting, story and drama are all enthralling. One of my favourite moments is when after the head chef set fire to the competition restaurant due to prejudice, Madame Mallory says “You are a chef, I do not pay you to burn things!” for me it’s one of the best lines in any movie!
- Julie & Julia
For me this the one must watch film for every chef! Julie & Julia is one of the most enduring and heart-warming stories ever. I could watch this film over and over again and every single time there’s a tear in my eye at the end! I find the characters very relatable and lovable. For me this film is the most beautiful legacy for the real Julia Child as Meryl Streep gives one of the most incredible performances and completely embodies the role. Food, friendship and love are the key plot lines and each one is more magical than the next. Both heroines are so easy to root for – you want them both to succeed so badly. As a chef you have to watch this movie and it even made me get my own copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking!
R.B