FOOD AND MOVIES--MOVIES AND FOOD

Went out last nite to see Julie & Julia. being a Julia Child fan, i grew up watching her show on pbs and thinking that this tall, funny, woman was cooking dishes that i, as a tex/mex kid, never knew existed. i was hooked on her shows and always kept up with her series no matter what city i happened to live in. i give her all the credit for tempting me to try new foods, especially french foods heavyly laden with butter or saturated in heavy cream sauces. her love of cheese and meats became my love of cheese and meats and pate. to this day, give me a big chunk of cheese, a half pound of duck pate some cornichons, raw onion, mustard and crusty french bread lathered with butter and a good wine and as far as i'm concerned--IT BEATS SEX BY A MILE!! ITS ALSO A LOT EASIER AS YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHAVE, SHOWER, DOUCHE, MIST YOUR PARTNER WITH A SOLUTION OF CLORAX AND WATER, FLOSS, BRUSH, AND ON AND ON. then again, maybe i'm just not doing it the right way--

ANYWHO, I'VE COMPILED MY LIST OF FAV FOODIE MOVIES, MOST OF THEM ARE FOREIGIN, SOME OF THEM ARE A BIT STRANGE, AND SOME OF THEM ARE JUST BEAUTIFULLY PHOTOGRAPHED TO HIGHLIGHT THE FOOD ITSELF. IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER I PRESENT:

Babette's Feast--OK, SO THIS IS MY FAV FOOD MOVIE OF ALL TIME. THE CINEMATOGRAPHY IS TO DIE FOR, WATCHING HER PREPARE THE QUAIL AND ALL THE OTHER DISHES. THIS IS THE STORY OF A FRENCH WOMAN WHO HAS TO FLEE FRANCE AND ENDS UP IN THIS DANISH TOWN WHERE SHE IS TAKEN IN BY TWO DEVOUT SISTERS WHO ALONG WITH THE REST OF THEIR HAMLET, LIVE VERY PIOUS LIVES--THAT IS UNTIL THE FEAST AND THE WONDERS OF GREAT FOOD AND WINE BEGIN TO OPEN UP TIGHTLY SEALED LIPS, SPEWING FORTH LONG SUPPRESSED THOUGHTS, GRUDGES, AND DEEPLY HELD FEELINGS. BESIDES THE ACTUAL SHOTS OF BABETTE ACTUALLY PREPARING THE FOOD, ONE OF THE MOST VIVID POINTS OF THE MOVIE IS WHEN THE GENERAL TAKES THE CRISP QUAIL HEAD INTO HIS MOUTH AND YOU HEAR THE WONDERFUL SOUND OF TEETH BITING INTO THE HEAD AND HIS SIGH AND SLURPING NOISES----HMMMM-TO DIE FOR. ITS FROM DENMARK. FIRST SAW IT BACK IN LIKE THE EARLY 80'S IN HOUSTON AND STILL RENT IT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. LOVE WATCHING MOVIES IN THEIR ORIGINAL LANGUAGES WITH SUBTITLES.

Ratatouille--ITS JUST SOOOOOO FUCKING CUTE. HAVING RAISED RATS IN THE TEENAGE YEARS MIGHT ACCOUNT FOR MY AFFECTION FOR THE LITTLE CREATURES. ALSO, JUST THE USE OF FRENCH AND FRENCH DISHES AND ALL THAT FRENCHY STUFF TURNS ME ON MORE THAN 3 VIAGRA

Bella Martha--THE ORIGINAL "NO RESERVATIONS" AND IN ITALIAN. THE SCENERY, THE TOWNS, THE BUILDINGS.

Chocolat -AGAIN, A FRENCH MOVIE WITH GREAT VISUALS.

Like Water for Chocolate--GREAT MOVIE WITH GREAT SCENES OF FOOD PREP AND BEAUTIFULLY PREPARED DISHES.

The Cook, The Thief, The Wife and her Lover--STRANGE MOVIE BUT RIGHT UP MY ALLEY--METAPHORICALLY SPEAKING!


Eating Raoul –AN EVEN STRANGER MOVIE- BUT REALLY FUNNY.

OOPS--AND OF COURSE JULIE AND JULIA FOR ITS FOOD PRESENTATIONS, ITS PERIOD PROPS, FOR MERLE PLAYING HER SO PERFECTLY, AND FOR ALL THAT FRANCE HAS TO OFFER THE WORLD.