Answer This!
by: The Kitchen Generation Team
Every so often, we ask a question, share our answers and invite a few friends to share their answers before asking you. The last Answer This! was all about the music we listen to while in the kitchen, but this week it’s time for something a little different!
Question: What is your favourite food scene in a movie or TV show?
Elissa: In Lost, after days and days of mangoes, the plane crash survivors find a stash of food in an underground hatch. They decide to share it and end up having the best potluck of their lives. There’s a scene where ex-rock star Charlie hands his girlfriend a jar of peanut butter, the thing she’s been craving since the crash, and it reminds you how good food can taste when you’re sharing it with people you love.
Hannah: There’s this scene in Gilmore Girls, in which Sookie, the chef, is making peach sauce, and Lorelai says “Oh dear God Almighty, that’s incredible, I want to take a bath in that sauce!”. We all want people to have that reaction to the food we cook.
Kamran: The scene in Julie and Julia where Julia Child’s husband asks Julia what she loves to do. It makes me question what I love doing- and I always come to the same answer as Julia Child- I love to eat. Another scene would be when Julie Powell sits down to write a blog post; whenever I sit down to write a blog post, that scene pops in my head. I aspire to write as beautifully as she did without second-guessing myself or saying that I have “writer’s block.”
Lauren: In Waitress, when she’s naming all of the pies. She describes key things in her life, and makes them into gorgeous, delicious pies. Things like “I hate my husband pie” illustrates how baking can be such a magnificent therapy. Oh my. Now I want pie.
Tessa: There’s a scene in what I think was the first season of True Blood (dorky, I know) where the main female character, Sookie Stackhouse, eats an entire pecan pie that her grandmother made right before she died. It was like Sookie was able to say goodbye to her grandma through, well, through pie.
Amber from Bluebonnets & Brownies: This is really a tough question, and I have to be honest, it’s a tie: I cannot possibly choose between the fried green tomatoes scene in the movie of the same name, or the armadillo cake scene in Steel Magnolias. The Fried Green Tomatoes scenes with Kathy Bates and Mrs. Threadgood tasting those tomatoes after blowing out birthday candles.. well it makes my mouth water. Every single time. But I cry with laughter when Shirley MacLaine cuts the ass end of that greyer than grey armadillo cake and hands a bloody red piece of red velvet cake to her arch nemesis, her best friend’s husband. That cake is just so tragic to look at, but how can you not love red velvet cake?!
Kristen from Dine and Dish: This is probably not what you had in mind, but I love the scene in E.T The Extra Terrestrial where everyone is gone from the house at school and work and E.T. raids the fridge for the first time. I don’t know why, but that scene always brings a smile to my face. As far as TV goes, I have to say my favorite food scene on TV is the Friends episode where Joey wears maternity pants to Thanksgiving dinner. I know I thought those pants were horrid, but they sure came in handy when we’d sit down to a big meal!
Jenn from Jenn Cuisine: My favorite food scene is from the movie Ratatouille. Towards the end of the movie, Ego, the renowned and infamously tough food critic, not expecting anything extraordinary from his meal, takes one bite of a simple ratatouille and is instantly transported back to his childhood where his mother serves him a comforting rustic bowl, instantly flooding him with emotion. I love this scene (and Ego’s subsequent review in the next scene) because it highlights so well the transformative power of food. Food is often so much more than just a plate full of calories to get us through to the next meal. It doesn’t have to be fancy or pretentious, and I believe that some of the simplest pleasures of taste can be the most meaningful. Food has the ability to bring back memories, make friends, provide comfort, and connect people together. So many of my most cherished moments in life involved food in some way, and like Ego, with the right dish I too can be transported back in time by a mere morsel.
Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen: Oooo…I’ve always loved the scene in Goodfellas where all the men are in jail and making dinner together; it’s so hilarious how intense they are about their evening ritual. I especially love when “Pauly” carefully slices the garlic with a razor blade. I’ve always been tempted to try it to see if it actually yields the results promised!
Caroline from A Cozy Kitchen: The scene in My Cousin Vinny where they go to a diner and order “Breakfast” off the menu. The resulting conversation about cholesterol and grits always makes me laugh, and I also feel oddly homesick.
So, what about you? What is your favourite food scene in a movie or tv show?
Tags: A Cozy Kitchen, Adrianna Adarme, Amber Bracegirdle, Answer This, Bluebonnets & Brownies, Caroline, Dine and Dish, Jenn Cuisine, Jenn Oliver, Kristen Doyle
February 25, 2011 | 
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February 25th, 2011
Good ones, especially agree with the Ratatouille scene! Although, my personal favourite food scene (EVER) would have to be in the movie Hook (all you younger folks probably haven’t seen it…now I feel old…). The scene where Peter is sitting with the lost boys and everyone is ‘eating’, but he can only see an empty table. Once he uses his imagination and ‘believes’ he sees the amazing feast in front of him. I used to fast forward on my VCR just to get to that scene and watch it over, and over, and over….
Check it out. It’s a great movie!
Hannah Queen (Editor) Replied:
February 25th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
dan, i have always loved that scene (and that movie)! i had totally forgotten about it until you mentioned it. Good one! :)
February 25th, 2011
I have to totally agree with Lauren! The Waitress (1) made me crave pies and (2) name everything I make.
My favorite food movie is Like Water for Chocolate. It’s not one scene per se but the whole filming of the preparation was fabulous. I do truly believe that the food you serve is a reflection of your emotions in some way shape or form. :)
And, since I’m on a roll – Chocolat! Every scene. Every piece of chocolate.
Great Q&A! Love this!
February 25th, 2011
Hannah-I remember that Gilmore Girls scene, too! In fact, I love all of Sookie’s kitchen scenes.
I think I’d have to pick a Julie & Julia moment, too: when she takes a first bite and is so overcome with enthusiasm and emotion that she can’t even express it: her husband merely has to nod and say, “I know dear, I know.” Incredible passion.
Hannah Queen (Editor) Replied:
February 25th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
gilmore girls has some of the best kitchen scenes, i think! it’s totally ridiculous how many cakes and such she has sitting around sometimes though, haha! :)
February 25th, 2011
I can’t believe no one said the deli scene from Harry Met Sally. Maybe you are all too young for that one. I do like the scene from Waitress though…fun post!
February 25th, 2011
I loved answering this question, and if I had been allowed a top 10 list, most of these scenes, especially the scene from Hook that Dan describes (it’s my favorite movie ever) and the movie Chocolat are definitely number 2 and 3 on that list after my tie for #1.
February 25th, 2011
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jenn Cuisine, Lauren and Kamran Siddiqi, ktchngeneration. ktchngeneration said: New at The Kitchen Generation | Answer This! http://bit.ly/gSk6HP #movies [...]
February 25th, 2011
Ha, great question! I love that scene in Hook, when Peter (Robin Williams) is able to imagine a huge feast after a long day and all the food comes to life on the table. Some of the foods look kind of gross, but it’s still my favorite scene. Rufio! Rufio! haha
February 25th, 2011
Seconding the scenes from Gilmore Girls, Ratatouille, and Julie and Julia for sure!
There are so many good ones, it’s so difficult to narrow it down to one… I think I’d have to go with just about any of the scenes from Last Holiday with Georgia and Chef Didier though. When she realizes that life’s to short to not enjoy every minute of it. When he just has to meet her after she orders his entire menu without substitutions. Shopping in the market. I love it.
Lauren McMillan (Editor) Replied:
February 25th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
Ooh yes! I love that scene, too. Never fails to make me want to live every moment to the fullest, especially when it comes to good food!
February 25th, 2011
My fave is the dinner scene from Disney’s classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The guests start complimenting the meal, and then Captain Nemo goes on to explain that it’s actually exotic seafood in disguise. The guests’ dismay is hilarious!
February 25th, 2011
This was so fun to read. My oldest’s second birthday was based on Ratatouille. That is one of the few kid’s movies I could watch again and again.
I have to say that my all. time. favorite. food scene is in Babette’s Feast. During the actual feast. Seriously, go watch it right now.
February 25th, 2011
Lauren, my sisters and I loved all the pie-naming also. We started naming pies and using that accent where “pie” sounded like “pah.” “Bad Baby Pie” was our favorite from the movie.
Lauren McMillan (Editor) Replied:
February 25th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
Yes! Love the way she pronounces Pie. Made the movie just that much better.
February 25th, 2011
It definitely has to be this >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujLXTiPwjto
“Ils Se Marièrent et Eurent Beaucoup d’Enfants”
It took me forever to find it, but Charlotte Gainsbourg is beautiful and though they use other stuff besides food, the majority is a food fight.
Watch it I know you guys will love it!
February 25th, 2011
Hannah, ‘Gilmore Girls’ is a guilty pleasure (I have the entire set on DVD), and Adrianna, that ‘Goodfellas’ scene is classic! We were just talking about that the other night after seeing Lorraine Bracco on ‘Top Chef’. But I have to agree with Susan and Amber on ‘Chocolat’. My favorite scene is when Judi Dench’s character comes into the shop, in a snit as usual, and Juliette Binoche offers her the hot chocolate. At first she resists, but eventually you can see it in her face how soothing and comforting and sinful it is. Such emotions evoked from food in that movie!
Cheers,
*Heather*
Hannah Queen (Editor) Replied:
February 25th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
i have the every season on dvd too! it’s so good. :) LOVE chocolat!
February 25th, 2011
At first I thought of a book. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. I adore the wedding scene in the beginning where they describe their country wedding in France. I modeled my own wedding after that description.
As for movies I am going to have to go with Chocolat. I love every scene but my favorite would have to be when she has decided to move to another town, but her friends have come to learn chocolate to make her stay and she comes down to the kitchen to find them baking away. I also love the part where she throws a birthday for her landlady and everyone is silenced and then thrown into fits of giggles because the food is so amazing.
I also recently watched The Mistress of Spices which was a great movie. I love how she uses the spices in recipes to help someone fall in love, or to have better communication.
February 25th, 2011
I thoroughly agree with everyone who mentioned Chocolat. Every. Single. Scene.
February 25th, 2011
They are so good and I definitely second the ones from Gilmore Girls, Ratatouille , Last Holiday and Chocolat.
My fave would be a tie between the scene in Pushing Daisies when Ned cooks pie as a little boy for all the other kid at boarding school and the other one is in Because I said so when Milly cooks chocolate souffle for Johnny and Lionel.
February 25th, 2011
In “Big”, when Tom Hanks’ character is at a party and eats caviar for the first time ever…LOL collapsing into giggles just thinking about how his face looked and how he spit it out, and wiped his tongue with a napkin…ROFL
February 25th, 2011
My favorite scene is from Ratatouille as well. I love when Remy is trying to teach his brother how food compliments itself with the jazz accents. Fantastic! I think of it each time I enjoy a glass of wine with a bit of cheese.
February 25th, 2011
There’s this fun scene in Hook (with Robin Williams) where the lost boys eat an “imaginary” meal that seems very real and magical.
February 25th, 2011
Mostly Martha – Martha’s boyfriend comes to her house and cooks her a meal. She is not allowed into the kitchen till the end. She almost has a heart attack when she sees what he has done to her kitchen (the mess).
February 25th, 2011
I agree with Lauren on the Waitress scene. It’s one of my favorite movies! But recently, that scene in Eat, Pray, Love where Julia Roberts slurps a whole bowl of spaghetti to the sound of Italian music is amazing. I watch that over and over again.
February 26th, 2011
Oh that scene from Ratatouille is a favorite. (plus the movie is just gorgeous. So sophisticated and not kiddied down, kwim?)
I like the scene from It’s Complicated were Meryl Streep and Steve Martin make chocolate croissants.
I also like most of the food scenes from Harry Potter. I really want one of those toast holders. Never even knew they existed!
My husband likes the scene from Braveheart, where everyone is eating at the table before the body comes down. He also votes LOTR: Return of the King when the steward is eating and the cherry tomato pops all over his face. (So my husband is a little barbaric)
February 26th, 2011
It’s a crappy movie, but my favorite food scene ever is in Spanglish when Adam Sandler makes an egg-topped BLT, slices into it, and yolk oozes everywhere…talk about food porn! The scene where he cooks for Paz de la Vega in his closed restaurant is pretty awesome as well.
Of course, my favorite movie about food has to be Ratatouille. I love watching Colette teach Linguine all of the insider tricks and trade they use in the kitchen!
February 26th, 2011
This is a funny one, and it’s not even particularly centered around food, but there’s a scene in the Keira Knightly version of Pride and Prejudice that I really love. It’s breakfast the morning after a ball; everyone is clearly hungover, cracking eggs into glasses and drinking them, etc.; and there are all these homely sounds of cutlery, and passing dishes, setting down glasses. The spread is really excellent (meats, jams, the whole nine yards sort of breakfast) and this big comfortable family is quietly, busily enjoying it together.
And the beautiful cinematography don’t hurt.
February 26th, 2011
“Homely” sounds, yeah, they’re really ugly–I think I meant “homey”. =D
February 26th, 2011
The first five minutes of the Chinese film “Eat Drink Man Woman” are mesmerizing. There’s an English adaptation called “Tortilla Soup” that has a pretty amazing first scene as well.
February 26th, 2011
It was in the onion cutting scene in Julia and Julie with Meryl Streep cutting piles and piles of onions.. it so reminded me of my early days in culinary school..
February 26th, 2011
oh goodness – every single movie mentioned previously for me too. I’d also add an older movie ‘Big Night’ w/Stanley Tucci, Minnie Driver, Isabella Rossellini and believe it or not, Marc Anthony had a very small part in that movie – fabulous. but Chocolat hands down, every single scene.
February 26th, 2011
Oh there are so many! But my favorite and silliest one has the be in Best in Show where the guy names off all the nuts in his deep mid west accent. Its hilarious and it goes on and on!
http://www.thefinishing-school.com
February 26th, 2011
My absolute favorite is the scene in Chocolat where the Count breaks down after almost completing lent and eats all of the chocolate goods in the front store window. I LOVE it!
February 27th, 2011
Just about the entire movie ‘The Big Night’ has memorable food scenes in it, but I love the whole sequence when they are bringing out course after course of amazing Italian food culminating in one guest in tears, one lounging on the table, one doing a party trick with an amaretti wrapper, a couple dancing in the background…everyone totally sated physically, spiritually and emotionally from the amazing meal. I also love when they are assembling the timbale. My partner I have watched to movie at least a dozen times and never tire of it!
February 27th, 2011
I agree with Ashley. Anyone who even thinks about this question should see “Babette’s Feast”. Anyone who writes or reads foodblogs would appreciate the story of the preparation and sharing of food as a transformative force.
Similarly, the book and movie, “Like Water for Chocolate” showcases food’s transcendent qualities. The main character literally seduces her lover with quail in rose petal sauce. Lovely.
February 27th, 2011
My absolute favorite food scene in a movie has to be the scene where the folks are all sitting around a table eating this amazing spread of food for Armande’s birthday. Chocolate is incorported into everything. Just watching their faces while they eat makes me want to drool.
February 28th, 2011
I can’t wait to check out all the movies that I haven’t yet seen!
February 28th, 2011
Can’t believe that no one has posted the scene in Spanglish when Adam Sandler’s character makes the incredible sandwich. The sandwich was developed by Thomas Keller for the movie, I believe. We have made the sandwich dozens of times and it is amazing!
February 28th, 2011
I loved reading everyone’s favorite food scene. I was torn between the scene in Goodfellas and the scene in Eat, Pray, Love when she’s eating the pasta. It’s so beautifully shot.
Oh Deanna, I absolutely love that scene in Spanglish. And I’ve made that sandwich and it’s incredible. There’s a dvd piece where Thomas Keller teaches you how to make it. You should check it out!
February 28th, 2011
In a very different way, I love the opening credits of Dexter, where a breakfast of ham, fried egg, and blood orange juice is meant to look violent and sinister. Perfect for the show.
February 28th, 2011
Definitely classic Bill Cosby’s “Dad is great brings me chocolate cake” skit. Hilariously funny.
February 28th, 2011
“Ratatouille” is one of my favorite movies! One of the other food scenes I really enjoy is from “Green Card”, and it’s the main reason I enjoy the movie. The main character, Bronte, has to host a French guy for a few nights. They butt heads a lot, especially over food. They go grocery shopping together and he ends up replacing everything she puts in the cart with something unhealthier, but much tastier. He ends up cooking a large French meal (with tons of butter much to the chagrin of Bronte), but he’s clearly satisfied with himself for having introduced flavorful food to Bronte.
March 1st, 2011
This one’s a no brainer for me… Pretty woman – Julia Roberts her attempts at eating shellfish… funny scene. :)
Love that movie!
March 1st, 2011
My favourite food scene ever would come from my favourite movie ever, Little Women (The winona ryder edition). The scene where they wake up on Christmas morning and see a lovely banquet of food laid out on the table, something incredibly special for them as they are quite poor, but still give it all away to the Hummels, an extremely poverty stricken German family. It reminds me that as good as food tastes, it tastes better shared.
First time visitor to Kitchen Generation — I love it!
March 2nd, 2011
What a fun question! I was thinking about the scene in Mrs. Doubtfire where he can’t cook and ends up ordering fancy takeout with the baby carrots. The kitchen was so chaotic, but then when he serves the meal, everyone is calm and impressed. Funny.
March 3rd, 2011
Caroline – you had me at my cousin vinny!
I like the scene in How I Met Your Mother where Ted is explaining to Robin his checklist and he’s like “she likes lasagne” and robin’s all “GROSS”
March 3rd, 2011
My favorite food scene is from My Blueberry Nights when Norah devours that blueberry pie and ice cream in the cafe then falls asleep. Such a great movie, not to mention a great pie!
March 5th, 2011
Someone mentioned the scene from Goodfellas where they are in jail, but I’d like to also not the scene where Henry is running around cutting up drugs and trying to make dinner for the family. At one point, he’s so paranoid that he’s shaping the meatballs while looking for helicopters. And don’t forget, Michael, “keep stirring the sauce.”
March 5th, 2011
I love the scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding when his parents come over for the feast with the family. I love how the lamb is categorized as a vegetarian dish. It just reminds me of when my whole family gets together and the comforts of food and family together.
March 7th, 2011
I like in the film “Because I Said So”, with Mandy Moore and her crazy mom that makes it almost difficult to watch, when she’s making souffles and they’re in the oven, and she stops mid-conversation with her boyfriend and quietly and instinctively says, “The souffles are done”, without the timer going off. She pulls them out and they are perfect:-)
March 8th, 2011
I come to think of several scenes from Notting Hill with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.
Apricots soaked in honey for example.
Or this one:
Spike – “There is sumthing wrong with this yoghurt…” with Wales accent.
Hugh Grant – “It is not Yoghurt. It is mayonese.”
Spike nods and continue eating.
Finally from the same movie. The last brownie competition.
March 11th, 2011
I’m late to this party, but I can’t resist answering! :)
My favorite food scene ever is at the end of Big Night (which by the way is a FABULOUS food movie and if you haven’t seen it, you must go out and rent it RIGHT. NOW.). The entire dinner scene is fabulous, but the very very end, when they’re in the kitchen and they split a simple omelet 3 ways … it’s perfect.
March 16th, 2011
My favourite food movie scene would be in the movie Big Night, the last wordless scene where the two brothers, Tony Chalhoub, Stanly Tucci and Cristiano (as Marc Anthony) are preparing an omelet in the restaurant’s kitchen, even though no one is talking but it’s full of emotions, of gratitude, of passion for cooking, of love of sharing. Great movie.
March 16th, 2011
Oh I just saw a comment with the same movie scene…..Well, that’s how great this movie is…. I have in mind different scenes from different movies and all are just great.
March 18th, 2011
When Kate @ Diethood . com mentioned the Julia Robert’s shellfish scene from Pretty woman, I immediately thought of another shellfish scene. In “Splash”, when Madison just bites into the lobster, shell and all. Then, Tom Hank’s character says “She’s really hungry”.
Also, and I know it’s a cartoon, but “Beauty and the Beast”, during the Be Our Guest song!
March 22nd, 2011
The scene in “It’s Complicated” where Meryl Streep, late at night, goes into her bakery and makes Steve Martin a chocolate croissant. Even though I’m gluten free, I love that scene and the pure love she puts into rolling out the flaky dough!
May 26th, 2011
I like the scene from Stranger Than Fiction where Ana Pascal makes cookies for the IRS worker and describes the passion for baking she had in college.
June 5th, 2011
Love these! Mine is in the TV show Pushing Daisies, a scene where The Piemaker reveals the secret of his pie shop in a backroom — rotten fruit that he “brings back to life” and makes pies out of! I think of this every time I take overly ripe fruit or wilting vegetables and bring them back to life with some heat and ingredients… I think making something out of nothing is one of my favorite aspects of cooking and baking.
June 29th, 2011
Probably most of the scenes from Tortilla Soup, when it shows Martin preparing colorful delicious latin american food. That movie was a beautiful edible movie.
July 18th, 2011
[...] share our answers and invite a few friends to share their answers before asking you. The last Answer This! was about your favorite food scene in a movie or tv show, this week it’s all about [...]
March 7th, 2013
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