The hundred-foot journey

If you know Steven Spielberg from his awesome science-fiction movies, get to know The hundred-foot journey, a 2014 comedy-drama that Spielberg and Oprah produced. The film is directed by Lasse Hallström and is actually adapted from a novel with the same title. Filled with diverse casts, this film is quite a tasteful cultural film.

The hundred-foot journey narrates a story of an Indian family called “ The kadam’s family”, who migrated to Europe after a horrendous conflict back home. The kadam’s family was granted asylum in London but decided to move to other parts of Europe. In Europe, specifically France, the Kadam's family started anew. Their new life started when Abbu, the father and the head of the family, decided to open up an Indian restaurant in hope to introduce the French to Indian cuisine. However, a problem arises when their location is just next to a restaurant known for its Michelin stars managed by a French lady called Madame Mallory(played by Hellen Miren) . We will be taken into the journey of the family breaking through the french market and immersing themselves into the culture. One thing to note about this film is that it shows some innovation in cuisine including the way one culture could find harmony in cuisines. Viewers can learn quite a bit of the basics from french cooking including the famous basic sauces and obviously, how to bargain from Abbu, the head of Kadam’s family.

Though the cinematography isn’t as tasteful as you would expect, you can watch this film for its story. One thing to note, some parts of this movie aren’t translated to English. So, be prepared to hear three languages all at once. But overall, the movie and its story, will make you crave for some comfort food and leave you wanting for more.

Ratatouille

Did you know that ratatouille is considered a "peasant" dish in France? I didn't know until I watched the classic animation movie, Ratatouille.

This film premiered back in 2007 and received plenty of awards for its outstanding screenplay and even animation. Those awards can speak for the quality of this animated movie that can be watched by people across ages. For a foodie, the haute cuisine is strong in this film.This movie succeeded in inspiring people and chefs all over to make the ratatouille dish just like in this film that was produced by Pixar. And what's more mindboggler is that the cooking is done by a rat, a sewer rat.

In this movie, a famous chef called “Auguste Gusteau” has a motto, anyone can cook and that movie takes that literally. The late Guestau is an inspiration to Remy, the young rat who has a strong sense of smell and wishes to become a chef. He eventually finds a way to work in late gusteau's restaurant with Alfredo Linguini, who later is actually the estranged son of Guestau’s. Though at first they both struggled in communication, they eventually found a way to cooperate. And this movie contains some interesting moral lessons that emphasize the importance of family. But it can be enjoyed as a wondrous and delicious tale of a rat’s chef making its way to pursue the dream. If you really are a foodie, you must never ever miss this classic film.

Burnt

Do chefs have bad temper and anger management? Bad temper issues seem to be the common trait of chefs in some films about food. The kitchen is often portrayed as a rough place to be with and though one would think cooking is associated with a female’s activity, in many of these films, the females are the minority.

Like in Burnt, that film seems to be the archetype of many other chef’s movies where a female plays minor roles such as the sous chef who later falls in love with the Chef de Cuisine. So, once you watch burnt, you can understand the archetype of any other chef movie out there. However, that is actually something you could appreciate from this movie that illustrates the dramatic version inside the kitchen. This movie was released back in 2015 starring Bradley Cooper who plays Adam Jones, a Michelin star chef from Paris who has drug issues. Personally, this sounds like the Parisian graduate from literature as well, who comes back with their artistry but also has either alcohol or drug issues.

The story was rather bland without much spice as it mostly focuses on Adam Jones and his issues. But, you can at least appreciate the story and its cinematography. And for foodies or chef aspirants, this might roughly give you the situation inside the kitchen that’s not always filled with sprinkles and sweets.