Reel Tasty: Iconic food moments in film
Eating is synonymous with cinema. As a recent episode of The Kitchen Cabinet explored, food and film go together like movie cops and doughnuts.
We’ve trawled the annals of film history and gathered together a veritable smorgasbord of memorable moments the combine fine dining with unforgettable films.
Mashed Potato in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Sometimes food is used as a adornment to a particular scene and sometimes it provides a vital plot point.
Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi epic Close Encounters features the latter as Richard Dreyfuss’s character Roy Neary constructs the location of the alien rendezvous point (Devils Tower in Wyoming) out of mashed potato while at the dinner table with his family.
This famous scene has been parodied in the films UHF and Canadian Bacon and on TV in episodes of Spaced, The X-Files, That '70s Show, The IT Crowd and The Simpsons.
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Milkshakes in Pulp Fiction (1994)
Quentin Tarantino’s pop culture crammed crime classic is awash with quirky characters, snappy dialogue and lots and lots of junk food.
Whether it’s Samuel L. Jackson intimidating someone by eating their Big Kahuna burger or a discussion about the metric equivalent of quarter pounders in France (a Royale with Cheese of course) or the Pop Tarts and murder scene featuring Bruce Willis, there’s not a 5-a-day in sight.
But perhaps the most memorable scene is Uma Thurman’s ordering of a $5 milkshake, much to the consternation of John Travolta. Of course, these were 1994 prices, now $5 for a milkshake seems quite reasonable.
Spaghetti in Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Dogs? Eating pasta? By some bins in the back alley behind a restaurant? It’s a Food Inspector’s nightmare, liable to lead to immediate closure on health and safety grounds.
But the unforgettable moment where the ne’er-do-well Tramp woos his beau Lady by nudging a meatball in her direction with his nose is seared onto the memory of every movie fan.
Steaks in Bridesmaids (2011)
For every delightful soufflé or lovingly prepared risotto served in a romantic location that punctuates film, the dark side of food is also present. And none is darker than the notorious Brazilian food sequence in Bridesmaids. Or rather, it’s the consequence of the Brazilian food that’s notorious.
As Kristen Wiig’s character attempts to outshine and impress the rest of the bridal party, she takes them to a little South American place she knows.
Unfortunately, she also exposes them all to food poisoning, right before a wedding dress fitting.
Cue the befouling of a fancy boutique with lashings of vomit, use of a sink in a way it wasn’t intended and a bride undertaking some unforgettable curb-side squatting.
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Turkey Sandwich in When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Of course we all remember the closing line of this infamous scene (“I’ll have what she’s having” said by the director Rob Reiner’s mother) as Sally fakes an orgasm at the table in a diner.
I’ll have what she’s having.When Harry Met Sally (1989)
But do you remember what it was she was having?
It was a fully loaded turkey sandwich (with coleslaw) from the legendary Katz’s deli in New York City (Harry has pastrami).
The film is awash with food references (a favourite theme of the writer Nora Ephron) from apple pie served in a very particular way to coconut cake with chocolate sauce.
Garlic in Goodfellas (1990)
Food, especially Italian cuisine has always played an important part in the films of Martin Scorsese.
Even in prison his characters eat well.
In one unforgettable scene, Wiseguy turned squealer Henry Hill describes the intricate process of making an evening meal behind bars involving garlic sliced finely with a razor, a pasta course, steaks, lobsters and the finest meats, cheeses and bread; all washed down with some fine Scotch.
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Ratatouille in Ratatouille (2007)
Kid’s films seem obsessed with various health code violations, as illustrated by Pixar’s beloved peon to fine dining involving a restaurant infested with rats.
One particular rat called Remy happens to be a cooking whizz and helps a hapless chef called Linguine reach his full potential in the kitchen.
The denouement occurs when a hard to please food critic is served the titular dish, which reminds him of home cooked meals and melts his heart.
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Snake in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Not all memorable culinary occasions in films are tasty and saliva-inducing.
In this prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark, swashbuckling archeologist Jones and his sidekick Short Round are attempting to foil the exploits of an evil cult bent on world domination.
This involves a lavish banquet hosted by the Prime Minister of Pankot Palace, that features chilled monkey brains (served in skull), eyeball soup and lots of little snakes served inside a great big snake. Tasty!
Turkey in Tom Jones (1963)
This multi Academy Award winning adaptation of Henry Fielding's classic novel, adapted by playwright John Osborne, has the word ‘bawdy’ running through it like a stick of Blackpool rock.
Perhaps the bawdiest (and most memorable) moment is a rather ribald dining scene featuring our hero (played by Albert Finney) and his housemaid Jenny Jones slurping down fruits and gnawing of turkey legs in a highly seductive way.
Director Tony Richardson refused to cut a shot involving Jenny and an oyster which the censors objected to and so the film received an X rating.
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Small Bread in This is Spinal Tap (1984)
The genius of Tap guitarist Nigel Tufnell is displayed in this hilarious moment involving backstage catering.
Nigel is particularly upset by the hors d’oeuvres offered on the rider at a rock venue.
Especially the size of the bread which is too wee to accommodate the meat he wishes to put in it.
What follows is a baffling exchange that deals with the basics of folding, followed by confusion over vol au vents and a problem with a pitted olive.
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