I love a good movie that has elements of food/cooking/wine included. For some reason they often include beautiful scenery as well. Here are my top five. I hope you’ll share your favourites with me in the comments.
1. A Walk in the Clouds
This is primarily an old fashioned love story set after WW2 at a winery in California. The scenery is fantastic and making wine is central to the story. It stars Keanu Reeves and Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, but it is Anthony Quinn’s performance that lends the humour and warmth.
2. The Hundred-Foot Journey
Beautifully filmed in India and France, elements of both cuisines are explored as an Indian family arrives in France with the idea of running an Indian restaurant. They settle across the street from a haute cuisine French restaurant with a snobby owner, and as they compete, they find their similarities greater than their differences. Stars Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Charlotte Le Bon, and Manish Dayal.
3. Julie and Julia
Julia Child’s cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking is source material for a blogger (Julie) wanting to cook her way through the book. Julia Child’s story is told juxtaposed against Julie’s, as we see both women’s careers rise. Stars Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Stanley Tucci.
4. Chocolat
A mysterious woman and her daughter open a chocolate shop during Lent in a small town in France. Chocolate, friendship and love are the main themes. Starring Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Alfred Molina.
5. Ratatouille
An animated feature starring a rat that loves to cook, and his relationship with an aspiring young chef in Paris. Stars Patton Oswalt as Remy, the rat.
Everyday Cheer 