With the increasing popularity of the Food Network and it’s many shows, “celebrity” chefs, and websites like www.foodnetworkhumor.com, chances are you have a strange creature that identifies as a “foodie” in your life. If your food fanatic has every kitchen gadget, cook book, spice blend and truffle paste available, never fear we’ve got you covered! Consider gifting your grub-loving pal with one of the great foodie flicks we’ll be profiling on Biff Bam Pop for the next few weeks! Hey, the holidays are all about spending time with loved ones and celebrating whatever you happen to celebrate, but they’re also all about food too am I right?!
For the Adventurous Cook:
Like Water For Chocolate
I first discovered Like Water For Chocolate as a book written by Mexican novelist Laura Esquival. The novel is both a love story and a recipe book – each chapter headed by increasingly more delicious sounding recipes. I’ve read it about 30 times and every single time I tell myself that I’ll try making one of the dishes in the book – but I haven’t yet! Maybe a new 2012 Resolution for me?
Born in the kitchen of her family home, Tita is brought into the world amidst the comforting scents and warmth of food. Her childhood is full of love and cooking lessons from the beloved family maid Nacha and she grows to become a wonderful cook. When young Tita first encounters Pedro it’s love at first sight. Forbidden from being together, Pedro marries Tita’s older sister Esperanza in an effort to remain close to Tita. As the youngest daughter, Tita is bound by tradition to stay unwed in the family home, caring for her cruel mother, her sisters and her new brother in law until her mother’s death. In spite of this, Tita communicates her feelings for Pedro in the only way she can – through her cooking. This often results in magical consequences as Tita pours all of her emotions into each finely-crafted dish.
As much as I loved the novel, I have to be honest and admit that I didn’t love the movie…as much. Perhaps this is because the actors and characters on the screen didn’t measure up to what I’d imagined in my head because it’s still an excellent film. The story is compelling, it’s won many awards and the food imagery in it is breathtaking.
This scene involving Tita’s preparation of “Quail in Rose Petal Sauce” is a spicy example of some of the “consequences” of Tita’s cooking in the film:
I apologize for the horrible voice overs. If you do end up watching this film, do yourself a favour and use the original audio with subtitles – I just can’t take english voice overs seriously!
Like Water For Chocolate is a fun, moving (and delicious) flick for the adventurous and romantic foodie film-lover in your life. As an excellent addition to this gift I suggest the novel, and maybe some spicy Mexican chocolate from your local gourmet shop. If you’re lucky maybe your foodie will even whip you up some Rose Petal Quail of your very own!
You can purchase Like Water for Chocolate on dvd and in novel form on amazon.ca.
Don’t forget to check back for more Food Porn: movies for the Foodie in your life next week! Last week’s post: Waitress.
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