A top 5 of some of the best films about gastronomy that the seventh art has given us. When talking about cooking in cinema, there is much to choose from, there are feature films, documentaries, and even memorable moments around the table in movies that have nothing to do with gastronomy. Just remember the food fight in Hook between Peter Pan and the lost boys to get an idea. Another example would be Lady and the Tramp sharing a spaghetti in the alley behind a city trattoria. For this count, we used a bit of everything and included films that unfold in a world of food and whether to entertain us, tell us an interesting story, or raise awareness, they have remained in memory forever.  

5.- Tortilla Soup

Director: María Ripoli Year: 2001 Why does it make you crave? If you are Mexican or from any other Latin country, you can identify perfectly with this movie. An overprotective father is a master of artisanal Aztec cooking and through this, he shows his love to his three daughters over the years. It is a family drama/comedy that makes it clear that for us, the table symbolizes unity and communication, and what better to accompany it than some good freshly made tamales or a grilled fish in the center of the table.

Tortilla Soup Recipe

This recipe is recommended because what better way to start your meal than with a typical Mexican snack, a delicious tortilla soup. Always keeping a somewhat spicy touch and with its vegetables as a complement.   If you want to see the steps to prepare this recipe click here.  

4.- Super Size Me

Director: Morgan Spurlock Year: 2004 Why does it make you crave? Sometimes cinema is for laughing, other times for crying, and on other occasions, like this one, it is to learn. Documentarian Morgan Spurlock embarks on a gluttonous adventure to prove a point: fast food is harmful. For this reason, he consumes nothing that doesn't come from McDonald's for a month, nothing. After this 30-day journey, his body is on the brink of collapse, and his doctors warn him of kidney and heart failures. Is it meant to scare us? No, it is meant to teach a lesson and show that although there is an obvious exaggeration in the documentary, you are given a tool to discern between what is bad and what is good for health. If after watching this movie you decide that you want to take care of your diet, I recommend checking out the diet section of Kiwilimón where you can find all kinds of nutritious and delicious recipes for your lifestyle. To see the diet section of Kiwilimón, click here.  

3.- Chocolat

Director: Lasse Hallström Year: 2000 Why does it make you crave? If there is a movie that pays tribute to the devoted pleasure of eating, it is this one. An extraordinary drama that centers on a chocolate maker who awakens the dormant sensuality of a quiet European village. I dare anyone to watch this film and not immediately go out to search for a bonbon, truffle, or chocolate-filled crepe to satisfy the craving it creates. Once again, food is the vehicle to understand a little more about human nature, the limits imposed by societies, and how liberating a steaming cup of hot chocolate can be. Highly recommended.

Rum and Chocolate Truffles Recipe

No more buying truffles, make them yourself with this recipe for chocolate truffles that have a touch of rum that makes them exquisite. If you want to see the steps to prepare this recipe, click here.  

2.- Jiro, Dreams of Sushi

Director: David Gelb Year: 2011 Why does it make you crave? Personally, I have seen very few stories as moving as this one in recent years of cinema. This documentary tells the story of Jiro Ono, an octogenarian Japanese man considered, without a doubt, the greatest sushi master in the world. His restaurant is located inside a subway station, only offers a tasting menu that costs over $300 per person, and ends in less than 20 minutes. For him, making sushi is an art that must be perfected, but since perfection does not exist, and he knows it, he lives in an unreachable quest for the utopia of sushi. At the same time, his two sons live under paternal rule and operate under the patriarch's rules. This is a story of family and devotion like few.

California Sushi Recipe

The California sushi roll is filled with avocado, crab, cucumber, and topped with masago.

If you want to see the complete recipe click here.  

1.- Ratatouille

Director: Brad Bird Year: 2007 Why does it make you crave? The friends at Pixar did it again. A small rat from the French countryside arrives in Paris with the dream of becoming the best chef in the City of Light. On the other hand, Linguini, an apprentice cook, is going from bad to worse in his job and will desperately need the help of the little rodent. This story of friendship and collaboration reaches its climax when the toughest food critic in all of France experiences a flashback to his childhood thanks to the rustic flavors of a ratatouille prepared by Remy, the rat. We can see how even in the realm of haute cuisine, what matters is the flavor and the nostalgia of a well-prepared bite. A gem of animation and cinema devoted to good food.

Ratatouille Recipe

This ratatouille recipe is super easy to prepare but tastes as if you had spent all day cooking it. Give it a try!   If you want to see the complete recipe, click here.  

"Which of these movies is your favorite?"