Food and Film

There are some amazing films out there for people who love food. My favorite is Ratatouille. And on the flight back from Bali this summer, we watched Chef. It was so well done, I wondered how on Earth Hollywood found the main character and urged himto  share his story. I was completely floored when I found that it was written by, directed by, and starring 'that guy from Swingers'.

Then, a few days ago, we watched Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Due to my love affair with sushi (we jumped on a plane once, mainly to eat sushi in Tsujiki market, despite me being pregnant), many people have recommended that I see this film. And one of my favourite Toronto sushi suppliers, Hiro from the eponymous restaurant, will be doing a talk prior to a screening at Humber later this month.  There's way more I need to say about this movie, but I wanted to document the 20 course meal we had to rewind again. and again. and again and again and again (yes, five times), to live vicariously through the scene.

Dante might have had 7 levels to Hell, but I've got 20 levels to Sushi Heaven. Here they are, in symphonic order:

First Movement

hirame, or halibut

sumi-ika, or squid

aji, or horse mackerel

akami, or lean tuna

chu-toro, or medium tuna

o-toro, or fatty tuna

kohada, or gizzard shad

Second Movement

hamaguri, or hard shell clam

shima-aji, or striped mackerel

kuruma ebi, or wheel shrimp

sayori, or half-beak

tako, or octopus

Third Movement

saba, or mackerel

uni, or sea urchin

kobashira, or bay scallop

ikura, or salmon roe

anago, or saltwater eel

kanpyo-maki, or dried gourd roll

tamagoyaki, or grilled egg

If the words are not enough to move you, perhaps Adam Goldberg's pictures will. 

And if you are mathematically inclined, you might notice there are only 19 courses listed here (the melon course couldn't count). Even so, all this means I might have to embark on a sushi-driven, mad quest to Japan again before I die, just to try Jiro's delectable, 20-min meal. But if I can't, I'll take a big swig of some Jiro haterade.

Other notable notes, besides Ratatouille, Chef and Jiro Dreams of Sushi:

- Julie & Julia (Norah Ephron)

- Babette's Feast (need to watch)

- Woman on Top (Penelope Cruz)

- Chocolat (Juliette Binoche)

- Eat Drink Man Woman (need to watch)

- Sideways (okay, this is about wine, you got me)

I should make a playlist or something. What are your favourite foodie films? Do you have a foodie quest?