In case I haven’t filled up your movie queue already, here’s three more foodie movies to round out your upcoming movie nights.
Mistress of spices
I am a huge reader. If I love a movie, the book is almost always better.
In my personal opinion, this movie is an exception to that rule.
There have been a handful of books over the years that I felt were a complete letdown from the movie. Mistress of Spices was one of them. The book was pretty boring and unengaging, but please don’t let that deter you from the movie. The plot of the movie is adequite, but it’s the visual beauty that really carries it. It is stunningly sensory rich, on top of the fact that Aishwarya Rai is almost inhumanly beautiful.
The colors and the textures are what sets Mistress of Spices apart. It makes me want to flirt with my spice cabinet.
Bottle Shock
I adore this movie. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched it.
It is the story of a California winery, that goes up against French wines in a desperate bid to not go under. It is one of those great heartwarming underdog stories, and the cast is perfect. I love the juxtaposition of Bill Pullman and Alan Rickman, both of whom lean perfectly into their classic character tropes.
I admit that I am far more fascinated with wine than I am knowledgeable. So a hilarious underdog rom-com about wine, that’s based on a true story, is right up my alley.
Plus, the outdoor shots really make the most of the incredible sun-drenched golden arid landscape of Napa valley. You can almost feel the hot sun on your skin, the cool of the evenings, and the jelly jar in your hand, full of world class wine.
A Good Year
And finally, a candy bar of a movie. Russell Crowe and Abby Cornish, directed by Ridley Scott, and set in Province vineyard. What’s not to like?
I didn’t include this in my next list of cultural foodie movies, because even though it is set in France, it is pure American feel-good rom-com. Yes it’s beautiful, yes it has good actors, but this is less of a film masterpiece and more of a movie comfort food. There are times when you want sublime quality. And then there are stressful times when you just want to put on giant cozy pajamas, curl up under a blanket with a glass of wine, and watch something happy. That is what A Good Year does best.
As always, I am forever on the hunt for the next movie that joins the ranks of my favorite foodie flicks. If you haven’t seen these already (and even if you have), check them out and see what resonates with you.
