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21 Inspirational Movies about Food and Chefs

Food and movies appeal to your main senses. One uses flavour, aroma and touch to captivate you, while the other captures your imagination with vision and sound.

When you combine these two themes, you get something surprising and dynamic. A good food movie lets you enjoy the visual feast, even as it showcases different realities in people’s lives.

If you’re in the mood for some soul-searching or romance the foodie way, this guide offers a buffet of 21 movies. This could change the way you feel about food, love and life.

1. Big Night by Stanley Tucci & Campbell Scott (1996)

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Italian food, bickering siblings, floundering family restaurant, and the one celebrity meal. This movie has all the right elements to move its audience. You’ll be craving some carb food at the end of it.

2. Haute Cuisine (Les Saveurs du Palais) by Christian Vincent (2012)

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Based on the true story of a chef from a small French town who joined the Presidential kitchen. The plot is as much about the elegance of French cuisine as it is about a lady who carves a place for herself in the male bastion.

3. Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? by Ted Kotcheff (1978)

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Unlike family, romance or fun themed movies in the list, this is a mystery-thriller. A food critic tries to track the killer behind explores a series of murders of master chefs, before time runs out.

4. Like Water for Chocolate by Alfonso Arau (1992)

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A magical realism movie that showcases the power of food over anyone one who eats it. A parallel track revolves around the young girl who cooks these intense meals and her forbidden love.

5. The Hundred-Foot Journey by Lasse Hallstrom (2014)

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Based on a bestseller novel, this movie explores various concepts like people’s opposition to new ideas and how multiculturalism elevates cooking to a new level. When French cuisine meets Indian, there is bound to be fireworks.

6. Eat Drink Man Woman by Ang Lee (1997)

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A touching story of a Taiwanese chef-father stuck in a traditional world and his modern, strong-willed daughters. He tries to find common ground with his three children over extravagant Sunday dinners.

Lee’s Chinese movie inspired spinoffs including Tortilla Soup (2001) and Soul Food.

7. Soul Food by George Tillman Jr. (1997)

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This one takes a slightly different route with an African American setting. It has three married sisters (and their troubles), a matriarch and elaborate Sunday dinners with extended family.

8. Ratatouille by Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava (2007)

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A rat (cooking genius) and a garbage boy cook up succulent meals that reverse a hotel’s fortunes and touch the heart of a callous food critic. A movie that will have you reaching for the untouched recipe book.


9. The Chef by Jon Favreau (2014)

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This movie is about a spiritual and culinary journey of a respected chef who loses his job in a fancy restaurant. He ends up with a food truck business where he focuses on creating simple and economical for the ordinary folk.

10. Tampopo by Jûzô Itami (1985)

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A Western-styled Japanese movie with interconnected stories based on food. From the chef who dreams of his own noodle bar to his trucker aide, all the characters reveal their love for a hearty meal.

11. Babette’s Feast by Gabriel Axel (1987)

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An Oscar winning Danish movie is about a French woman who holds a feast in the memory of a pastor-mentor after winning the lottery. The heart-warming story revolves around the preparation for the great banquet.

12. Mostly Martha by Sandra Nettelbeck (2001)

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When the world of workaholic and demanding Martha collides with the avant-garde Mario, something’s gotta give. This German movie brings the clash between traditional and modern styles in the restaurant business to the fore.

If you’re looking for an American remake, then check out No Reservations (2007).

13. A Touch of Spice by Tassos Boulmetis (2003)

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A touching story of a boy from Istanbul and his grandfather who teaches him to cook. When the chef’s return to his homeland 30 years later, will he find the missing spice in his life?

14. The Lunchbox by Ritesh Batra (2013)

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A lonely widower, a neglected homemaker, and homemade lunches shared by mistake. This Indian movie portrays loneliness and life truths with food as a backdrop.

15. Waitress by Adrienne Shelley (2007)

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Can the coming of a stranger and baking pies for a contest help you escape an unhappy marriage and a small town? Watch this flick about a pregnant waitress and her penchant for pie baking to find out.

16. The Trip by Michael Winterbottom (2010)

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Fancy a trip as a food critic checking out eateries in Northern England for the Observer? Imagine travelling with a friend who shares your love for comic impressions.

If your enjoyed this, you’ll like the sequel The Trip to Italy (2014)

17. Chocolat by Lasse Hallstrom (2000)

Available here

A single mother with a young daughter opens a chocolate shop in a conservative French town. Set in the 1960s, the story has leading lady winning over the community with her cocoa based treats.

18. Julie & Julia by Nora Ephron (2009)

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A movie with parallel stories based on real lives of renowned chef Julia Child and a blogger. Julie recreates each one of the chef’s recipes to turn her dreary life into something meaningful.

19. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory by Mel Stuart (1971)

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Dahl’s classic was first brought to life in 1971 and again in 2005 with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. If you love the glitzy version, watch the Johnny Depp starrer. For a taste of pure entertainment, stick to the original.

20. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (2009)

Available here

When a genius scientist creates a machine to turn water into food, he isn’t really prepared for things that follow, includes food raining down the sky. A groovy animation for kids and adults alike. This one has got a sequel too.

21. I Am Love by Luca Guadagnino (2010)

Available here

An elegant and bored Russian wife of a powerful Milanese businessman falls for a young chef and his amazing creations. Life not only gets interesting but sets her up for a showdown.

To whet your appetite for more movies with food themes, check out this list.

Have these food movies increased your craving for a tasty snack?

Order from your neighbourhood takeaway joint, cook up some treats from your favourite recipe book, or better still, embark on a food tour!

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Top 28 Food and Travel Bloggers to Follow in 2017

Do you enjoy browsing through recipes online and swooning over enticing food images? Is it curiosity about other cultures or thrill of armchair exploration that finds you spending countless hours on travel sites?

Food and travel experiments enable you to see places, culinary traditions and culture from a vantage point – local point of view.

This immersive experience leaves you with a keen understanding of food, customs and people. We’ve attempted something similar with this top list of food-loving travel bloggers.

You’ll find bloggers who enjoy a variety of foods, experiment with local and exotic cuisine on their journey across the planet. The travel bloggers in our listicle showcase their adventures and experiences, while musing on food, dining spots and tourist activities.

1. Migrationology
Author – Mark Wiens

Probably the most famous food and travel blog out there, a creation (and passion) of Mark Wiens. More than through the blog itself, Mark became famous thanks to his You Tube Channel, that features food on camera from all over the world. It is an absolute must-follow for people who travel for food.

2. Legal Nomads
Author – Jodi Ettenberg

Jodi Ettenberg, a former lawyer, quit her job to travel and ended up creating a completely new career for herself, inspiring readers with her powerful story-telling. She shares her culinary adventures from places she visits, sprinkled with beautiful photography, resources and personal tips.

3. Bacon is Magic 
Author – Ayngelina Borgan

What started off a female solo-traveller’s chronicle has morphed into a culinary and travel blog about meals, people and places. With the contribution of her husband Dave, who is a professional chef, the blog features fascinating food guides and recipes – and don’t miss all the fantastic video food guides on their You Tube Channel!

4. Nomadic Boys
Authors – Stefan and Sebastian

The London-based gay couple has travelled to 25 countries so far. You’ll find an entire section on local food recipes, in addition to culture stories and travel advice on their site.

5. 2foodtrippers 
Authors – Daryl and Mindi Hirsch

This married couple combine their love for food and travel (over 30 countries all together and 38 States in the US) into a fact-filled website. You’ll find tips on cuisine, dining spots, accommodation and food festivals.
6. With Husband in Tow 
Authors – Eric and Amber

For this couple, adventure lies in food-related events from tasting local foods to exploring new cuisines, as they are experiencing the world through food and wine travel. Don’t forget to check out their delicious You Tube Channel.

7. Authentic Food Quest
Authors – Claire and Rosemary

Claire and Rosemary, who are both family, and business partners, set off on a mission through 32 countries and 29 US States to showcase authentic local food to the world. They want to inspire other travellers to experience other countries and cultures through culinary experiences.

 

 

8. Once in A Lifetime Journey
Author – Mar Pages

Having travelled to 90 countries so far, Mar reveals more about little-known places in the world, their cuisine, restaurants and her amazing experiences there.

9. Funnelogy Channel
Authors – Gabriella Zanzanaini and Nicolas Petit

These bloggers are foodies at heart searching for new recipes from local kitchens abroad – as they say, there is not better universal language than food! Their website has food and culture stories from their journey through Eurasia.

10. A Little Adrift
Author – Shannon O’Donnell

Shannon, who was named “Traveller of the Year” by National Geographic, has been exploring the planet from 2008. Her site has expanded to include guides on food, culture and sustainable tourism along with beautiful photography.

11. Eat Your World
Authors – Scott and Laura Rosen

Travel is all about immersing in new cultural and food experiences for this couple. Their blog documents and local foods and travel stories from 125+ cities, focusing on foods and drinks that are native and traditional.

12. Boy Eats World
Authors – Aleney and Raffles

A food-travel blog with a difference! Along with travel anecdotes, you’ll find restaurant reviews, food notes by mom, and special reviews by 8-year old Raffles.

13. A Table for Two
Author – Billy Law

This Masterchef Australia participant has been living his culinary travel dream. His posts cover tasty restaurant meals from around the world with drool worthy images.

14. Mrs. O Around the World
Author – Ana Silva O’Reilly

Do luxury settings figure in your travel essentials? This blog with travel tips, reviews and best lists of places, hotels and food will feel like home.

15. A Taste of Travel
Author – Jenny

Jenny’s love for new sights, delicious flavours and luxury travel spaces is evident from her food and travel stories – and it all started in Italy, but since then she’s been eating her way throughout the continents!

 

 

16. Food Travelist
Author – Sue Reddel, Diana Laskaris

Sue and Diana call themselves “ambassadors of food travel” and they’ve been touring the culinary world since 2011. They also specifically cover experiences that “offer welcoming comfort to the LGBTQ community”.

17. The Wandering Gourmand
Author – Bryan Richards

A stay-at-home dad, a craft beer and food blogger and a travel writer, Bryan takes you on a food and beer hunting journey across five continents.

18. Lonely Palate
Author – Jessica Rigg

Jessica shares food secrets gleamed from locals and chefs on her travels, along with details on food trends and eateries.

19. The Travel Bite
Author – Rachelle Lucas and Pete Wallace

Rachelle’s and Pete’s passion for exploring food and places is visible in there posts as they searches for tastiest meals on her travels. Through her writing and recipes collected from all around the world, she inspires people to explore the world of culinary vacations.

20. Cook Sister
Author – Jeanne Horak-Druiff

Jeanne, a South African food, wine and travel blogger, brings you restaurant reviews, travel tips and cuisine advice interspersed with gorgeous images of markets and delicious food.

21. Ever in Transit
Author – Cassie Kifer and Kevin Adams

California-based duo, Cassie and Kevin, takes you on a culinary journey across continents, featuring unusual foods, global recipes, beers and wine from all around the globe. Explore their (mostly) vegetarian foods and enjoy their travel tips!

22. Travel Bites Deep
Author – Jessica Colley

The bloggette takes you on a journey across Europe exploring food, luxury settings and locale, while sharing unique tips with readers.

 

 

23. A Cook Not Mad
Authors –Tim and Nat

When a photographer and a chef decide to share their travel stories, you’re sure to find tantalising tales of food and culture among the pages.

24. The Culinary Travel Guide
Author – Laura Goyer

This Culinary Travel Professional shares top food experiences with her readers. You’ll find news, reviews, and personal food reminiscences on this magazine-style website.

25. Travel This Earth
Authors – Mica and Mike

Mica and Mike have been living all around the world since 2007. When they’re not busy volunteering, this duo explore the rich culinary scene in their destinations and share them with their readers.

26. The Food Pornographer
Author – Cynthia Chew

This Australian food-and-travel aficionado showcases her culinary experiences, restaurant reviews and market tours with beautiful images.

27. Will Fly for Food
Authors – JB and Renee

The traveleaters, as they call themselves, talk about their culinary exploits on the road. Their website also provides guides on dining spots and local food.

28. Deliciously Directionless
Author – Prachi Joshi

This India-based traveller’s site is filled with restaurant reviews, food notes, interesting recipes, and travel anecdotes.

Bonus blog!

Food Perestroika
Author – Floran Pinel

Floran writes about authentic recipes from East European (Eastern bloc) cuisines and restaurants serving them. You’ll also find travelogues from countries like Armenia and Moldova.

Did you enjoy this round-up of food-based travel blogs? Ready to embark on your own culinary cum exploration trip?

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7 Tips for Photographing Busy Food Markets and Street Food

Booths overflowing with gorgeous foods of every kind, intoxicating aromas of spices and cheeses, merchants enthusiastically shouting over the crowds to sell their wares – these are just a few of the joys of visiting the food markets around the world.

As every food traveler knows, visiting the local market can be the highlight of a trip. Capturing stunning, savor-worthy photos of that market, however, can be quite a challenge. Even the smallest of food markets are typically chaotic, with vendors trying to get your attention, constant motion everywhere, and of course, other shoppers bumping into you and blocking your shots. With so much going on, getting even a single decent image can be frustrating enough to make you give up and head to the nearest pub.

Fortunately, there are a few ways to make the experience of photographing a busy market not only tolerable, but enjoyable. Whether you are a serious photographer or simply want to take a few Instagram worthy pics of your visit to the market, these simple and easy to implement tips will help you navigate the chaos and capture those drool worthy food market images.

1) Choose the right time of day

Do a bit of research to discover when the market is typically less crowded, but still well stocked with goods. In most locations, this is shortly after the market opens for the day. The booths are usually overflowing with the freshest, most beautiful foods, the vendors are still (hopefully) in good spirits, and the market won’t be swarming with mid-day shoppers blocking your shots or getting annoyed that you are in their way.

Bonus – if you are visiting the market in the morning, the natural morning light is likely to be at its most complimentary.

Food Market Photography from Julie Cockburn at TasteOfThePlace.com_skipping the crowds(Taking advantage of the lull in the market crowd.)

2) Take a few minutes to orient yourself

Whether you are visiting the market just to take photos, or you’re there to pick up lunch for the day and grab a few pics while you’re at it, it’s a good idea to take a few minutes to absorb the whole scene. Walk around, look at the booths, chit chat with a vendor or two, and get to know the place. When you do, you will get a quick feel for the where the best photos can be found, as well as where to find the tastiest looking goodies for your lunch. ) Focus on the details The busier it is, the harder it can be to get a good wide shot. So rather than trying to fight the crowds, focus on the little things right in front of you. Fortunately, so much of the beauty of a market can be found in the details – the individual stacks of cheese, the perfect pastry, the hands of the vendors tending their wares.

3) Focus on the details

The busier it is, the harder it can be to get a good wide shot. So rather than trying to fight the crowds, focus on the little things right in front of you. Fortunately, so much of the beauty of a market can be found in the details – the individual stacks of cheese, the perfect pastry, the hands of the vendors tending their wares.

Food Market Photography from Julie Cockburn at TasteOfThePlace.com_details(The interesting details on the basket of greens are eye catching and beautiful.)

4) Embrace the chaos

Markets are, by their very nature, chaotic. Elbows are flying, people are shouting, there is hustle and bustle everywhere. If you aren’t able to be there during the quietest time of day, and instead find yourself in the middle of the craziness, embrace it in your photos. Don’t be afraid to show the long lines, or capture images with lots hands reaching in for goods – it’s all part of the story. Bonus idea – If you have the ability to control the shutter speed on your camera and have a way to stabilize it (this would be a good scenario for a lightweight monopod), why not try taking a longer exposure shot. Focus on something interesting, and allow the motion of activity to blur all around it.

Food Market Photography from Julie Cockburn at TasteOfThePlace.com_show the crowd(The hands and people in the background tell an interesting story.)

5) Shoot then shop…

Trying to take photos while loaded down with stuff is not fun. Your arms get tired, you tend to drop things, and pretty soon you are so frustrated that you shove the camera away and say forget it. Do yourself a favor and shoot your photos first, then put the camera away and dive into some delicious shopping.

6) …OR, shop then shoot later

Sometimes shooting somewhere else is your best bet, especially if you want to compose a shot of particular items. Why not purchase a few beautiful (and tasty) goodies, head to a lovely location, and shoot there at your leisure. Big bonus – now you have a picnic to enjoy!

Food Market Photography from Julie Cockburn at TasteOfThePlace.com_shoot later(A few simple and tasty items arranged, photographed, and then enjoyed, after leaving the market for the day)

7) Non-techy camera tips for shooting hectic markets

• Whether you are using a smart phone or a high-end DSLR, make sure you are well acquainted with your camera before you go. When you are shooting at the market, you are going to feel pressured to move quickly. Before you go, at a minimum, make sure you know how to quickly set the focus and adjust the brightness.

• Make sure you check your photos as you go. Have you ever gotten home from an event, downloaded your photos, and discovered they were all blurry? No fun! Unfortunately, the displays on most cameras and smart phones are too small to really show if a photo is out of focus. To avoid this tragedy, take a few seconds from time to time to zoom in on your pics and ensure they’re looking good.

• Think about the light. Try to use natural, diffused light whenever possible. Look for booths that are bright and open. Keep in mind that food generally looks great when lit from the side. This means that while you are shooting, try to position yourself so the natural light is flowing from either your left or right, and across the food.

Food Market Photography from Julie Cockburn at TasteOfThePlace.com_side light(Natural side lighting brings out the shine of the berries and the texture in the scene.)

With just a bit of planning and thoughtfulness during your next trip to the food market, you can take away not only some delicious goodies, but some drool worthy photos to remember your experience!
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This article is prepared by Julie Cockburn, a culinary travel specialist, cookbook author, and food photographer at TasteOfThePlace.com. Grab more culinary travel photography tips, plus download a free travel photography packing check list at tasteoftheplace.com/travelfoodphotographytips .

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Chilli for Dummies: 13 Types Every Foodie Should Know

“Philosophers have often looked for the defining feature of humans–language, rationality, culture and so on. I’d stick with this: Man is the only animal that likes Tabasco sauce.”

Dr. Paul Bloom, Psychologist

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How Raw Cane Sugar Is Made (Jaggery / Gurr / Panela)

Before people learned how to extract sugar from beets and how to process it chemically, sugar cane was the only source of natural sweetener, the popularity of which grew rapidly around the world once it was discovered. The art of extracting its sweet juice and moulding it into different shapes using only mechanical tools was perfected centuries ago. (more…)

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Why You Should Eat and Cook in Banana Leaves

Banana leaves are widely used for cooking and serving food in Asia, Africa and South America. Before the joys of modern refrigeration were discovered, people in tropical countries used to cook and wrap food in banana leaves to prevent them from spoiling. There is a reason for steaming, boiling, frying, baking or grilling foods in banana leaves as well.  The leaf wrap protects food from getting burnt on an open flame. Wraps also hold the heat inside and cook food in their juices. These fresh, green leaves lend an aromatic and sweetish flavour to the final dish. (more…)

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15 Foods To Try in Yucatan, Mexico

Yucatan is the most visited part of Mexico, mostly because of its unbelievably beautiful sandy beaches and turquoise waters, fascinating nature and marine life. The Yucatan Peninsula however has even more to offer beyond the famous resorts of Cancun and Tulum: its unique culture and history. And what can be a better way to experience it rather than through food? Heavily influenced by Mayan and European cultures, the traditional foods prepared in this region are full of flavor and unique ingredients. Take a look at our list of 15 foods that you must try in the Yucatan Peninsula! (more…)

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Why You Should Add Chilli To Your Diet: 8 Unique Health Benefits

You gorge on fiery Schezuan, scorching Indian, simmering Thai and spicy Mexican, even as tears flow freely down your eyes. Your tongue is on fire, and yet, you’re addicted to the energy rush that capsaicin generates.

Now picture these recipes without a good dose of red or green chillies.  Five hundred years ago, before chillies travelled from America to Europe and the rest of the world, hot spices in food were limited to mustard, cloves or horseradish, and peppercorns if you could afford them.  (more…)

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How bread is made and sold in 27 countries around the world

Over the past few years bread has been gathering a rather negative reputation among the health-conscious community. But for millions of people, whose life is away from gluten-free tags, bread remain a staple food which is sometimes consumed during every meal of the day, as it has been for centuries.  (more…)

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