|
You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the Just Clarabela newsletter (formerly Just Chick Flicks). The name has changed, but I still write about chick flicks, period dramas, romcoms, the most binge-worthy streaming series, foreign-language movies, and a few surprises. |
Reader!
Welcome to my newsletter!
While everyone else is preparing for their Thanksgiving feast, I am trying to find out which one of my friends is making a sweet potato pie today. I'm sorry, but I don't like pumpkin pie.
For those of you who need to become more familiar with the American holiday, Thanksgiving is supposed to be a national day set aside for giving thanks. However, while watching the Dallas Cowboys game on TV, it is mostly a day for pigging out on mashed potatoes, turkey, and the aforementioned pumpkin pie. Of course, you will need all these calories to have enough energy for Black Friday shopping.
However, as mentioned above, it is mostly a day for pigging out on mashed potatoes, turkey, and pumpkin pie while watching the Dallas Cowboys game on TV. Of course, you will need all these calories to have enough energy for Black Friday shopping.
I am thankful every day, so I don't need Thanksgiving. That does not mean I don't still want a piece of sweet potato pie...I will take a pumpkin if that's all you have.
All this talk about turkey, mashed potatoes, and pie makes me hungry. Which makes me think of some of my favorite chick flicks about food. In these movies, delicious-looking food has star billing.
What are your favorite chick flicks about food?
|
|
|
Babette's Feast
Based on the Isak Dinsen (Out of Africa) story of the same name,
tells the story of Babette, a French woman who takes refuge with two pious spinsters in a remote Danish village. Babette lives with them, serving as the cook and housekeeper. After many years of serving them their bland diet of boiled fish, Babette wins the lottery. She uses the money to prepare a lavish meal to thank the sisters who sheltered her in her time of need.
can see how much Babette cares for this family. The scenes where Babette carefully prepares the food will make you gain 5 pounds. The aroma of the food, the sizzle of the pan, the rich flavors bursting in your mouth- these are the things that make food in movies so irresistible.
If you want to recreate the dishes in Babette's Feast, look at this cookbook, A Culinary Homage to Babette's Feast. It features Mock Turtle Soup and Angel Food Cake with Brandied Cherries. Yum!Like other movies, food is love; you
|
|
Lasse Hallström directs the delicious movie Chocolat. It is my favorite Johnny Depp movie.
Juliet Binoche (Best Supporting Actress Oscar Winner, The English Patient) and Johnny Depp star in Chocolat, a sensuous movie about the love of chocolate and the art of chocolate-making. Binoche plays Vianne Rocher, a single mother who moves to a rural village in France with her six-year-old daughter and opens a chocolate shop just before the start of Lent.
Vianne begins to work her cocoa-flavored magic to win over the town's people—except for the mayor. I don't know what he has against chocolate truffles, but the scenes of Vianne creating her delectable treats increased my chocolate cravings.
I found Chocolove XOXO Chillies and Cherries in Dark Chocolate bars at Whole Foods Market. They have a touch of chili pepper, just like the truffles Vianne made in the movie.
Chocolat has a fabulous cast, including Dame Judy Dench, Alfred Molina, Carrie-Anne Moss, Lena Olin, and a decadent array of chocolates.
Watch the trailer for Chocolat
|
|
|
|
You can never have too much chocolate, so the next movie on my list is from Mexico, the home of chocolate—Gracias, Mexico!
Alfonso Arau directs the movie based on Laura Esquivel's novel Como Agua para Chocolate.
Like Water for Chocolate is in Spanish and tells the story of Tita, a young girl living in Mexico in 1910. Tita and Pedro are in love.
But, according to her family's tradition, the youngest daughter can never marry. She is obligated to take care of her widowed mother.
To be close to Tita, Pedro marries her older sister. The only way that Tita can show Pedro how she feels is through her cooking. I love the scene when Tita makes her sister's wedding cake. Tita cries as she makes the cake, and the tears fall into the cake batter. As the wedding guests eat the cake, they all feel nostalgic and longing for their lost love.
You will love reading the book too. Like Water for Chocolate is written like a diary. It includes the story of Tita and Pedro's romance and the recipes she prepared.
Watch the trailer
|
|
Julie and Julia
Julie & Julia on the other hand, tells the story of a woman inspired by another woman to achieve her dreams. It tells the parallel stories of Julie Powell and Julia Child. Julie Powell (played by Amy Adams) is a frustrated employee at a government bureaucracy who decides to write a blog.
Like most bloggers, she writes about her passion, which happens to be cooking. She uses Julia Child (played by Meryl Streep) as the inspiration for her blog, chronicling her adventures as she cooks all the recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in just one year.
Julia Child enjoyed food, and you can tell that when you see how she consumed and prepared sumptuous meals like Boeuf Bourguignon and Chocolate Souffle'.
Can you imagine trying to cook every recipe in Julia Child's cookbook in just one year? That would take more than 100 pounds of butter.
Watch the trailer
|
|
|
Soul Food
I have very warm memories of Sunday dinners at my Aunt Cora's house when I was a little girl. She was known for her pound cake but could also fry a pretty good chicken. Her regular Sunday dinners were a feast, but when the preacher from her church came to dinner, Aunt Doll (we called her 'doll' because she was very petite) pulled out all the stops. I can still remember the buttery taste of her pound cake.
There was fried chicken, baked ham with pineapple, cloves, and maraschino cherries, homemade macaroni and cheese (not that nasty yellow stuff from the box), real potato salad, collard greens, hot, buttery cornbread, and enough cakes and pies to give you diabetes.
If you have the same memories of big Sunday dinners with family, you will love Soul Food. Irma P. Hall is Mama Jo, who presides over her big family, which includes her three daughters, played by Vanessa Williams, Vivica A. Fox, and Nia Long. Soul Food is not just about the food. It's about the African American tradition of Sunday dinners and the role of food in bringing families together.
With lots of soul food and love, Mama Jo keeps her family together. When she is hospitalized, there are no more Sunday dinners, and the family's problems come to a head.
The magic of soul food has healing powers and soon brings the family back together. I will try the recipe for Sweet Potato Pie in Sylvia's Family Soul Food Cookbook to see if it tastes as good as my Aunt Doll's.
|
Have you ever tried to recreate a dish from one of these movies? I'd love to hear your experiences and recommendations!
That's it for now... I am going to the kitchen to make myself a snack.
|
|
|
|
Create Epic Movie Nights at Home
By Kim & Kalee (Nashville, Mother-Daughter)
We help mom & dads create fun family movie nights, date nights, and themed parties at home! Get easy recipes your kids will love, weekly movie ideas, and more! A must-have in your inbox if you’re a parent or Disney, Star Wars, or Harry Potter fan! |
|
Pinar Tarhan
Author of fun, escapist romcoms even men enjoy.
Pinar Tarhan is a romance novelist and freelance writer. She creates short, fun, escapist romantic stories even men enjoy. In her newsletter, she shares writing tips, first look at her new work, fun movie/book/TV recs, and free chapters. |
|
|
|
*Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That means if you purchase these movies, TV shows, books, or services via these links, I will receive a small commission. Hopefully, it will be enough to cover my ever-growing monthly streaming bill and some tasty snacks for binge-watching. I only recommend or suggest movies, products, and services I use or think you will like. This does not affect or influence my views and opinions. |
|
|
|
