Movie-Food Parings: A Feast for the Eyes and the Stomach
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This story was originally published in APEX Experience magazine.
Films and food have gone together since popcorn first appeared in movie theaters during The Great Depression. More than 80 years later, food isn’t just a snack anymore – sometimes it’s the star of the show. In movies like Chef and Big Night, kitchens serve as the main sets, and beautiful plates of dry-aged rib eyes are the ingenues. As such, it should come as no surprise that theatergoers leave the cinema with a hefty appetite.
According to George Motz, creator of The Food Film Festival, “A film with beautiful shots of food, a.k.a. food porn, will always make people hungry.” Restaurants and movie theaters on the ground know this all too well. Nitehawk Cinema in Brooklyn’s ultra-hip Williamsburg neighborhood calls itself “New York’s original cinema eatery” for its gourmet concessions program; the theater’s culinary team even creates dishes specifically to pair with the movies shown. For Steven Spielberg’s latest Cold War spy thriller, Bridge of Spies, they offered “The Spielburger,” a cheeseburger with sauerkraut and Russian dressing that served as a gustatory tribute to the American, German and USSR themes of
the film.
As the cinemas of the sky, airlines are in a perfect position to take advantage of this connection between food and film. Why not combine the two and offer an elevated experience by pairing snack boxes with films? Other terrestrial foodie trends have taken off on board, seeing airlines such as Lufthansa, Qatar and Cathay Pacific offering specialty cuisine and turning to acclaimed chefs to tailor top-notch menus. On its first flight from Tokyo to Vancouver in October 2015, All Nippon Airways’ Star Wars-themed airplane brought the film frenzy close to passenger palates with R2-D2-inspired cups and napkins.
Think of the fun food and beverage departments can have by offering a lasagna entrée on flights showing The Godfather trilogy, or a fun candy package to go along with a screening of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Those cinematic culinary combos could easily lead to increased onboard revenue – and that’s enough to give any airline a very healthy appetite.
We asked Tory McPhail, James Beard-award winning chef of the legendary Commander’s Place in New Orleans, about the films that inspire him the chow down and the cravings they prompt.
MOVIE: Pulp Fiction
PAIRING: Quarter pounder with cheese
Based on the conversation where they talk about American hamburgers being called a “Royal with cheese” in France.
MOVIE: Beetlejuice
PAIRING: Shrimp cocktail
Inspired by the way the shrimp cocktail comes to life during the “Day-O (Banana Boat Song)” scene
MOVIE: The Hundred-Foot Journey
PAIRING: Egg Omelet
The perfect egg omelet is the test of a true chef according to the film.