The Best Food From Movies That You’ll Want To Try

by Kevin Gardner

Movies often feature unforgettably delicious food. Here are a few of the best foods featured in the cinema, along with tips for preparing these items at home or ordering food from restaurants.  

“The Godfather” Tomato Sauce

One of the most iconic foods featured in a movie is the Sunday gravy or tomato sauce Capo Peter Clemenza prepares in The Godfather. The same character known for saying the line, “leave the gun, take the cannoli” in the original 1972 film offers an authentic recipe for homemade tomato sauce. Start with oil, fry garlic, add tomatoes and tomato paste and fry the mixture. Once it is boiling, add sausage and meatballs if desired. Finish with a little wine and sugar, if desired. When you have all of the ingredients on hand, this recipe is easy to prepare with consumer-grade restaurant equipment such as a cutting board and knife, stovetop or range, saucepan, stirring utensil and ladle.

Lembas Bread From “The Lord of the Rings”

You can make a version of Elven Lembas bread as featured in the film adaptations of “The Lord of the Rings.” This bread is said to resemble hardtack, and director Peter Jackson has identified the lembas bread featured in the trilogy of movies that were released in 2001, 2002 and 2003 as unsweetened shortbread. Most lembas bread includes flour and leavening such as baking powder along with butter, cream, milk, egg, sugar and a choice of seasoning. Popular additions include cinnamon, honey and raisins. This bread is best served. For authenticity, you can wrap each pocket-sized piece of prepared Lembas in a fresh, clean Mallorn leaf.

Ratatouille

The rat who stars in a 2007 computer-animated movie named after a French vegetable dish reignited the popularity of this classic recipe. Most ratatouille consists of thinly sliced eggplant, bell pepper, zucchini, tomatoes and herbs. Start by smashing garlic cloves and chopping onions before roasting and arranging the cooked vegetables. Ratatouille can be a side or a main dish based on your preferences. This dish is often served with crusty French bread. When you prepare your own ratatouille, you can choose to include your choice of vegetables and herbs. If you are a stickler for detail, you can also find recipes that match Remy’s ratatouille.

Sole Filet or Boeuf Bourguignon From “Julie & Julia”

The 2009 movie “Julie & Julia'' is about Julia Child, and features many classic French recipes. Two of the most notable include the sole filet served during the opening credits and the beef bourguignon that is featured later in the movie. You can find these and most of the other recipes from “Julie & Julia'' in the cookbook “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” and other Julia Child recipes. If you are considering making a fancy French dinner to accompany this movie, you can choose from many appetizers, entrees and desserts.

Cubanos from “Chef”

Traditional Cuban sandwiches steal the show in the 2014 movie “Chef.” This film about a food truck features buttery grilled cheese sandwiches and cubanos that combine butter, cheese and meat. The setting shows that you don’t have to do French high cuisine to make delicious food. You can make cubanos and other toasted sandwiches at home with a panini or sandwich press. Look for authentic ingredients such as pan cubano or cuban bread, deli-style ham, thinly sliced pork, cheese, pickles and mustard for the best taste experience to accompany a watch of this crowd pleaser.

These are just a few of the many delicious foods featured in movies. Whether you have seen a movie before and want to celebrate a rewatch by preparing food or want to eat a themed meal while watching a classic for the first time, the films that feature these foods are favorites of audiences and critics. It is easy to plan a special meal for yourself or friends and family with recipes inspired by food from a movie.