Top five sexiest movies with food...

In my last post I listed some of my favorite books about food. It's only fitting that I list a few favorite movies about food. And in the interest of SEO (Search Engine Optimization, for those of you who don't work in the online world), I thought I'd go ahead and pimp my blog by including the word "sexiest" in the headline.

But then the best movies involving food by definition must acknowledge that food is a sensual experience. Right? Of course right. Allow me to present, then, my top five sexiest movies that involve food. And here's a spoiler: the list does NOT include the one with Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke.

1.) Tampopo (1985) The scene with the egg yolk burned into my brain when I first saw it some 20 years ago, and I never forgot it. With the miracle of YouTube, you can watch it for yourself. And good luck trying to forget...

 

2.) Like Water for Chocolate (1992) Hard to choose which scene is most infused with pheromones in this one. But in the end, I choose this. Because this is a family blog, I omitted the next part, which involves the sister becoming so inflamed with desire that she runs outside, rips off her clothes and runs right into the arms (er, rather, onto the horse) of a dashing revolutionary. I have always wanted to taste quail with rose petal sauce after this. Just once.

 

3.) Eat, Drink, Man, Woman (1994) The opening scene, of a master chef preparing his family an elaborate dinner, is alone worth the cost of renting this film. The cliche "feast for the senses" truly applies here. The food here represents ties to family, and the relationship between father and daughter. Among my favorites.

 

4.) Tom Jones (1963) The original food-as-metaphor-for-sex scene. Finger lickin' good...

 

5.) Chef in Love (1996) Gotta love them Georgians (Stalin excepted). They know how to live. I can't find the trailer on YouTube, but you can watch it here.

Why isn't 91/2 Weeks on this list? Isn't that the quintessential sexy food scene? I say no. That's because Kim Basinger, with that mouth, could sit in the kitchen burping the alphabet and still look sexy. No need to waste a perfectly good basket of strawberries on such a contrived scene. Really, it was a cringy cliche the day it came out. Or maybe Micky Rourke just annoys me. Didn't he die recently?

But surely there are other worthy films I'm not recalling, nu? Hip me to some of your favorites.

Comments

[Wheeler's]

Awesome post!

[BaddAss MisterJ]

"What's Cooking?"

"American Adobo"

"Spanglish"

"Green Papaya"

"Tortilla Soup"

These are some of my suggestions, since Jules picked all the good ones!

[Nancy]

Babette's Feast. Great food replaces sex -- and religion -- in Jutland.

[bad home cook]

Nancy - Yes! I have Babette's Feast as well, but didn't think of that twist. Brilliant! LOL!

[Sam's Mom]

Great list, here are three of my favorites

"Chocolat"
"Mostly Martha"
"Jamon Jamon"

[Seraphine]

My unconventional choice: Jaws.
Yes, the original version, because it's so primal. People as food. Yummmm.

[ATriana]

Jaws!?! 'Alternative' and primordial indeed!! Now that's funny-

[LH]

"Lady and the Tramp." Yes indeed. :-)

[uberchik]

Tampopo. Saw it at the Angelika in SoHO. One of the first theatres which sold wine, beer capucino and biscotti.

and loved ....for choc too.

ah, what an era.

[Bad Home Cook]

Ah yes, the Angelika - I remember going there often...and yes, I dimly remember being able to buy a cappucino or glass of wine, too...only in NYC...

[TK]

I second the vote for Mostly Martha. Take one uptight chef, add one sexy Italian and a heartbroken little girl = one of my favorite movies.

Plus the opening scene where she lovingly describes how she prepares pigeon I find both sexy and hilarious.

[Cheryl]

"Big Night!" Plus the music is delicious....