posted
Oh dear, I believe I've just plagiarized a book title and a character milieu...
Well, in either case, it seems that we were talking about the fascinating topic of boiling things. I believe Talespinner mentioned the British predilection to that preparation style. So, in an attempt to creatively merge the two (since it seems we have some gourmands out there), let me ask this.
What is your favorite story, book, film, or cave painting that has food as a main course.
I can think of the two following as a few films that come to mind, and which has inspired me both creatively and culinarily.
"Big Night" and "Eat, Drink, Man, Woman."
For example, I was absolutely fascinated at the structure of Big Night. It was almost a culinary version of "Waiting for Godot." I also was taken by the amazing dishes that they prepared, and have never looked at a baked pasta dish quite the same.
The same with Eat, Drink, Man, Woman. The exploration of the relationship between a Father and his three daughters, all the while circling around the life and changing times of a chef who is losing his sense of taste. I'm certain I will never de-seed a chile the same way again.
Anyway, here's to the palate, specifically as it relates to art.
Spyder Robinson's stories set in Callaghan's Bar. (Not much food but a lot of alcohol which I hope counts.)
Douglas Adams "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe" - priceless.
There are several SF stories where the aliens arrive and the haman race becomes a prized delicacy. Can't remember any of 'em.
And there was a short story whose writer and title escape me which was set in a future where all food was synthetic and real meat was illegal. An inspector took someone in a cafe to a back room where they served illicit, real food ...
Oh, and Soylent Green. Blech.
Pat
Edited to add: That should be "human race becomes a prized delicacy", sorry, musta bin thinkin' of haman eggs.
[This message has been edited by TaleSpinner (edited November 24, 2007).]
quote: What is your favorite story, book, film, or cave painting that has food as a main course.
I'm unclear as to your meaning of "main course", so I will refer to ones that food is a memorable part of the "body of work" or title.
Bram Stoker's Dracula (the book, not the movie) Fried Green Tomatoes Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (What I remember most about it is the exotic dinner scene) Stephen King's Thinner The Breakfast Club Christmas Story The Godfather Goodfellas Silence of the Lambs Charlie and the Chocolate Factory H. G. Wells' The Time Machine The Odyssey
[This message has been edited by InarticulateBabbler (edited November 24, 2007).]
posted
lg, those two films have inspired me to make MANY trips to the kitchen while the movie is paused on DVD. We went to a dinner at an Itallian restaurant one New Year's Eve that featured the meal from Big Night. YUM!
I don't have much to add, other than to say that I find it rather amusing the lack of description of what people eat in a lot of Science Fiction. I am fascinated by this sort of mundane thing, what do people eat when living in spaceships and the like? So I write it all in. Hydroponics. Fresh produce as an oddity. Soy as an all-purpose food. I find it fascinating.
quote:I find it rather amusing the lack of description of what people eat in a lot of Science Fiction
I like the Babylon 5 take where anything fresh has to be grown. Orange Juice is expensive, fresh coffee is illegal to grow on station, and the security chief had to smuggle on the ingredients to his favorite meal.
And every culture has a version of swedish meatballs.
posted
Food group movie: "Blazing Saddles," and if you've seen it, you know which scene I'm talking about.
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posted
Hah. Yes, one of the scenes everyone remembers from Blazing Saddles. I rarely notice the food in books. Fried Green Tomatoes was an exception.
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We went to a dinner at an Itallian restaurant one New Year's Eve that featured the meal from Big Night. YUM!
