"The only real stumbling block is the fear of failure. In cooking, you have got to have a what-the-hell attitude." ~ Julia Child

Top five sexiest movies with food…

by Julie Tilsner on May 17, 2008

in Chew on This

I recently listed some of my favorite books about food. It’s only fitting that I list a few favorite movies about food.

And because it’s spring, I thought Id go ahead and list my favorite sexy movies that involve food.

Spoiler alert: 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…(and enjoy the special bonus oyster girl scene tacked on at the end. That’s pretty hot too. Just sayin’…)

 

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 and love and most importantly, eat.

I can’t embed the trailer video for some reason, so you’ll just have to click through here to see it.

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.

{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }

Wheeler's May 18, 2008 at 11:31 am

Awesome post!

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Nancy May 19, 2008 at 5:49 am

Babette’s Feast. Great food replaces sex — and religion — in Jutland.

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bad home cook May 19, 2008 at 11:26 am

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

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BaddAss MisterJ May 19, 2008 at 4:26 am

“What’s Cooking?”
“American Adobo”
“Spanglish”
“Green Papaya”
“Tortilla Soup”
These are some of my suggestions, since Jules picked all the good ones!

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Sam's Mom May 19, 2008 at 1:49 pm

Great list, here are three of my favorites
“Chocolat”
“Mostly Martha”
“Jamon Jamon”

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Seraphine May 20, 2008 at 10:56 am

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

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ATriana May 21, 2008 at 2:33 pm

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

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LH May 22, 2008 at 7:36 pm

“Lady and the Tramp.” Yes indeed. 🙂

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uberchik May 26, 2008 at 11:02 pm

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.

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Bad Home Cook May 28, 2008 at 3:12 pm

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…

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TK May 31, 2008 at 11:08 am

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.

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Cheryl June 3, 2008 at 12:01 pm

“Big Night!” Plus the music is delicious….

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Yuriko February 6, 2009 at 8:53 pm

I saw Tampopo… that was a freakish film! I loved Like Water for Chocolate! It was one of those films that’s filled with such passion.
Chocolat is another I can think of…but it’s more romantic than sexy. 🙂

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