Bon appétit
- POSTED ON: 18 May, 2023
- TOTAL VIEWS: 166 Views
- POSTED BY: Bhavya Venkatesh
- ARTICLE POINTS: 150 Points
This summer, take a gastronomic adventure by indulging in these books and movies that feature delicious food. They will surely leave you hungry for more.
First, can you match these book titles with the food item around which they are themed?
The Perfect Hamburger
Alexander McCall Smith (1984)
From the prolific creator of the bestselling series The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and many other popular novels, comes this book for children. So, what makes the perfect hamburger? How do you make sure it’s just the right amount of yummy, juicy, and droolworthy? Well, the main character in this book, Joe, has just created the most delicious hamburger ever. But when his friend, Mr. Borthwick, wants to use the recipe to sell it in his hamburger shop, Joe realises that he has forgotten how to make it. Will he persevere and complete his task of recreating the recipe, or give up?
A Little Spice is Extra Nice
Sruthi Vijayan (2021)
Don’t you love it when your mother or father cook in the kitchen and delicious aromas waft in from there? Your mouth waters and your tummy rumbles a little extra. But what happens when they discover that they’ve run out of spices? That’s exactly what happens to Annie and her grandfather (Appoopan). They head to the famous spice market in Mattancherry, where Annie discovers the fascinating world of Indian spices, from cinnamon to turmeric, pepper to star anise, and much more. As Annie goes on a whole new flavoursome journey, so will young readers like you.
Summer of a Thousand Pies
Margaret Dilloway (2019)
After growing up homeless, 12-year-old Cady Bennett discovers a new kind of life when she is sent to live with her aunt she didn’t even know she had, in a quaint mountain town. Cady stays in her mother’s old room and gradually gets acquainted with life in the countryside. Her aunt runs a pie shop which is failing. She ropes in Cady to help her bake a 1,000 pies for a pie festival, and Cady wants to do everything she can by using everything she’s learnt, in order to help protect the first place she has ever felt safe. This uplifting story is all about family, friendships, and lots and lots of pies.
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup
Sharon Creech (2003)
Twelve-year-old Rosie has just had a fight with her best friend Bailey, and this makes her quite angry. She finds comfort in her Granny Torrelli’s warm and inviting kitchen, where there are not only delicious tastes and aromas but also plenty of conversations. As she and her grandmother whip up dish after dish, they share stories and memories from each other’s lives. When Bailey and Rosie come together to cook with Granny Torrelli, she helps them realise that friendship is what really matters in life. Filled with wisdom, Granny Torrelli’s tales remind readers about how conflicts between friends and family eventually pass and “Tutto va bene” — all is well.
Now, moving on to movies. Can you match these four titles with the photo that represents them? Take a shot at it.
Chef (2014)
What does it take for an acclaimed chef to rekindle his passion for cooking? For Carl Casper, it is losing his job at a popular restaurant after a public argument with a food critic. With a ruined career and a strained family set-up, Carl begins from scratch. He starts a food truck business, and in the process rediscovers his passion for Cuban food. As he joins forces with his family to run his new venture, Carl reignites not only his zeal for cooking but also his zest for life and love. We learn that, if you truly find your passion, it’s never too late to turn your life around.
Julie & Julia (2009)
This feel-good movie tells the quintessential cooking story. We move back and forth between the present and past, from the early years in the career of chef Julia Child and the life of blogger Julie Powell. Things get exciting when Julie decides to cook all 524 recipes in Julia’s cookbook in 365 days. While both their lives are set in completely different times, both women are driven by a passion for food. The movie fills us with inspiration. It teaches us to always be willing to try new things and to never give up on anything we are truly passionate about.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Tiana, who lives in New Orleans, has only one dream in life — to start a restaurant of her own. To achieve her goal, she works as a waitress day and night. The Prince of Maldonia arrives in the city, and several twists and turns later, he is unexpectedly turned into a frog. Pretty soon, so is Tiana. While the main narrative focusses on whether they will turn back into human beings, this movie has plenty of food-centric moments. From Tiana’s delectable gumbo to her famous beignets, hearty food is a prominent theme, and our tummies can’t help but rumble while watching the movie.
Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out (1989)
What do you do when you run out of a food item you really like? Go shopping with your parents and buy it? When inventor Wallace discovers that he is out of cheese, which he loves, he goes not to a store but to the Moon, as “everybody knows the Moon is made of cheese”. He sets off for a picnic on the Moon and takes his dog Gromit along in a home-made rocket. What happens on the Moon? Do they get to replenish their favourite snack? This short film tells you the rest of the story.
Photos: Special arrangement